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Starfish - magical beach front retreat

Photo gallery for Starfish - magical beach front retreat

A dining table set with plates, cutlery, and glasses, overlooking a scenic view of the ocean and lush greenery.
A sunset view through a window with tall grasses in the foreground.
A spacious living room with a fireplace, a television, and a bookshelf.
A covered patio with a hammock, seating area, and a view of the ocean.
A garden path leading to a view of the sea.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Golden Bay

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Garage parking available
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
Pakawau Beach, Pakawau
  • Place, Golden Bay
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Pakawau Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Abel Tasman National Park
    ‪56 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

1 half bathroom

Bathroom

Shower only

Separate toilet

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

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About the area

Pakawau

Located in Pakawau, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Kahurangi National Park and Golden Bay, while Aorere Museum of Art and Collingwood Museum are cultural highlights. Jet skiing and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Pakawau Beach, Pakawau

What's nearby

  • Golden Bay - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Pakawau Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Te Waikoropupu Springs - 37 min drive - 46.0 km
  • Pohara Beach - 47 min drive - 56.1 km
  • Abel Tasman National Park - 56 min drive - 60.4 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Collingwood Tavern - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Courthouse Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Collingwood Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Sunset Balcony - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Lady luck Cafe - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Starfish - magical beach front retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Starfish - magical beach front retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Starfish - magical beach front retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Starfish - magical beach front retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Starfish - magical beach front retreat located?

Nestled on the beach, this Pakawau holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Golden Bay and Pakawau Beach. Kahurangi National Park is 1.8 mi (2.9 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 90 out of 99 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 99 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 99 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 99 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 99 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Holiday

Perfect spot for a beach holiday.
Stayed 13 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long weekend away

Fabulous location in an idyllic setting. Perfect for a family of 5. We would highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Nov 2024
Thank you for your good review! We are so glad you enjoyed yourself at Starfish. Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Beautiful spot right on the beach. Excellent beds , very well stocked kitchen. Lovely cosy cottage in a splendid location
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Best bach ever

Wonderful stay. Had everything we needed and more! Great owners, very accommodating.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr 2020
So glad you came back to stay again. It is a pleasure to have you at Starfish. Thank you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely stay at Starfish. It was wonderful to be able to sit and watch the changing sea from storm to calm. Classic Kiwi bach, Robyn was really responsive both before and during our stay, keen to come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Jan 2026
I’m very glad the sun came out for you and you got to see Pakawau in all weathers. Thank you for leaving the bach so beautifully clean and tidy. You are very welcome to come back anytime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A moment in paradise

A relaxing and restoring stay at Starfish as always ⭐️
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Dec 2023
Lovely to have you back. Thanks for coming.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Superb location in beautiful Pakawau, right on the beach.

Superb location in beautiful Pakawau, right on the beach. The bach is very comfortable, clean with lovely touches and different spaces for relaxing indoors and out. Our second stay, many more to come I hope!
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr 2020
We are so happy to share Starfish with you and your family. Glad you love it like we do!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquility at Starfish

Starfish is a beach front bach in beautiful Pakawau, very tranquil and private with a beautiful clean beach. The property is very well maintained and comfortable. We loved our stay, thank you Robyn.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jan 2025
You are welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed your stay and our lovely beach. Happy New Year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace at the beach

It was wonderful to return to Starfish and enjoy its special atmosphere again. It is a magic place.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Nov 2020
Very happy to have you back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Starfish

Delightful location and charming bach
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Nov 2024
Thank you for your review. I’m glad you enjoyed our little piece of paradise. Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very enjoyable return to Starfish

Relaxing, restoring, rejuvenating 🙏
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Oct 2020
Lovely to have you back.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

This is our second visit...we love it. Perfect location, comfortable with everything you need. Looking forward to coming back again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2020
So glad you have discovered the joys of Starfish. You are welcome back anytime. Robyn
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful!

