NZ's Best Baches Nominated in Inaugural 'Golden Piwa' Awards

3 September 2013

New Zealand's Best Baches Nominated in Inaugural 'Golden Piwa' Awards

Bookabach has announced the finalists in the first ever ‘Golden Piwa’ awards, aimed at finding the best baches in the country, and is calling on the public to help select the winners by voting on bookabach.co.nz.

Gold, silver and bronze awards are up for grabs in six different categories - Best Location, Best Pet-friendly, Best Child-friendly, Best Quirky and Fun, Best Eco-friendly, and Best Hospitality.

Bookabach CEO Peter Miles says the choice of holiday homes available to holidaymakers across New Zealand has expanded impressively over the last 10 years and the level of service from bach owners has become increasingly professional.

“We've put together these awards to promote and celebrate what makes baches and holiday homes distinct from other kinds of holiday accommodation - and to acknowledge the high quality of service provided by many of our property owners and managers.”

Miles says that choosing 36 finalists from the 6,600 properties on the site was no easy task.

The team had specific criteria for each category. “For example, in the eco-friendly category, we looked for properties that were completely off the grid, not just those with one or two eco-friendly elements.”

“Our ‘quirky and fun’ finalists are the epitome of Kiwi ingenuity. From an ex-film set to a mud hut originally built by Chinese gold rush settlers, they all had to offer a totally one-of-a-kind experience - one you wouldn’t find in any motel or hotel chain, or in fact any other bach in the country.”

Miles adds that the Best Hospitality category was particularly difficult to choose nominees for.

“Some of our bach owners really go above and beyond to provide an amazing experience for all of their guests. We looked for property owners and managers who rent out their property extensively. They are consistently friendly, responsive and helpful, maintaining an exceptionally high-quality visitor experience. The glowing guest reviews they receive are testament to this.”

The full list of finalists for each category are:

Best Location
- Pah View Onetangi, Waiheke (bookabach.co.nz/19328)
- Port Jackson Bach, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/1357)
- Lakeside Maisonette, Queenstown (bookabach.co.nz/4710)
- The Library Bach, Pakawau Beach, Nelson-Golden Bay (bookabach.co.nz/6755)
- Bach@Driftwood, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands (bookabach.co.nz/7358)
- Castaway Cottage Tuateawa, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/10042)

Best Pet-friendly
- Acacia Bay Apartment, Acacia Bay, Lake Taupo (bookabach.co.nz/17387)
- Ferndale Cottage, Snells Beach, Warkworth (bookabach.co.nz/3577)
- At Ease On Seabreeze, Mangawhai Heads (bookabach.co.nz/11893)
- Nahla’s Retreat, Whangapoua, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/2789)
- Cabbage Tree Cottage, Opononi (bookabach.co.nz/9714)
- The Paddock, Waikouaiti, East Otago (bookabach.co.nz/11799)

Best Child-friendly
- Te Ana Lodge, Kauaeranga Valley, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/7032)
- The Batch, Whangapoua, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/2188)
- Arrow River House, Arrowtown (bookabach.co.nz/8845)
- Tuck Inn Farmstay, Pakawau Beach, Nelson-Golden Bay (bookabach.co.nz/8424)
- Pam’s Place, Foxton Beach (bookabach.co.nz/9895)
- Number 10, Kuratau, Lake Taupo (bookabach.co.nz/10457)

Best Quirky and Fun
- Historic Cob Quarters, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough (bookabach.co.nz/8357)
- Blackmore Bach High Country Mud Hut, Garston, near Queenstown (bookabach.co.nz/19078)
- Funky Ex Film Set, Glenorchy (bookabach.co.nz/20506)
- The Paintbox, Oamaru (bookabach.co.nz/12219)
- Poerua Church, Lake Brunner (bookabach.co.nz/7000)
- The Barn Wood Pigeon Lodge, Raurimu (bookabach.co.nz/2851)

Best Eco-friendly
- Hairy Hobbit Cottage, Brooklyn Hill, Motueka (bookabach.co.nz/3552)
- Xspot, Tryphena, Great Barrier Island (bookabach.co.nz/17587)
- Strawberry Cottage, Takaka, Golden Bay (bookabach.co.nz/541)
- Wildside Getaway, Owhango, Central Plateau-Mt Ruapehu (bookabach.co.nz/10364)
- Bay of Many Coves, Queen Charlotte Sound (bookabach.co.nz/10879)
- Cabin A, Onetangi, Waiheke (bookabach.co.nz/20677)

Best Hospitality
- Quiet, peaceful hideaway, Taupo Central (bookabach.co.nz/19507)
- The Library Bach, Pakawau Beach, Nelson-Golden Bay (bookabach.co.nz/6755)
- Bach@Driftwood, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands (bookabach.co.nz/7358)
- Bella's Beachy Foresty Place, Raumati South, Kapiti Coast (bookabach.co.nz/19153)
- Beach Front Bach in Private Bay, Ruffins Bay, Coromandel (bookabach.co.nz/8325)
- Fabulous Fosters, Foster Bay, Huia, West Auckland (bookabach.co.nz/13276)

The public can vote for their favourites by visiting www.bookabach.co.nz/golden-piwas and one lucky voter will also win the chance to stay at their dream bach, just in time for the summer holidays. Voting is open until 30 September, with the winners to be announced in mid October.

About AA Bookabach
Launched in 2000, Bookabach offers Kiwis and visitors to New Zealand the opportunity to experience the quintessential bach holiday by putting them in touch with the owners and property managers of New Zealand’s finest holiday houses, from simple one-room baches to luxury holiday homes.

About the Golden Piwa Awards
The Golden Piwa Awards are named after the Bookabach mascot, a fantail. ‘Piwa’ is short for piwakawaka, the Maori name for fantail.

ENDS

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