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175° East - Ruru House

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Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue
  • Internet access
  • Washing machine
  • Refrigerator
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Great Barrier Island, Medlands
  • Place, Medlands Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Whangaparapara Harbour
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Place, Glenfern Sanctuary
    ‪54 min drive‬
  • Airport, Great Barrier Island (GBZ)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

+1
2 Queen Beds and 3 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Number of living rooms
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

175° East - Ruru House

Ruru House | Off-Grid Escape near Medlands Beach



Ruru House is a private, solar-powered retreat on a north-facing hillside above Medlands Beach. It sleeps seven across three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with views over native bush, farmland and the valley beyond.



Inside, warm timber, a wood burner and an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area make it easy to settle in. Outside, front and back decks catch the sun, with an outdoor bar window for evening drinks, a BBQ and an outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach.



The house has Starlink Wi-Fi, Samsung Smart TV, Sonos, a Nespresso machine, air fryer, washing machine and dryer. It is fully off-grid, with solar power, battery storage and generator backup. Comfortable, but properly away.



Medlands Beach is an eight-minute walk. Aotea Roast, Aotea Brewing and Good Neighbours Food are about five minutes away on Mason Road. Grab coffee, locally brewed beer and seasonal food without getting back in the car. Opening hours vary outside summer. Claris Airport and Tryphena Wharf are around 10 minutes by car.



After dark, step outside for an honest Dark Sky experience. The Milky Way is usually doing far more than your phone camera can manage, and the ruru that gave the house its name are regular night-time visitors.



Ruru is one of three private 175° East houses at Medlands, alongside Pītokuku House, which sleeps 10, and Tree House, which sleeps 8.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 20008358
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Glenfern Sanctuary and Medlands Beach.
View more Holiday homes in Great Barrier IslandOpens in a new window
Map
Great Barrier Island, Medlands

What's nearby

  • Medlands Beach - 8 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Kaitoki Beach - 20 min drive - 12.9 km
  • Blind Bay - 21 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Whangaparapara Harbour - 29 min drive - 17.2 km
  • Glenfern Sanctuary - 54 min drive - 38.2 km

Getting around

  • Great Barrier Island (GBZ) - 9 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mulberry Grove General Store - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Burger Shack - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Barrier Social Club - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Pa Beach Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Paris Texas - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 175° East - Ruru House | Off Grid Luxury | Medlands Beach pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at 175° East - Ruru House?

As of 29 September 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 175° East - Ruru House on 13 October 2026 start from NZ$970, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at 175° East - Ruru House | Off Grid Luxury | Medlands Beach?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at 175° East - Ruru House | Off Grid Luxury | Medlands Beach?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 175° East - Ruru House | Off Grid Luxury | Medlands Beach?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 175° East - Ruru House | Off Grid Luxury | Medlands Beach located?

Situated in Great Barrier Island, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Medlands Beach and within 9 miles (15 km) of Blind Bay and Kaitoki Beach. Awana Bay is 7.6 mi (12.2 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. 39 out of 41 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 41 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 41 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at Ruru home lived up to all expectations. It had all the home comforts which made our stay special. Great location 5 minute walk to the beautiful Medlands Beach. Will definitely be back for another vacation.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 25 September 2026
Thank you, we would have to welcome you back anytime …
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great space near Medlands beach

Had a lovely 3 night stay at Ruru as a group of 5. Place was just as described, Ian was a responsive host. Would happily stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing

Thank you for having us - we had such a great stay. Beautiful spot with everything you need, would highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Beautiful view

Quiet space, lovely views. Close to Medlyn's Beach.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

One of the best in Medlands.