Our second stay. Fantastic experience.
Stayed 59 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Apr 2020
Thanks for coming back to Starfish. Your home sway from home now!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace and beauty

This is a wonderful bach in a great location, it is well looked after and has everything you need
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 11 June 2020
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed your time at Starfish!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint and perfect

Our second stay @ Starfish. The perfect, classic Kiwi bach. Beautifully decorated, comfortable. Appreciated the woodstove on our few cool mornings/evenings. Great beach.
Stayed 20 nights in Mar 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 15 May 2020
So glad to have you back. Loved all your driftwood beach sculpture.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning Starfish

We had a wonderful stay at Starfish as always :) Thank you Robyn
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Apr 2023
You are welcome. Lovely to have you at Starfish again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning location

We loved staying at this old fashioned, quirky kiwi bach. The host was easy to contact and sorted out any issues promptly. The location right on the beach was magic. My 89 year old dad stayed with us and he was very comfortable. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Jan 2024
Thanks for staying at our beachfront retreat from the world. Our motto for Starfish is “relaxing and a little bit zany”. Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Starfish bach is a unique lovingly furnished bach with a lot of atmosphere. A stone throw away from Pakawau beach and equipped with everything one needs to enjoy a few days home away from home, incl. kitchen facilities, books and board games. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this quirky bach and hope to be back soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Nov 2025
Thank you for your review. I'm so glad you enjoyed your time at Starfish. Please come back anytime. Robyn
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traditional bach

Lovely place and location. Basic kitchen in keeping with the style of the place but fine if you organised. Fantastic access to the beach and very nice for swimming.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Jan 2024
Thanks for coming to Starfish. Glad you enjoyed our lovely spot right on the beach. Our tiny kitchen does require some organization skills, especially being microwave free, but hopefully you found it well equipped with everything else you might need. Please come again, Robyn
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxation is key

Absolutely loved our stay there. Big wide deck with beach views, sheltered from the westerlies. Very, very clean with a comfortable home-like feeling. I could really relax. I highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Dec 2024
So very happy you enjoyed your stay at Starfish, and found our little house clean and welcoming. We are so lucky to be sheltered from Pakawau’s stiff westerlies. Glad you got to really relax. Please do come again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Golden Bay paradise

Starfish is a beautiful bach, located a stone's throw from the beach. All amenities were available that we required. A wonderful trip all round. Thanks Robyn.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jan 2022
Glad you enjoyed your time at Starfish, and you are very welcome.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amazing place, awesome

Well cared for and equipped. Lots of nice personal touches. Owner fantastic to deal with, very accommodating. We will be back!
Stayed 21 nights in Feb 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr 2020
Thank you for your review. We are so happy you enjoyed Starfish. I have had such fun collecting local art to decorate with. Glad you are coming back again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely beach view, right next to the water. We really enjoyed having a cozy warm fire in the evenings. Family friendly, though not completely fenced for little ones. Overall was a great holiday and we were lucky to have had beautiful weather! Thank you, would definitely come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Oct 2025
I'm very glad you enjoyed your time at Starfish. We have been doing a lot of invasive plant removal, so have dug out a lot of agapanthus from the sanddunes in the front, which has opened us up to the beach more, but hopefully all the new dune plantings will grow up quickly and make a barrier to keep small children from venturing out of the garden. Please come back for another holiday anytime. Robyn
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Pakawau

A relaxing and rejuvinating time at Starfish as always. Great to be back again, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here in beautiful Pakawau. Thank you to Robyn :)
Stayed 12 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2022
You so are welcome! Glad you get to keep coming back to soak up starfish and it’s seaside spot. By the look of the recent beach erosion, we have to enjoy it now!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Pakawau Beach, Starfish beach house.

A beautiful location at Pakawau Beach. A charming slightly tired bach. We enjoyed our stay. The cost seemed high for the house, especially with nearly 500 other fees added.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jan 2025
You are right. The fees are outrageous! NZ’s new short term rental tax was $100 of the $405 you paid in taxes and fees. We just bought a new 55” smart tv for Starfish. It’s an ongoing process! Thank you, Robyn
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