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Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private

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Mockingbird from seaside beach. Seabreeze/shade on veranda. View of Levy Island
Gardens surround Mockingbird with palms, tropical flowers and foliage. Private.
Living room, 12 foot sliding doors for sea view. Comfortable furniture. Dining table for 6. Large front room design separates bedrooms for privacy.
Open-concept. Comfortable seating. Feel at home on the beach.
Kitchen open to seaview. Extensive cooking equipment. Window overlooks garden.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4120.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Balara Bay, Eleuthera
  • Place, French Leave Beach
  • Place, Twin Coves Beach
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Hut Point Beach
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Airport, Governor's Harbour (GHB)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Master

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2 en suite bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master en suite bathroom

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private

PLEASE NOTE: 7 NIGHT MINIMUM STAY. RATES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE. EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON IS $20 PER NIGHT. OWNER APPROVAL REQUIRED PRIOR TO ADDING MORE GUESTS AFTER INITIAL BOOKING AGREEMENT.

Sixty feet beyond the large covered veranda is the clear turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea. You are ON THE BEACH. Shade is provided for comfort on both the deck, overlooking the gardens, and on the seaside verandah. All rooms have sea views. Bedrooms have 8 foot sliding glass doors overlooking the bay. The Living Room has 12 foot sliding glass doors. The home has parking in a circular driveway and is 1000 feet down a private driveway to Balara Bay. The island's largest settlement, Governor's Harbour, is two miles away offering varied restaurants, grocery stores, bakery, post office, banks, historic library, service stations, beverage stores, churches, and gift shops.

The Mockingbird, new in 2010, is state of the art construction by the island's leading builder and energy efficient for your comfort and enjoyment. Concrete construction and the heavily insulated ceiling and walls allow windows to be open, even in hot weather, allowing seabreeze and sea sounds inside the home, maximizing the island experience. The home is not typical island cement block construction.


Why the Owner Chose Governor's Harbour: Balara Bay is beautiful, private, serene, and secluded. The Mockingbird is 1000 feet from the Queen's Highway on a stretch of white sand beach that looks out on Levy Island. The property is surrounded by extensive tropical foliage, and the property itself has many varied tropical trees including coconut palms and palmetto palms. The gardens are filled with bouganvilla, exora, hibiscus and numerous island flowers.

The Unique Benefits of this House: The Mockingbird is on a white sand beach. The Caribbean is 60-100 feet in front of the home. The view is unobstructed. The property is level and easy to walk. We are a four minute drive to the island's largest settlement, Governor's Harbour, with its many facilities and amenities. The Mockingbird is easily accessible as there are many remote properties on the island that are not easily accessible. Just minutes away from stores, restaurants and entertainment. Yet the property offers privacy, quiet and a sense of seclusion.

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House Rules

Check in after 1:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 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
NO smoking inside. Smoking only outside.
Kayaks and paddleboards must be returned to parking area after each use. They cannot remain on water's edge due to rising tides.
Guests are responsible for their own safety and that of their children. The home owner is not responsible for injuries on or off the property.
The use of recreational equipment is at the guest's own risk. Life preservers are furnished for adults. Guests must bring preservers to fit children.

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock
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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Is Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private?

As of 27 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private on 8 April 2026 start from NZ$517, 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 Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beachfront Dock TikiHut WiFi Kayaks Paddleboards Terrace Gardens Private located?

Nestled on the beach, this Governor's Harbour holiday home is within 2 mi (3 km) of Twin Coves Beach, Hut Point Beach and Central Eleuthera Beach. Haynes Public Library is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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. 23 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous location. Swimming in the gorgeous, sparkling Caribbean Sea right outside our door was a dream come true!!!!!
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra S.

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

A little heaven

Gorgeous location and home. We loved every second of this stay and the wonderful fully equipped home. We are definitely coming back to this paradise!
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robin H.

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

Central location

Unbelievable beaches on the island. We were centrally located to make travel easy to a different beach each day. The house was our home away from home with everything we needed. Owner was easy to work with and so helpful with making our vacation relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

keith k.

