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A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise

Photo gallery for A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise

Beach
View from Beach
Bach
Terrace/patio
Room

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Portage, Kenepuru Sound
  • Place, Picton Ferry Terminal
  • Place, Picton Harbour
  • Place, Dryden Bay
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Airport, Blenheim (BHE-Woodbourne)
    ‪116 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Single Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise

Come and enjoy the charm of Sandy Bay in Kenepuru Sounds. The bach at 21 Sandy Bay Road is one of several holiday homes in the bay nestled into the native bush. The property is accessible by sealed road from Linkwater, which is on the Picton to Havelock Road (Queen Charlotte Drive). It is approximately one hour’s drive from the Kenepuru Road turnoff at Linkwater

The bach is compact and tidy and yet has all the comforts and amenities to make it a treasured retreat away from home. It's open plan layout includes a dining and fully equipped kitchen area (with fridge/freezer, microwave, electric oven with 4 hobs) living area with a TV that plays DVDs, 2 bedrooms, and a shower room with separate toilet. The sitting room and kitchen both open out onto the deck. There is a sofa bed and a divan in the living room for extra guests (maximum house capacity is 6 people).

Activities include swimming, bush walking, tramping, fishing, fishing/cruise tours, or dine at one of the restaurants close by. The Portage hotel and restaurant is approx. 15 minutes from the bach and Punga Cove is a 20 minute drive. There are 2 kayaks for the guests to use (vintage lifejackets are in the bach, recommend you bring your own), or bring your own boat, which you can launch from Sandy Bay beach.

We ask visitors to clean up and leave property as found. There is a vacuum cleaner and the floors can be easily swept and wiped over with a mop. It is a very easy care holiday property!

All rubbish must be taken away with you and power and the water must be turned off as you leave according to instructions which will be sent once a booking is made.

NOTE: Under Kiwi bach tradition you are expected to: Clean the house and do the dishes before you leave; Bring your own linen (towels/sheets/tea towels).

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Outdoor space
Barbecue

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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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

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 are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Property Registration Number 070-249-960

About the area

Black Rock

Black Rock is home to this holiday home. Dryden Bay and Kenepuru Sounds reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Lochmara Lodge Arts Centre and Edwin Fox Museum. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
View more Holiday homes in Black RockOpens in a new window
Map
Portage, Kenepuru Sound

What's nearby

  • Dryden Bay - 14 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Kenepuru Sounds - 43 min drive - 21.5 km

Getting around

  • Picton (PCN) - 110 min drive

Restaurants

  • Kumatage
  • ‪Punga Fern Restaurant - ‬21 min drive
  • The Foredeck
  • Lochmara
  • ‪Boatshed Café & Bar - ‬21 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise?

As of 7 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise on 30 April 2026 start from NZ$182, 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.

What time is check-in at A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Slice of Marlborough Sounds Paradise located?

Situated in Black Rock, this holiday home is 3.9 mi (6.3 km) from Dryden Bay and within 16 miles (25 km) of Lochmara Lodge Arts Centre and Kenepuru Sounds. Queen Charlotte Walkway and Okiwa Bay are also within 32 miles (52 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jasmin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful tranquil spot. Sandy Bay was a lovely area to spend a few days exploring the Marlborough Sounds and the bach was everything as described and just what we needed. We enjoyed going down to the beach and utilising the kayaks.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Warm and responsive hosts
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2026
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Caroline B.

Awesome value for money, great wee Bach with an awesome beach just a few minutes away

Awesome value for money, great wee Bach with an awesome beach just a few minutes away
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Arron S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our week in Sandy Bay was one of our best family holidays. The bach was perfect for a family of six, the beach was safe and the locals were incredibly friendly. The drive is absolutely worth it - once we arrived, we were able to disconnect and decompress, which is hard to do these days. The owners, Gus and Lou, were welcoming and helpful. Sandy Bay is a special part of New Zealand... and we’ll definitely be back. Here are some photos taken from the balcony.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Michael Y.

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

Happy as

Happy as peaceful spot
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

4/10 Poor

Steve T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Sandy Bay bach

Basic bach with little done to make it homely. Okay but no more.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen G.

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

Sandy Bay Review

Basic old-style bach but was a nice relaxed feel with a lovely deck. Surrounded by beautiful bush and bird life and short walk down to the beach. Absolutely stunning wee bay with fabulous swimming and great to have access to the dinghy.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

murray H.

