Founder’s Note
Our founder, Bianca, shares the story behind ULA — where it began, why the Tutukaka Coast means so much to her, and our ethos as we continue to shape thoughtful, luxury stays in this extraordinary part of the world. Read on below.
Bianca, on life in Tutukaka.
Why did you start ULA and what shaped the direction you wanted to take?
When Josh and I were working on the superyachts, we’d come back to New Zealand during our time off and always found it hard to line up short-term accommodation. It was usually big baches with too many rooms, bring-your-own linen, and not much in between.
Josh is from Cornwall, a popular seaside town in the UK that’s really well set up when it comes to holiday homes. There are great management companies over there that just make the whole experience simple and well run. So when I eventually moved home full-time to start our family, I started connecting the dots.
We’d spent years working in hospitality and travelling the world, staying in some incredible places. I could see the potential in the Tutukaka Coast. It’s such an amazing part of the country and still somehow underappreciated. And to be fair, Josh only agreed to move to New Zealand on the condition that we lived somewhere like Tutukaka. So that helped seal it.
How do you reconnect with nature on your everyday life in the Tutukaka Coast? Do you have any rituals/practices you do?
Whenever we’re feeling a bit cooped up with the boys, we’ll bundle everyone up, grab the front pack, and head out for a walk, usually the lighthouse track or Sandy Bay. It’s a good way to reset, and the boys love being out in the fresh air.
One of Felix’s favourite things to do is visit the animals at Waiparore. The donkeys, alpacas, and kunekune pigs are always a hit. Since moving to Tutukaka, we’ve made a bit of a routine of evening walks down to the marina. We go stingray spotting, and this summer we’ve been watching a little shag chick grow up. It started out nesting high up in the trees, and now it’s been hanging around on the rocks. It’s been surprisingly sweet to watch that change week to week.
Sometimes we’ll stop in at the fishing club on the way back for a glass of wine or a beer. It’s simple, but it’s become one of those everyday things that makes living here feel really special.
ULA has its roots in finding peace in its stays, pausing and slowing down. How do these stays show that? How is it different from an Airbnb or booking.com accommodation?
One of the things I really love about our properties is how many of them come stocked with board games, puzzles, and books. It might seem like a small detail, but there’s something really grounding about it. Encouraging you to put your phone down, sit around a table, and just reconnect with the people you’re with. No pressure, no rush, just time well spent.
There’s also the fact that every one of our homes is close to the water, or a great walk, often both. That kind of access to nature does something to you. It slows the pace, softens the edges a bit. It’s part of what inspired our phrase Stays That Breathe. These homes aren't just places to sleep —they’re places to rest properly. The owners genuinely love their properties and it shows in the care, the design, and the detail.
Then ULA comes in, almost as a custodian. We add the finishing touches, the small comforts, and the sense of quiet luxury that turns a good stay into something more meaningful. One of my favourite mottos has always been: it’s the small things that matter most. And that’s really at the heart of what we do.