Eagles Nest

You know what? I’ve stayed at a lot of places around the Bay of Islands, but Eagles Nest on Tapeka Road is something else entirely. When you’re winding up that hill from Russell – and trust me, it’s quite the drive up – you start to get why this place commands the prices it does. The views alone are worth it, honestly. You’re perched up there looking out over the water, and on a clear day you can see right across to Paihia and beyond. The whole approach feels deliberately dramatic, like they want you to leave the regular world behind before you even check in.

What really gets me about this place is how they’ve managed to feel both luxurious and genuinely relaxing at the same time. I mean, sure, it’s got all the five-star touches you’d expect – the kind of linens that make you wonder why your sheets at home feel like sandpaper, bathrooms that are basically small spas, that sort of thing. But it doesn’t feel stuffy or pretentious, which can be a real problem with high-end spots around here. The staff actually seem to enjoy their jobs, and they know the area well enough to give you real recommendations, not just the obvious tourist stuff. When I mentioned wanting to find a decent flat white that wasn’t overrun with tour groups, the front desk person directed me to this little spot in Russell I never would have found otherwise.

The location is both a blessing and something to consider – you’re definitely removed from everything, which is exactly the point, but it means you’ll want a car if you plan to explore much. Russell itself is tiny (you can walk the whole historic waterfront in about twenty minutes), but being up on Tapeka Road puts you that extra bit away from even the modest bustle down in town. Parking’s never an issue, and the peace and quiet at night is pretty remarkable. Sometimes you’ll hear the odd boat engine from the bay, but mostly it’s just… quiet. Really quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you realize how much background noise you live with normally. Check-in was smooth when I was there – though I’d imagine things might get a bit more hectic during the peak summer season when every Aucklander heads north. The whole property has this understated elegance thing going on, nothing too flashy, just really well done. It’s the sort of place that makes you want to slow down and actually pay attention to things like sunsets and what the water looks like at different times of day.