Top 5 Places to buy the perfect summer bach: From Whangamatā to Wānaka

Our data confirms what we’ve long suspected: summer is the prime season for bach daydreaming. Every January, the interest in holiday homes skyrockets, with listing views for baches surpassing 1.2 million, an impressive 39% increase compared to the monthly average. In fact, January’s high demand signals not just casual interest, but a deep-rooted tradition in Kiwi culture.

Interestingly it's not peak summer when most baches are listed on the market. March is the peak month for listings, showing 20% more live listings compared to other months. Year-round, there’s steady engagement with bach listings, but summer remains special. For some, it’s a nostalgic pull toward coastal towns they’ve visited for years. For others, it’s the desire to escape the everyday grind and reconnect with nature by the beach, lake, or pool.

Certain regions dominate bach searches and listings, with the Waikato region leading in popularity. Waikato baches have seen 41% more views than Auckland ones, marking it as the go-to region for holiday homes. Within this, Whangamatā stands out, boasting over 250,000 listing views—25% more than the next highest bach haven, Mount Maunganui.

Waihi Beach, Mangawhai Heads, and Wānaka also secure top spots, with search spikes aligning with the summer months of January and February.

Interestingly, in terms of timings, Wānaka breaks away from the crowd. Their listing views peaking in November, suggesting it may attract early-bird vacation planners looking to secure their perfect holiday spot before the summer rush.

Beyond the traditional bach by the beach, certain features attract even more attention in the Summer. Properties with pools consistently rank as the most searched, but "pool" appears in over 42,000 searches in January alone, a whopping 65% higher than the rest of the year. January also sees a surge in searches for “beach” and “waterfront,” pointing to a clear preference for proximity to water for Kiwi.

There’s also growing interest in luxury baches, especially those in scenic, coastal regions. Even if purchasing a bach may be out of reach for some, Kiwi still indulge in browsing premium listings. Our research found that 59% of Kiwi ‘Dream Scroll’ and browse properties that are beyond their budget. We also see a noticeable rise during periods of high-profile events like Lotto jackpots.

While January attracts eager searchers, March may be the time when potential buyers start acting on their summer dreams, and sellers have experienced their last summer at their bach.