Head east the Abel Tasman National Park, Taupo point (secluded walk to remote beach and Pa site),  Wainui Waterfalls (20min follow river through rainforest),  Totaranui (numerous walks, stunning iconic beach or catch water taxi further into park) Tata beach or Ligar Bay (excellent swimming and very close).

  Just a very short drive -  Rawhiti Cave (up from a dry bolder river bed to huge cave entrance)  The Grove scenic reserve (Rata trees on lime sculptures)  Pohara beach  (wide, tidal sands framed by bush covered cliffs of Pohara to the bird reserve at Rotatai estuary)  Te Waikoropupu Springs (clear sacred water gushing in forest reserve)  Paines Ford  (follow path of rail line and discover hidden swim holes in Takaka river)  Labyrinth Rocks (maze carved in natural limestone)  Takaka township  (galleries,  coffee shops, local produce market and pretty much all you need)

Go West  Pass the beaches (Rangihaeata, Patons Rock, Onekaka, just turn right off HW60)  Milnthorpe forest park (a favourite place of mine, forest walks facing onto a remote sandy beach)  Collingwood  (settlement of cafes and leaving point for farewell spit tours)  Farewell Spit  (walks to  remote west coast sands through protected bird reserve)  Wharariki Beach (caves, dunes, seal colony and massive iconic sea arches)  Aorere Valley  (visit Langford store, Salisbury falls,  Aorere goldfields, Kaituna Forks Walkway)

................................Then back to The Sandcastle to relax on your cottage deck,  maybe enjoy a yoga class, possibly a massage or the pizza oven if arranged.