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

2nd trip

This our 2nd trip in the last 1 1/2 years to this property. Once at each house on the location and quietness of this place is so relaxing. Would definitely come back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Sherise J.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
This home is absolutely beautiful! It’s certainly located in a great spot to visit the north and south end of the island. I don’t think I have ever seen a home more organized. Plus, the view is a postcard. I need to add that the no-see-ums were in the thousands after a brief storm. We tried bug spray with Deet, but to no avail. Consequently, we returned home with 100’s of bites that pretty much ruined the last four days of our ten day trip. No fault of the owner, but don’t take the mention of bugs lightly. Many thanks to our host for having us.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

mark p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House has great location and right on beach. It has just about everything you need already provided. Negatives is furniture not vet comfy, the little portable gas grill didn’t work for the night we were going to grill and the internet/wifi was really bad went on and off so couldn’t stream or email etc. Beautiful property close to Governors and worked well for the 4 of us.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, the bay is beautiful, great view from the porch to watch boats, several restaurants with in 10 minutes. The home is the most organized rental I have ever stayed in!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sallie M.

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

Great place to rest and disconnect !

The home is well equipped and very homey. The photos do not capture the water entry properly as you need water shoes to traverse the rocky entrance. But once past the rocks the bay is spectacular! Only drawback is there is no cable for tv so no local or foreign news available for those who need to know. But Netflix save the day. For more options I would bring your Apple TV box to connect to the smart tv for greater viewing options. Not much to do except beach combing, the glass window and eating out. I recommend Buccaneer’s club, Tippy’s and Shipyard cafe in Spanish wells!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John K.

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

Two week dream!

We've stayed at the Hummingbird numerous times previously. First time at Mockingbird. As usual, we felt like we were staying in a home - not a rental. The location is beautiful and relaxing. The location allows for easy access to both ends of the island. Marion has thought of everything you might need or need to know to make your stay as stress free as possible. Just can't adequately describe how special this place is. Planning on returning next summer to introduce Eleuthera to the grandkids.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

sandy m.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Location

After multiple delays we arrived 3 days late.The weather was challenging but finally cleared. Great location and the water was incredible.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martina S.

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

Hidden Gem!

This place is amazing, true hidden gem! Very private, on a beautiful beach with turquoise water. This house has everything you need, and all so well organized and clean! The front of the house features beautifully landscaped garden, with flowers and coconut trees. We had the best time! The kayaks and paddleboards are great, and the bay is the perfect place to use those. I'd recommend taking water shoes or water socks... just to walk to water over shells and little stones... few steps in the water and you are on very fine sand. We enjoyed Governor's Harbor, bought fresh fish and lobsters from local fishermen, few nights we went to local restaurants for delicious dinner and cocktails. Communication with the owner was amazing, we've got a lot of information and recommendations. We will be back!
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Perfect Vacation

This house is well maintained and provides everything you need. The driveway in to the property is breathtaking! The pictures don't do justice of the gorgeous, lush landscaping. The owner was beyond friendly and helpful. The propane ran out while we were there. After contacting her, someone was there within an hour to replace it. It is a beautiful view and it is so nice being that close to the water. There are amazing beaches around the area. We would highly recommend Receiver's Beach. It is a short drive right off the highway and it has crystal clear, shallow water for a couple hundred yards. We had a lot of fun using the kayaks a couple days while we were there. This was a great bonus! Thank you for making this place feel like home for your guests!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen R.

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

Just Beautiful

This home exceeded all expectations! The home is well equipped & comfortable & oh that beach...it really is steps from the porch! We rode almost all of the island & saw so many beaches but the one at this house is as good as any we saw! Will definitely be back & will choose this home again. The owner is just precious & so helpful!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cortney A.

If seclusion, privacy & shades of blue are your thing - RENT.THIS.HOUSE!

