YOUR EX’s Oliver Hall discovers that a stay at this architectural wonder is not about how it looks, but how it makes you feel and the ways that can change you
About a 30-minute drive from the South Island’s picturesque volcano-rim town of Akaroa sits Annandale in Pigeon Bay (annandale.com). Annandale is a working coastal farm, set along 15 kilometres of the Banks Peninsula, that offers arguably New Zealand’s most luxurious secluded accommodation. This includes three modern coastal villas and four beautifully restored historic properties, including the Shepherd’s Cottage for couples and the Annandale Homestead for larger groups.
Each of the modern villas has been designed by renowned New Zealand architect Andrew Patterson, with a mandate to complement the land, not compete with it. Even though Andrew’s firm, Pattersons, is responsible for iconic buildings like New Plymouth’s Len Lye Centre and Christchurch’s Ravenscar House Museum, Annandale houses some of his greatest works, such as the award-winning Scrubby Bay (which sleeps up to 14) and the romantic couples’ retreat Seascape, our accommodation for an unforgettable stay.
You have two options for arriving at Seascape: a helicopter ride from Christchurch Airport, which can be done in a brief seven minutes or extended if you would like to see more of the coast, or driving to reception and leaving your car there. From reception, staff will take you on to the accommodation, with the option of touring the farm on the way. At this time of year, the tour is a must, with newborn lambs bouncing around and stealing your heart as they frolic in this most picturesque setting.
Seascape is secluded in Whitehead Bay. As we drive down the peninsula towards it, it takes a while to spot the building as its natural roof blends into the hills.
You enter the villa to a suspended 70s-style bubble chair hanging from the ceiling, which sets the perfect tone for the stay: a swing seat dedicated to watching the waves.
The accommodation, while essentially a studio, is made up of a multitude of outdoor and indoor spaces, each with unique offerings to be enjoyed.
Time absolutely slows down lying out on the perfectly furnished deck with an outdoor fireplace that stretches towards the sea, complete with plush outdoor armchairs and day beds. There is such a therapeutic serenity to the waves lapping so close to you… and only you, creating a seclusion that is equal parts addictive and nurturing.
We wallow in the sunken spa bath and chat, then lie out on the day beds and barely utter a word. The stillness has taken us and we are simply seduced by the view. We do enjoy a brief stroll around the bay, but nothing that will compete with the number of calories we consume.
We arrived to find charcuterie and cheese plates waiting for our peckish presence. They have been prepared by Annandale’s private chef Liam Summers (fresh off being head chef at Tussock Hill when it earned a Michelin star). Before our stay, we filled out a form asking about our dietary desires, and tonight he cooks for us at Seascape.
At this private dining experience, each course is surpassed by the next. It is undeniably the best meal we have had, climaxing with crayfish in buttery pumpkin consommé and a perfectly cooked beef fillet.
The staff at Annandale can organise any activities you would like to enjoy in the surrounding area, but wisely warn that when you experience the accommodation, you may not feel like leaving it. We decide we will explore Akaroa once we have departed, but after dinner, from the comfort of the helipad lawn, just steps from Seascape’s entrance, they organise a private stargazing session for us with Akaroa Stargazing (which I detail on the next page). We admire the moon through a variety of telescopes, while the restorative soundtrack of the tide lapping over the beach’s pebbles plays and a local leopard seal keeps watch over us from shore. It is a magical end to the evening.
Breakfast and lunch the next day are delivered to our accommodation as part of the ‘we create, you serve’ service, meaning you can just please yourselves. Eat when you like. Sleep when you like. You’re completely free.
Breakfast includes par-cooked poached eggs that you simply dunk into boiling water for 30 seconds, and beef brisket hash to heat in the oven. They are served with the most divine pickles (grown on the property).
The morning sun glitters across the bay. Seascape’s design, with floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, ensures you always feel more connected with nature and the elements, making it an incredible place to reset as you begin sleeping at night and making the most of the property during daylight hours. Ideal for night owls looking for a circadian restructure.
Talking to Andrew Patterson about his design, he tells me, “Seascape was about creating a primal direct relationship with the natural environment. A fire, cave, the sea, the land, and the weather.”
This rings true, as I stretch out on the L-shaped couch in front of the feature fireplace, looking towards the striking cliffs and across the sea to the Kaikōura mountains. A uniquely New Zealand view. The toilet shares the same outlook, meaning even ablutions offer time for reflection.
While lying in a giant bubble bath in the triumphantly designed bathroom, my niece calls from London to share her exam results. The joyful conversation inspires me to reach out to those friends I’ve been meaning to catch up with for ages. Laughter ensues as we reconnect over old memories and recent news. That’s the thing when life feels like it has slowed down. You realise you can make the time to connect with the people who matter.
During our stay we listen to The Beatles, The Weeknd, Michael Jackson and the new album from Sam Smith. Though different, each feels fitting for Seascape in its own way. Whether it’s McCartney and Lennon reminding us that ‘All You Need Is Love’, The Weeknd’s celebration of modern excess, Smith’s soulful ease or Jackson and Quincy Jones’ collaborative masterpieces, every one of them seems to speak Annandale’s language of modern creativity meeting ancient natural beauty.
While a flatscreen is perfectly positioned to be watched from your king bed, everything about Seascape draws you to look away from screens and put down your phone. Your attention is instead taken by the breathtaking views and by experiencing the different spaces this retreat has to offer.
I’m amazed at how even a short stay at Seascape broadened my perspective and led me to reconsider life’s challenges.
If you are looking for a mental reset, stay somewhere specially designed to cut out the noise and encourage the luxury of introspection.
For those who appreciate architecture, getting away from it all and reconnecting with the natural world, their partner and themselves, Seascape is the break you didn’t realise you needed.
