Today that song of the sea is still heard and the ancient places of those first people are etched into the landscape around and close to the Homestead. The centuries may have passed from those early navigators who settled here but the meaning of Awatuna and the hospitality it provided to those and all the people who came after them remains and is shared with today's modern travellers from all of the four corners of the world who now ride as the navigators of the waves of the skies and highways.

Set in a valley that stretches from the foothills of the Southern Alps to the Tasman Sea, the Homestead enjoys the peace and quiet of country lodge accommodation whilst being only 10 minutes from the modern convenience and facilities of Hokitika.



The original Awatuna Homestead (shown below) was built in 1874 and was a fine example of the Colonial style architecture from that era of NZ history. Unfortunately the old homestead was lost to a fire in 1994  along with nearly all of the family's possessions.  Fortunately no-one was hurt in the disaster, all escaped and work started on replacing the old home with the one which stands on the same site today as Pauline and Hemi's former home .



The new Awatuna Homestead (shown right) is a double storey timber building  of which  reflects many features of that former beautiful home. The architectural design has endeavoured to preserve the Classic Country Colonial lines incorporating dormer windows, sweeping roofs and wide, sheltering verandahs.
When you walk in through the


Homestead's welcoming front door, you will  see the fine woodwork of the wainscoating in the entry walls and passage ways.  The impressive use of native rimu, matai and tawa native NZ  timbers, is to be found in all of the guestrooms, bedrooms, lounge and especially comes into fine focus when you enter the Homestead kitchen.  Solid wooden colonial panel doors with brass fittings, complement the warm and comfortable settings Pauline and Hemi have created in their home. The wide verandahs leading out from all of the guestrooms which embrace the Homestead, invite you to pause and sit in comfort, enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the huge gardens featuring native and exotic plants.  In laying out and constructing the gardens, Pauline and Hemi have created many exterior rooms and intimate areas where you can find just the right spot to suit your needs for company or quite personal space. 

Contemplate the rainforest atmosphere and soak up the peace that pervades the areas of the gardens. 

Follow this link to read the full story of The Homestead  >>


A peaceful, private river frontage borders the Homestead and is in itself a home to many native birds and fish. If you get up early you will be able to experience the dawn chorus as the birds sing to greet and bring in the new day.
Awatuna Homestead and the environment  have always been fostered in a duty of care by your hosts who have practised this relationship with the natural world for most of their lives. Pauline's passion for flowers and vegetables is balanced by Hemi's Maori environmental practises and beliefs.  When you combine a natural and sympathetic gardener with a Maori environmentalist you have one of the most powerful combinations of talents that many gardeners would envy.

Close by the Homestead is where you will experience the natural splendour and excitement of being the only person on a wild West Coast beach - where you can look for precious stones and pounamu (greenstone)  or marvel at the natural dritwood sculptures thrown up on the beach by the sea waves.

There are stunning views of the mountains and the coastline stretching from Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and the Paparoa Ranges in the north through to Aoraki (Mount Cook) to the south.
These powerful scenes and landscapes huge  and awe inspiring as they may be, offer an amazing backdrop to a wonderful setting whereby you can choose to sit quietly on the beach,  with a few wines and watch the unbelievable beauty of the sun setting into the arms of the ocean at day's end.