We rented this house because our family wanted privacy & to escape the crowds... and that's exactly what we got! As past reviewers have stated, the House is on the Caribbean side and is usually a very calm Bay. We did have a day or 2 of waves but it was a nice change! The House is stocked y'all, like really really stocked (we were surprised that the House even had Flashlights, dish soap, matches, & beach hats!) and nicely labeled & organized. The Owner is a breeze to work with and was extremely helpful when our arriving flight (Silver Airways) was cancelled and we were delayed a day. The Mockingbird is a great house with beautiful gardens, a definite must stay! Renter tips: Don't leave your beach shoes or coverups on the front porch to dry unattended!! The very cute but very stealth potcakes that seem to live a few houses down were stealing of our stuff pretty regularly, hahaha. Luckily we were always able to go track our items down in the little pasture the dogs liked to hang out in, but you've been warned! :) Also, bring your own hair dryer, the ones in the house are very old & 1 only blows cold air. ;)
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kris B.

Wonderful Place

This is the most well stocked home we have ever stayed in. They have beach chairs, umbrellas, hard-sided rolling cooler, Tupperware, tinfoil, dish soap, hand soap, paper towels, Kleenex, just about everything you could possibly need. The yard is beautifully landscaped, lots of flowers and coconut trees! It's a quick drive to Governor's Harbour and centrally located. The kayaks, paddle boards and paddles are all in great working shape and good quality. Before we arrived, my biggest concern was the beach and water, I couldn't really tell from the online photos what we were getting into. The water is gorgeous. We had a calm bay (glass) for most of our trip and some waves towards the end of trip, nothing too concerning. We kayaked and paddle boarded out to the island several times. At low tide, it felt like you could have walked all the way to the Levy island. We found lots of starfish at the island and even had a pod of dolphins swim with us while we paddle boarded! There were lots of rays, sharks, barracuda and houndfish in front of the home during our stay. I even saw an octopus! We shark fished from the dock every night. We needed waters shoes for getting in and out of the water. The sand is more of a brown color and there are lots of shells on the beach (conchs too) . Once you are in the water, it is a nice sandy bottom. We would actually go for walks in the water as it was easier (and more fun) than walking on the beach. If you are debating between the two homes on the property, in my opinion, this is the one to rent. The dock/concrete platform in front of the home made our trip! We enjoyed our stay immensely and wouldn't hesitate to return!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tracey G.

Caribbean Paradise

My husband and I stayed at Mockingbird for 3 weeks, which sounds extensive but wasn't long enough. The pictures of the house and the view are accurate and the cove is very beautiful. The waters are calm and it's shallow enough to stand for a long ways out, but it is still swimmable. Marian provides an assortment of water toys, which we have had to rent on other trips so it is a bonus to have them available with the house. The kayaks and paddle boards were great to use in the cove. If you are looking for boogie-boarding you can go for a 5 minute drive across the highway to a beach with good waves. The house is well cared for, clean and well stocked. There are books and movies, and the internet was good while we were there. There was no cable but there was an apple box. Marian was in the property next door and was available for any issues or questions but gave us all the privacy we wanted in this location. It is a very private location which was what we were looking for. There was some ocean grass on the beach while we were there but Marian had a path cleared for us to get easily to the water and we didn't find it affected our enjoyment of the property and the beach. It is in a central location on the island, 5 minutes from Governor's with restaurants and grocery stores. It's a trade-off to travel in less developed areas if you don't like to cook on holidays but don't want to go to a restaurant every day -there is a food truck called 'Sweet & Savory" in Governor's that has very good food if you wanted to grab and go back to the house. Tippys is good for a night out when they have live music. Be aware the roads can be in bad shape with potholes, and the speed bumps are tall so beware. We'd recommend renting a small SUV instead of a car if you want to venture to some of the secluded beaches on the island. The noseeums were bad while we were there, if you don't want a very itchy vacation it's best to keep spray with Deet on hand and be diligent. We had trouble finding fresh fish, there was none in the grocery stores and whenever we went to the docks there were no fishermen selling. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay on Eluethera in the Mockingbird property and would highly recommend for those who prefer privacy and your own property instead of going to a resort.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

gabriela B.

