Awatuna Sunset Lodge

On the Tasman Sea north of Hokitika, Awatuna Sunset Lodge sits directly on the beach, with Waimea Creek running along one side and native bush backing onto the property. The West Coast here is exposed and changeable: the creek mouth shifts, and the sand runs wide at low tide. Three guest rooms, each with its own ensuite, take in the water from king beds and private decks, with the Tasman King and Waimea King rooms both fronting the sea directly through French doors. A third room, the Tui Triple, faces the road instead and works for solo travellers or overflow. Meals are cooked to order and eaten on a sea-view deck or in the dining room, using fish from the local market, vegetables from the on-site garden, and eggs from the property's own chickens. Evenings open with drinks and canapés at six, followed by a three-course dinner built around Elizabeth's Italian and Greek family cooking. A spa pool looks straight over the beach, useful for watching the sun go down. For guests who want to reach the sand, Selwyn runs a complimentary crossing of Waimea Creek in Radar, an amphibious craft, continuing on to the beach to look for jade, spot seals, or watch little blue penguins come ashore between May and November. It is a compact stay, with room for five guests at most.