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Watercliff - The Hangout

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Watercliff - The Hangout

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty


Watercliff is located along the banks of the Omanawa River, a 20-minute drive from Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region. Start your journey with a welcoming 1km drive by your hosts along the river to reach your cabin in the Watercliff Jimny.

Watercliff includes four luxurious and comfortable, self-contained and eco-friendly cabins. This cabin, known as 'The Hangout' sleeps up to four people, making it ideal for families or four adults. The interior is fresh and stylish. You'll find a kitchenette, a modern bathroom and a generous living space with a queen-size bed. An adjoining room has a king bunk bed.

Large glass sliding doors lead out to a spacious semi-covered deck with lounge chairs, a four-person dining table and a BBQ.

Watercliff is a fantastic place for families looking to reconnect with each other and the natural world. Embrace the opportunity to disconnect from technology - and explore! Take the kids down the path through the native bush to the river and discover the waterfall, swimming hole, and riverside beach.

Watercliff has three other cabins on the property, sleeping up to two per cabin, The Nest, The View and The Getaway. Ideal if you're looking to bring the extended family along for the break!

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Eating and drinking near Escape

EATING AND DRINKING

Watercliff is self-catering. Just bring your own food, and cook meals using the facilities provided in your kitchen. All the utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided.

If you fancy a meal out, Clarence House Bistro has great fine dining. Alpino in Mount Maunganui is highly recommended by your hosts for the best Italian, Lloyds Deli and Avenue sell the best coffee and sandwiches by day and sourdough pizzas by night. Palace Burger is the perfect place to pick up a burger and head to the beach.

Looking for a meal paired with a glass of your favourite? Bar Centrale has fantastic cocktails and Italian, and The Cider Factorie has amazing harbourside views. The Island (formerly known as the famous 'Papamoa Beach Tavern') is a great option, and The Rising Tide includes a unique pairing of local craft beers and delicious dumplings.

The nearest store for stocking up on food and supplies is in Tauriko, a 10-minute drive.

Things to do near Escape

THINGS TO DO

You'll find plenty to do on the property. Watercliff is a natural wonderland, with bush walking tracks and a river for swimming and kayaking. Or just wind down and relax at the cabin. Board games and a variety of outdoor games are provided.

Feel like getting out and about? Mount Maunganui beach/The Mount is less than a 30-minute drive away. Glow-worm kayaking is another option. Waimarino Kayak Tours offers an evening trip up the Wairoa River. The McLaren Falls are spectacular, with plenty of walking tracks around the lake and amazing waterfalls to admire.

A keen biker? Whakarewarewa Forest MTB Trails (also known as 'The Redwoods') are under an hour away, and highly recommended! Alternatively, Oropi Mountain Bike Park is only a 15 minute drive.

Fabulous farmers markets are nearby for some delicious street food, local produce and nic nacs! The Tauranga Farmers Market is every Saturday morning at Tauranga Primary School and The Little Big Markets is every Saturday, at Coronation Park or Pāpamoa Pony Club.

The nearest town is Tauriko, a 10-minute drive away. Tauranga is a 20-minute drive and Mount Maunganui is 25 minutes.

TESTIMONIALS

“ Everything was perfect and as it looked on the website. Very friendly and organised host. ”

Graeme Aldridge- 2025-01-08

20 / 20

“ We loved our stay at The Hangout. We spent a weekend there with our five and eight-year-old and they (and we!) had a blast. We played all day in the stream and bushes. It was a beautiful place to connect with each other and nature, and disconnect from technology. Louise, our host, was quick and easy to communicate with and knowledgeable about the area. You could see how much thought and love went into designing this special place. Highly recommend this for people with kids! ”

Josette Wulffaert- 2026-03-03

1 / 20

“ What a beautiful place to get back to nature and connect with our family. ”

Emma Holland- 2026-01-25

2 / 20

“ Awesome spot and super close to The Mount. ”

mike taylor- 2026-01-18

3 / 20

“ Our family of four loved our stay at The Hangout. The kids had so much fun in the very safe river using the kayaks and looking for eels. Easy to head out to explore nearby Mt Maunganui. The accommodation was perfect, the air conditioning very much appreciated for the hot nights. Highly recommend for a getaway in nature. ”