Perfect place to discover central Eleuthera

We really enjoyed staying in this house with a beautiful view. The place is very calm and perfect to travel with a small kid. The beach in front of the house is small but safe, with a lot of shells. The house is very clean and very well kept. We loved also to discover the amazing skies every nigth and the amazing beaches not far from the house, every day. We would like to return!
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wendy P.

The best vacation ever!! I will return to this beautiful island and Mockingbird Cottage.

Property is very well maintained! So very comfortable. Perfect location for enjoying the entire island. Marian is wonderful to work with. Her entire support team could not have been more welcoming. The perfect place to leave all day to day issues behind. You only have to decide how many cups of coffee to have and what bathing suit to wear for the day. Excellent!!!!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn H.

Perfect for our family of four with two teenage girls!

The close proximity to the turquoise water and beautiful garden was fantastic! Our teenage daughters loved laying out on the cement dock which had a permanent umbrella for me (mom) to use since I burn easily-perfect! You are right on top of the water! The layout of the house is incredible- you see the beautiful water from every room! (Except bathrooms- beautiful garden view). The house was comfortable and homey! We all loved staying at the Mockingbird! It's location can't be beat either! So close to grocery stores and great restaurants. It's on the Caribbean side in the middle of the island, so sightseeing north and south is equidistant. Awesome and easy driveway to get to the house. Only thing is there is a house next door that shares the beach, kayaks and paddle boards, but not a big deal to us having to share. The gardens separate the houses for privacy. Would highly recommend staying at the Mockingbird!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Judy M.

Beautiful Beach Home on Balara Bay

My husband and I spent 9 days at Mockingbird on our first trip to Eleuthera to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Mockingbird exceeded our expectations in every way. The owners have covered every detail to make sure their guests are well prepared and comfortable. The home sits on a lovely shell-covered, secluded beach. We did not see any other people for 4 days until a small group checked into the sister home, Hummingbird. We only saw them on one day for the rest of our trip. The landscaping and gardens make both homes seem very private. We used the concrete dock in front of the house for sunbathing and snorkeled right off the beach. We saw star fish, sand dollars, some interesting sea life north of the house towards an old pier and trees. The Caribbean Ocean was stunning. For most of the days of our stay it was as calm and clear as a swimming pool! The house was less that 5 minutes to Governor's Harbour where there are many wonderful restaurants and beaches. We were able to get groceries and water at Burrows and gas at Eleuthera supply in Governor's Harbour. The beautiful new restaurant 1648 is less than 5 minutes away. Pascal's was another lovely beachfront restaurant about 5 minutes north. The house was spotlessly clean and well organized. There was an ample supply of bath towels, beach towels, kitchen essentials, beach equipment, chairs, umbrella's, the Beach Book for exploring other beaches, local information, etc....we did not find that there was one thing we needed that wasn't provided. Marian was prompt and explicit in booking the home and instructions in sending the deposit, etc. She emailed a multi-page set of details about the house and the area. We would highly recommend this home without hesitation. It is exactly as described and even offers more than we were expecting. We hope to return to Eleuthera soon and would choose this location and home again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Relaxing and Away from it all

Myself, wife and son arrived at the house tired and ready for a quiet vacation; that's what we got. It took us about one hour before we hit the beach and ocean. There wasn't anything to do on arrival other than unpack and hit the water. The house is stocked with more than on would ever need for a while except for main meals. A quick five minute ride to Governor's Harbor will take care of that. There are two main stores less than 5 miles away and another north at James Cistern. The house is as described and very comfortable with all the comforts of home including wireless and satellite TV. Cudo's to Marian the owner its a beautiful home and we are so appreciative of her willingness to rent it to visitors. The entire two weeks was so peaceful and relaxing almost made us not want to leave. You have complete privacy, even if someone is at the sister house next door. The beach is about three giant hops away from the rear porch and the water about the same once you are on the beach. No need to bring anything, repeat anything, with you except your clothing. This place has it all from kitchen supplies, bathroom needs, sunning, towels, paddle boards you name it save time and expense if you don't find it in the house or storage closets believe me you don't need it. Bring some citronella oil with you to use in the wee mornings and dusk as some pesky little guys like to bite unsuspecting folks. The oil will keep them at bay. So in the end a great place to stay off the beaten trail with all the comforts of home. If you travel off season you'll have to do more grilling and cooking at the house as the restaurants are closed too but if you can go to the front porch for a meal I promise you it will be worth it... Have a good time; thanks Marian we enjoyed our time there and hope to repeat it soon....PS. you will need a rental car while here....the owner can recommend one for you.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Dawn W.

