Dorothy the bus awaits your visit
Photos Lauren Kylie Murray
Long standing readers of Junction may remember a feature on Harthouse Cabins which were being built in Mangawhai Heads, back in 2017. After building these cabins for other people, Cliff and Angela decided to keep a couple for themselves to offer the experience of staying in them on their property; and thus Harthouse Haven was created.
Initially this setup consisted of two cabins, each with queen beds, a separate kitchen and bathroom. After some time they added another unusual accommodation option to their property - a 1968 Bedford house bus called Dorothy. Dorothy started life as a school bus before being converted for full time living and travelling around the country for several years, eventually coming to rest in the Waikato. Following an adventure packed journey up to Mangawhai she was remodelled and repainted to become part of Harthouse Haven.
Dorothy is ideally suited for short or medium term stays for a single person or a couple. She has a very comfortable bed with electric blankets and great quality ironed cotton sheets, a kitchen with gas hob and cooking equipment (including of course a stove top coffee percolator). Cliff and Angela like guests to make the most of the tranquil environment and so have plenty of books and games on board to be enjoyed.
For many people the downside of bus living is the limited bathroom space, but they have found a way around that by providing a totally separate shower and toilet with great water pressure and plenty of room. The jewel in the crown though is the bush bath set amongst the trees, with instant gas hot water and the most tranquil surroundings.
Dorothy sleeps two, however with the two cabins on the same property able to accommodate a couple each, Harthouse Haven can offer accommodation for up to six adults. The location is ideal for offering a rural retreat while only being a few minutes drive from the beach and the main town centre.
All of the options above - one cabin, two cabins or Dorothy the bus - can be booked through Riparide and Airbnb; search for 'Harthouse Cabins' or 'Dorothy the bus at Harthouse Haven'.