Caroline Henwood- 2026-01-11

4 / 20

“ Easy place to access but you feel like you’re miles away. We loved the remote feel and chance to unwind with friends. ”

Chelsea Yeoman- 2025-11-30

5 / 20

“ Watercliff was the perfect escape for us and our toddler - he got to enjoy paddling in the sandy river looking for eels while we enjoyed a wine and birdwatching. I loved the lack of phone reception - really made it feel like a proper escape. ”

Becky Carruthers- 2025-09-30

6 / 20

“ Beautiful setting and loved the cabin. The design, really comfortable bed, and the whole experience was very special. Will definitely be back. ”

Deborah Sweeney- 2025-07-10

7 / 20

“ Great spot. Awesome to catch wild trout. ”

Sean James- 2025-07-04

8 / 20

“ A lovely off the grid location for a few days. Seeing the sunrise on the cliffs is beautiful! ”

Darren Bolton- 2025-06-09

9 / 20

“ It was great to disconnect and be surrounded by nature. Our toddler really enjoyed it too. The cabins were warm and homey and had everything we needed for cooking. The bush, river and grounds were fun to explore a bit more each day we were there. And if you want to explore further afield, there are some great attractions nearby. ”

Natasha Flavell- 2025-06-09

10 / 20

“ We absolutely loved our stay at Watercliff – The Hangout. Location was stunning and the accommodation as good as in the pictures. We enjoyed the walks on the property, visiting the glow worms at night and waking up to the sounds of the birds. Magical place. We will definitely come back. ”

Madelon De Jongh- 2025-05-02

11 / 20

“ This place is absolutely magical. From the lovely staff to the stunning cabins, the glorious river, and the glow worms, we did not want to leave once we got there. I can highly recommend this as a reset from busy life. Make sure you bring plenty of food down and don't leave - trust me, you will love it. ”

Antonia Kersting- 2025-04-20

12 / 20

“ Loved our stay in ‘The Hangout’. It had everything we needed and such a stunning outlook. ”

Brittany Phillips- 2025-03-25

13 / 20

“ A very special and unique spot. We loved being able to enjoy the property and have such a relaxing time. ”

Josinta Tillett- 2025-03-19

14 / 20

“ It was such an amazing experience for us and specially for our children. Tim, the owner was so amazing and was so warm & welcoming. We were taken to the tour of the property which looks like straight out of a story book. A must visit. ”

Ritika Rajoura- 2025-03-12

15 / 20

“ We stayed in ‘The Hangout’ with our teenage daughter for three nights and truly loved the accommodation and the location in nature. We swam five times in the river in different spots and enjoyed the walk up to see the glow worms in the evening. ”

Melanie Young- 2025-01-28

16 / 20

“ We had a fantastic stay. Our son loved kicking a ball around in the big green field and walking down to paddle in the river. The host was fantastic and let him look at all his tractors and machinery. ”

Alex Carpenter- 2025-01-25

17 / 20

“ Great secluded spot for a getaway. The host and owners were great with communication and transport to and from the cabin. Would definitely stay again. ”

Tim Vickers- 2025-01-17

18 / 20

“ Probably the best stay we’ve had in New Zealand. To completely break away from the rush and technology was better than expected. Easy access to the beautiful river and kayaks made it perfect. ”

Enrico Grond- 2025-01-09

19 / 20

“ Everything was perfect and as it looked on the website. Very friendly and organised host. ”

Graeme Aldridge- 2025-01-08

20 / 20

“ We loved our stay at The Hangout. We spent a weekend there with our five and eight-year-old and they (and we!) had a blast. We played all day in the stream and bushes. It was a beautiful place to connect with each other and nature, and disconnect from technology. Louise, our host, was quick and easy to communicate with and knowledgeable about the area. You could see how much thought and love went into designing this special place. Highly recommend this for people with kids! ”

Josette Wulffaert- 2026-03-03

1 / 20

Scenic coastal landscape viewed through a golden tent opening, showing lush green hillside with forest line meeting turquoise ocean waters under clear blue sky

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