Perfect property to stay at with all amenities that you would expect.Great views from the deck and a nice open plan kitchen and living space. An easy short walk to a fantastic quiet beach. Definitely recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 July 2020
Very pleased to hear the Cunningham family enjoyed our place Lovely guests and hope to see them again on the island soon
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely place

Very comfortable and peaceful, with stunning views of the ocean and mountains. Great host and communication.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A lovely spot to get away

We had a wonderful relaxing experience in this home. The home is beautiful and well appointed. The layout was perfect, a gorgeous view from just about every room - very comfortable accommodations.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 17 January 2023
Thank you, for your wonderful comments.. you were great guests.. Ian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Scenic views

Lovely stay in one of the best and most accessible spots to reach the rest of the island. Thanks.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Slice of heaven

We had such an amazing stay at Ruru house, it was perfect and had everything you could need. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Paradise with a view

Beautiful setting. House had everything we needed. Fantastic view of Medlands beach. Had a wonderful weeks holiday with friends.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Barrier Beauty!

We enjoyed staying at the house again with its elevated position and modern amenities. The house has great outdoor living and is handy to the beach and Medlands is our pick of places to stay on the Barrier!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 January 2023
Thanks Andrew! Check out our other two houses on the same property.. Pitokuku and Tree House
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect. Thx.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A perfect spot for either a short or long stay, very clean and everything you need is here to ensure a comfortable, peaceful stay, the fire was appreciated at night and the wood was bone dry so dead easy to get a roaring fire underway. We both slept like logs which means the beds were super comfy and supportive. Having decks on both sides of the house is a plus if the wind makes things uncomfortable. We'll be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Aotea Stay

Great week on Aotea. Blessed with the weather. Ruru was amazing place to stay - great views and very comfortable. Loved the outdoor shower after an afternoon on the beach. The microbrewery at the bottom of the hill was a great little spot in the afternoons. Loved the mermaid pools at Medlands Beach. Eating out and food options are limited. A car is a good idea to get out and about.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Spacious comfort

Comfortable, clean, spacious and beautiful setting. Comfortable beds and reasonably well provisioned. Lovely outside dining areas on decks back and front.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely stay

Fabulous spot- great views- easy walking to the beach and the brewery!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Medlands Views

Our family had a great stay and loved the house so have booked again! Although it is a walk from the beach we liked being elevated with great views and bird life from the house and large decks. The wood burner kept the house super warm for our winter stay. Thanks Ian
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great stay

Great position and superb facilities. Best accom experience from many visits to the Barrier
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Ruru

Really loved our stay. The best view. Short walk to the beach. Would recommend and stay again
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great spot for a relaxing break

A lovely modern property, up on the hill so quiet with a great view over Medlands but a short walk to the beach. Great spot for a relaxing break.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 13 May 2022
Thanks Nicola it was a pleasure having you to stay ...
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Tino Ataahua Pai

Great views of the sea at sunrise. Spacious accommodation. Gracious hosts and only just a phone call away. Everything needed was available. Totally enjoyed coming back to the property each evening.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 17 May 2022
thank you for booking with us it was a pleasure having you ...
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Luv the Sunrise

Easy access, great spacefkr two couples plus thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 March 2022
thank you for booking with us it was a pleasure having you ...
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Barrier weekend

Great place, plenty of space and well set up for weekend away!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 29 November 2020
Great guests would definetly host this group again
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Fantastic place to stay with everything you could possibly need and more (i.

Fantastic place to stay with everything you could possibly need and more (i.e. Outdoor speakers!). It's great that the master ensuite is separated from the other 2 bedrooms and main bathroom by the kitchen and living space as this gives families or friends privacy when needed. The front and rear decks are a bonus too. Hosts have lots of local knowledge and were very friendly. Would love to return soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The Perfect Spot

After roughing it on our hike around Mt Hobson for two days, coming to stay at the Melands Batch was a welcome haven. Stunning views, immaculate property, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot to unwind tired muscles with a beer in front of the fire. Thank you so much for having us :)
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2022
thank you for booking with us it was a pleasure having you ...

About the host

Hosted by Ian Cawson

Host profile image
Lyn and Bob have resided on Great Barrier for 15 years and have enjoyed the simplicity of this place/ magical.

What makes this property unique

Private and quiet location

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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