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

quite get away

property is more like the kiwi bach. Actually could get internet access which was helpful. Enjoyed the stay and setting.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather T.

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

Great place!

Great location just a couple of minutes walk to the beach, classic clean kiwi Bach. Really enjoyed our stay
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Alex O.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place for a rustic retreat

We really enjoyed getting away from it all.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Aimee A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kiwi batch with stunning views

We had a wonderful stay! 15 minutes from Portage Hotel in a gorgeous small bay. Sheltered from the wind, with stunning views. House is a proper kiwi batch, with one double bed, separate room with two singles, and two pull out couches in living room. Fairly basic but definitely all you need! Was very clean, with exception of the shower which had a lot of grime. Not cleaned by previous people staying, which was pretty gross. Otherwise, we absolutely loved our stay!
Verified

8/10 Good

Andrew P.

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

Restful location

A comfortable bach in a great location. Close to the water, very quiet and lots of great bird life.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hugh J.

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

Sandy bay

Was an awesome spot nice an cosy hopefully rent again
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Caroline B.

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

Paradise Found

This Bach in the Marlborough Sounds is set in native bush. Cicadas and bell birds are all around. Getting to the Bach is easy with directions sent to you. The boat is on the beach and rowing in the bay is great, we even caught some fish. There are games, cards, dvds to keep boredom at bay but we were so busy enjoying nature and awesome surroundings that we never used them. The Bach has everything you need and the best shower. We had a great time and would definitely go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

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

Brilliant overall

Great value, great location. Addition of the dinghy is a nice touch
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bianca O.

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

Had a lovely visit.Thanks

Very nice and quite place to relax get away from city life...
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lynda M.

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

Great location and well kept bach

Exactly what we were looking for. Clean, tidy and great location. We had a great stay. Louisa was a great owner making sure we were happy and everything was ok.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leanne And Mark R.

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

Relaxing weekend spot

A lovely, peaceful location to relax and unwind. The bach is clean and tidy and had everything we needed. We were very comfortable and just a short stroll down to a beautiful bay for swimming, beautiful sunsets and trying our luck at fishing. Many thanks for allowingys to use your bach, we really enjoyed ourselves.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified

6/10 Okay

Gilda H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Sandy Bay stay

Cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Floor was filthy and shower not much better. Also squeegy mop filthy. Dust and sweet papers behind my single bed in that bedroom. Only cleaned behind bed next to cupboard. My friend found double room dirty. On plus side plenty of hot water and fridge freezer great. Beds were comfortable. Electric fire and supply of blankets great. Didn't use the oven but microwave great. Didn't use any left-over food as took all our own and didn't want probably out-of-date food and sauces. So didn't clean the food cupboard. Plenty of cleaning products supplied but threw out some cloths. Took our own dishcloths. Draining dish tray very dirty . Also cutlery top drawer dirty. On balance loved our stay at Sandy Bay but cleanliness of property was very poor.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily M.

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

Tidy old school bach

This is your typical old school bach. Very tidy and clean, with heaps of kitchen equipment for any need. Half the bach had no power, but we were given plenty of warning, a workaround and a very generous discount. A good base for activities on the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Allan S.

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

Great spot.

Great.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily M.

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

Fantastic Sounds escape

A perfect bach for exploring the Sounds! The bird life was phenomenal and the sunny deck the ideal spot for a bbq and glass of wine. There were some minor electrical issues that popped up prior to our stay but the communication was excellent and Lou and Gus even popped by to make sure things were working out ok. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tonita T.

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

Wonderful bach in an idyllic setting

We stayed in Gus & Lou's wonderful bach for Christmas and couldn't have picked a better place, or setting. It is spacious and has everything you need with a real home-away-from-home feel to it. Sandy Bay is a little pocket of paradise, a nice quiet location with a good swimming beach, which is a short walk from the bach. If we have the opportunity to visit again then this is the place we would pick. Thanks Lou & Gus, this was a real highlight of our trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Mick C.

Very basic traditional kiwi Bach in a great location

Had a great time. Older style Bach that might be a bit cold in winter but wonderful summer retreat. Beautiful little beach about 200m walk away. Bach in a group of about 20-30 houses but was private enough when we were there. Is a long way to shops so just need to bring everything you will need (bread, milk, toilet paper, tissues, fishing bait, beer!!). Had a great time and would book this Bach again. Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Maddy B.

Beaut Spot

Great stay at the kiwi bach!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019

About the host

Hosted by louandgus

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Close proximity to Queen Charlotte Track

Languages:

English
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