New Zealand Holiday Houses

Holiday houses In New Zealand

The bach is a New Zealand icon.  Short for bachelor pad (despite the fact that they are often owned by families), a bach is also known as a holiday house.  The widespread practice of owning a second home became popular in New Zealand in the 1950’s, when the popularity and affordability of cars, combined with better quality public roads, made the holiday lifestyle more accessible for the middle class.  Today, a large number of Kiwi families own a bach (or crib, as they are sometimes called in the South Island.)

Bach’s are usually (and logically) located in areas of great natural beauty, such as lakeside or by the beach.  Many of the bach’s that sprung up during the 1950’s were built and designed by their owners, creating the tongue in cheek description of a bach as something you built yourself, on land you don’t own, out of materials you borrowed or stole.

Today, holiday houses in New Zealand run the gauntlet from the modest, original beach houses of the 1950’s to ultra modern, architecturally designed luxury villas.  They can be found in every region of New Zealand.   The country’s prevalent holiday home culture makes finding something to suit your preferences a lot easier.  Qualmark even has a holiday house category; holiday houses with a Qualmark badge have been rigorously assessed, ensuring that you are receiving quality accommodation.

Bach’s are generally rented out by the week and are provided fully furnished and with basic home wares, such as linen, cutlery and crockery.  The price includes utilities, but you will have to pay for your phone calls and groceries.  Unlike a hotel, you will not have a staff cleaning your room or assisting you with anything; you will be responsible for such things.  A bach getaway provides you with the opportunity to be self sufficient, and you may be able to use the owner as a reference if you are seeking long term accommodation.

The owner of your bach can provide you with local information, such as the best restaurant in the area.  Otherwise, a visit to the towns tourism centre can also yield information on any events or activities that are taking place.

Renting a bach is usually cheaper than the equivalent cost of renting out a hotel room for a week and provides a more authentic New Zealand experience.  The relative isolation (compared to a busy hotel) also makes holiday homes the natural choice for anyone seeking some alone time.