Location

Ohope is a small, laid-back town at the south-eastern end of the Bay of Plenty. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Whakatāne, where you can find all the shops you need. Ohope has gorgeous beaches which we spent a lot of time at, walking the dogs and swimming. During our Februry/March stay the weather was nice and warm so being outside was lovely. This was our second housesit in Ohope and we always enjoy the relaxed, holiday vibe.

Pets/House

The house was located in a quiet suburban area near the estuary, only a 10-minute walk from the beach. We had the pleasure of looking after three adorable dogs: Daisy, Lily, and Spook.

Daisy is the eldest of the three and a Shih Tzu. She loved a good pat and would paw at you if you stopped too soon. She had some funny quirks, like only drinking water from her specific bowl, and she refused to go through the dedicated dog flap despite all our attempts with tricks and treats.

Lily is also a Shih Tzu and has big beautiful brown eyes that look at you with such curiosity and admiration. She was an anxious dog and would bark when she felt uncertain or scared. She loved sitting on our laps and being close to us. On walks, Lily was the leader and the most excited of the group, skipping, ahead and frolicking through the sand dunes.

Spook is a Chihuahua and a funny little fella. Being the only male, he had to hold his own, but his biggest challenge was the couch. While Lily and Daisy would effortlessly jump up, Spook had a whole process. First, he’d look at the couch. Then look away. Then look back again just to make sure it hadn’t moved. Then away again. And just when the couch thought it was safe, Spook would suddenly sprint at full speed and launch himself up like a little rocket. He was quick to learn and always the first out the dog flap when treats were involved. Anytime someone moved, he would get up to check on us, making sure everything was okay. He was very affectionate toward Lily and Daisy, often grooming them by licking their eyes and fur until it stood up spiky!

What We Did

Given the peaceful location, good weather and Woolworths providing delivery, we didn’t leave Ohope once during our stay! Each day included a walk with the dogs, sometimes we would head down the road to the estuary, where they loved sniffing along the paths and exploring every plant. Other days we would go to the beach where the dogs could run freely and get super excited about bits of driftwood and seaweed.

We also spent time at the beach ourselves, soaking up the sun, enjoying the scenary and having fun bodysurfing in the waves.

We also had to try out at least one local takeaway, so we went to the Steak House Takeaway in Ohope which had a nice open steak sandwich on garlic bread with chips. Their macaroni cheese bites were also quite good.