Third Times a Charm - We Found Our Repeat Location, FINALLY!!

My husband and I returned a week ago from our 3rd visit to Eleuthera, first visit to the Mockingbird, but DEFINITELY not our last visit to this house if possible. (I am not an over user of caps so take this into consideration.) The house has EVERYTHING possible and all in excellent condition. Being in my mid-40s, we have rented various houses (beach, mountains, US/Int'l) and this out-paced all of them with the quality and quantity of kitchen utensils, equipment, pots/pans, and any other item you could think possible. Had I known, I would have waited before grocery shopping as there were several items available to us at the house already which I purchased. The location is PERFECT. We arrived at the ELH since we flew in via AA on FF miles. 1 hour to the house. Stop at the Sands Bar across from the airport. Great prices on cases of Diet Coke and super friendly staff (especially Brachelle and Paul). Found the house with some directions from Paul. Remember, there are no house numbers so directions can be based on distance and landmarks. Ran (literally) into Gov Harbor several times and visited The Bakery. Less than 2 miles one-way to the fish fry! I could have saved myself paying the bag weight overage since the beach towels (all linens really) were high quality and PLENTY of them. The owners have gone above and beyond to make this house a home, not a rental home, but someplace nice. We always say if the rental is at least as nice/comfortable as what we have at home (which is a high bar to clear) that is had success and The Mockingbird earns the gold medal. Only used the one bathroom with the shower. Everything is new and in great condition especially with the salt air. Lots of tile so it is easy to sweep and keep clean. This was the earliest visit for us (May) as past visits have been late June and late Aug; the temps were perfect. We had a good bit of rain but that is out of anyone's control. More reading inside vs. on the dock. FYI, WI-FI but cannot use NetFlix outside US (something about distribution rights). The walk from the house to the beach is 65 ft if not less. Used the dock for sunbathing with umbrella and it was heaven. PLENTY of shaded porch area too which was necessity for Hubby. We are already working on a plan for our return visit. Lots of lizards to watch from the porch and frogs at night. Thank you Gil and Marian for sharing your slice of heaven. We hope you will allow us to rent again soon. Dawn & Thom, Raleigh
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Balara Bay Gem

We just spent the most wonderful three weeks at the Mockingbird on Balara Bay. It is by far the most comfortable, beautiful, clean, well organized and well stocked vacation home we have ever stayed in. It has a great layout and is very spacious. There is a wonderful large veranda in the back of the house with an incredible view of the bay and Levy Island. Marian could not have been more accommodating at meeting our needs. We felt fortunate that she chooses to share her home away from home with others. Balara Bay is one of the most beautiful and calm bays on the island and the Mockingbird is only about 100 feet from the water, if that. The kitchen is equipped with all the kitchen utensils one could ask for and then some. Having a washer on the premises was very convenient. Mockingbird is set far enough off of the highway that there is absolutely no highway noise to be heard at the house. It has a great central location near Governor’s Harbour for exploring the rest of the island. Picnic and beach items were also included for our trips away from the house. We had great fun using the kayaks and there were plenty of kayaks for everyone to use at the same time. The water in the bay was very warm and great for snorkeling and swimming. There is even an outdoor shower to use when you get out of the water. The grounds around the house are beautiful with a big variety of local plants and herbs.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Richard H.

