On a rough day the view out of the Faris' crib-cum-boathouse window can resemble a David Attenborough documentary as blue penguins are knocked over by waves and washed back out into Otago Harbour.
''You want to rush out and help them but you can't, that's nature,'' Debbie Faris says.
The wildlife was one of the main attractions of their property at the end of Otago Peninsula. There is ''Sammy'' the seal, Flush and Flossie, the blue penguins nesting under the toilet and their resident black-backed gull, to name a few.
Mrs Faris fell in love with the about 60-year-old property despite its rough condition and price tag about two years ago.
''It was really basic. I just thought 'gosh, this is stunning'.''
Since then, the pair have been doing the property up, replacing piles and windows, painting and installing a gas fire.
''It's now hard to get him to leave and head back to town,'' she said of husband Trev.
''We're really privileged to be here.''
When you enter the crib into a neat kitchen and living area, it looks like a typical tidy, if tiny, holiday home. An adjoining bedroom hints at more to come as Mr Faris swings open the bifold windows to the view of Otago Harbour and Aramoana.
He squeezes the soft toy blue penguins on the windowsill to show what sound they can wake up to in the mornings.
''I have a double-glazed window but people say they appreciate the sounds of the wildlife.''
An outdoor bath can be seen perched on the bank of the harbour all set to be filled and heated by a gas burner when needed.
''We put slats in the bottom so you don't burn your bum. It's quite cool.''
One night the couple were having a glass of wine in the bath and watching the penguins come ashore, when they realised the tinkling of the wine glasses was disturbing them.
''We had to sit there and not move.''
Back in the living room Mr Faris indicates the steep stairs down to a door with a porthole window.
''It's just like a ship,'' he said.
Stepping through the door you enter the boathouse part of the crib - a pair of adjoining living areas perched out over the harbour with windows and french doors framing the views.
A gas fire provides warmth, offsetting the chill of the water lapping below, while a table provides the perfect spot for breakfast with a view.
Photographs of the blue penguins they keep an eye on adorn the walls.
''They're beautiful animals.''
A few more steps and you exit on to a small deck, just big enough to sit with a drink and watch the boats and the wildlife, including oyster catchers, fantails, swallows and kingfishers, go by.
''You can fish off here. People catch fish all the time. You can't beat the amazing sunsets or ships that come right through so close you can see what's on their TVs.''
''Sam'' the seal visited every year and rested up behind the bath.
''The sea lions at Aramoana are quite noisy. You can hear them across the harbour and I've seen a seal swimming out front with a squid in its flippers, ripping it apart - there is always something happening,'' Mrs Faris said.
Their resident penguins appeared to have at least one chick this year which had survived so far. Last year they thought rats got the chick.
''If you go for a pee at night you wake them up and they let you know.''
Their concerns for the penguins which nested in the hills behind their crib had grown after they discovered a few had been hit and killed attempting to cross the road.
They hoped signs would remind people to slow down on their way to and from the albatross colony so they could avoid the penguins.
If they felt like an outing, they packed a picnic and headed out across the harbour in their dinghy to Aramoana.
Mrs Faris works out of the couple's Roslyn home so finds their trips to the peninsula a ''real escape''.
Given the crib was a bit pricier than the couple first anticipated they were sharing the experience by renting it out.
''It's nice to give others the opportunity to experience this.''
A visitors' book was crammed with positive comments about the ''wildness'' of the crib and its nearby wildlife.
''We've even got a honeymoon couple from Australia coming for 10 days.''
Being so close to the harbour did provide a few complications, such as not being able to have a septic tank system, instead having a holding tank which needed to be emptied regularly at a cost of $300, Mr Faris said.
But it was a small price to pay for being able to enjoy the peninsula and its wildlife, he said.
''So many people do not realise what is out here.''