Comfortable and Classy

Mockingbird sits on Balara Bay just north of Governor's Harbour. My wife and I were planning for a place to stay on the Caribbean side of the island during our second week on the island after a week on the Atlantic side. The host at our Atlantic rental recommended Hummingbird, a rental home on the same property as Mockingbird. 'Unfortunately' it was already taken. The owners said we could stay in their 'home', Mockingbird, if we wanted. I think we were very fortunate. Mockingbird is a very well built home. It doesn't feel like a rental. The quality is visible in the construction and quality of materials. The tile work is precise, the finish of the walls smooth and square. We really liked the bathrooms with a shower/tub in one and a large shower in the other - great shower head. We ate out a couple times but mostly I cooked. The house has lots of pots, pans and other cooking equipment. You can see in the pictures that the house sits right on the water. You can sit on the deck or lounge on the beach and you're only steps from the water to cool off. Being the Caribbean side, the water is shallow for quite a way out. You can see the light green color change to dark blue maybe a thousand feet from shore. Depending on the tide, the shallow water may be 2-5 feet deep near shore. The owners provided kayaks. I tried one and had a great time but I recommend not going when the breeze is up - that makes for a lot of work. In short, this is a very nicely built and equipped house that is very comfortable to be in. We'd love to come back.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Audrey B.

Gorgeous beach front home.

The house is well equipped. They even had portable coolers, DVDs, books and so many other things to make our stay wonderful. We loved having movie night. The location is phenomenal. The flats at Balara Bay are beautiful and calm. My husband went shark fishing a couple of evenings, and had a great time (of course he released them). We saw plenty of sting ray and we had a great time looking for shells. There is a wonderful outdoor shower, and the patio was perfect for watching the kids play in the water while I sat in the shade. The house and location is more beautiful than the pictures. We had a wonderful time in this new house. The bathrooms are very nice, and the whole house was very comfortable and nice. The house is close enough to Governors Harbor to shop for groceries and eat at restaurants. It is very conveniently located to everything. This was one of the most relaxing vacations that we have taken. I can not say enough how beautiful the beach is at this house. Absolutely breathtaking!

About the host

Hosted by Marion Macy

Host profile image
Gil and Marian Macy purchased the Balara Bay property in 2000 from prominent Bahamians who used the Stone Beach Cottage as their beach retreat. Since that time we have lived on Eleuthera for 6 months of the year. In 2010 the Mockingbird was built on adjoining property. Jason Thompson, the island's leading builder, was the contractor. We chose our property on the Caribbean side of the island as we love walking the Atlantic beaches, but we want to live on the side of the island with gently prevailing winds and calm waters. Fishing, bone fishing, swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking all from our waterfront property. Our property is premier, the location is great, close to the largest settlement Governor's Harbour, the view is spectacular. Gardens abound. The beach is our front yard.

Why they chose this property

Balara Bay is beautiful, serene, and secluded. The home is 1000 feet from the Queen's Highway on a stretch of beach that looks out on Levy Island.








We are 1000 feet off the Queen's Highway for easy access anywhere on the island. The property is surrounded by extensive tropical foliage, and has many varied tropical trees including coconut palms and palmetto palms. The gardens are filled with tropical flowers. WE ARE ON THE BEACH directly in front of our home for immediate kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing, swimming and bone fishing. White sand is our front yard. The proximity to Governors Harbour, the island's largest settlement, provides access to banks, restaurants, grocery and beverage stores and the famous Friday Fish Fry. Within minutes are islands best restaurants Tippy's, Buccaneer, Sunset Inn, and recently the 1648 at French Leave Harbour as well as Pascal's at Sky Beach


What makes this property unique

Calm, Caribbean waters only steps away from the house for kayaking, paddleboarding, lounging, swimming, fishing and overall peaceful enjoyment. Surrounded by an oasis of tropical foliage and flowers. Private drive off Queen's Highway. Private circular driveway to home. Our caretaker neighbor is within a mile and available to help if you need assistance. Our guests say our view of Levy Island is as beautiful a view that they have found anywhere on Eleuthera.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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