There’s
something magical about holidaying like there’s nobody watching. Like an
internal retreat that soothes the senses and somehow creates a sense of space
to unfurl, expand and breathe a little deeper. That’s exactly the kind of
priceless pampering you experience at the award-winning Nightsky Cottage – recipient
of Qualmark’s 5-star Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award. Sitting on edge
of the UNESCO Dual World Heritage site of Tongariro National Park in Horopito,
this 2-bedroom eco retreat is surrounded by near century old manuka trees and
only accessible by a 50-metre hand dug boardwalk. Once inside, you’ll pick up a
thing or two about embarking on a zero-waste journey with sustainability at the
heart of Nightsky Cottage. Enjoy two side by side bathtubs with gorgeous views
of the native bush, a full-sized kitchen and cosy log burner beneath sky lights
to gaze at the starry skies from the lounge.
This remote,
remarkable boutique accommodation is a destination all on its own – Posh
Pioneers is a transformative travel experience that lulls you into the charms
and challenges of the inspiring pioneering life. Not by any means ordinary, it
is the hand spun wool, the patchwork quilts, the homemade curtains, the freshly
baked bread, the hand churned butter, the hand carved, hand-built huts, the
outdoor shower that transports you to another world. As deep and secluded as
you can get along the Whanganui River, there is no road access, but instead river
access. Paddle your way here by canoe, kayak, or arrive by jetboat, or even helicopter
in. With six shepherds hut, each hand built with remnants of the century old
homestead that once graced this land, your one-of-a-kind abode is as cosy as
can be - solar powered, double glazed and fully insulated. Activities offered
at Posh Pioneers are life skills you’ll truly appreciate including traditional
Rongoā Māori, soap making, knife making, book binding, paper making,
conservation, trapping, flax weaving, spinning, and felting.
Like you’re
floating above the forest, a stay at Timber Trail Lodge is the ultimate off the
beaten path getaway offering bike packages, accommodation, shuttles, transfers,
and delicious home style meals. Nestled deep in the Pureora Forest Park at the
halfway point of the iconic Timber Trail in Piropiro – the Timber Trail Lodge
is a haven for cyclists enjoying NZ’s best 2-day wilderness ride that you can
access all year-round. Relax and rejuvenate at this one-of-a-kind wilderness
lodge with a strong sustainability focus built to protect our natural surrounds
and ensure minimal impact on the environment. Solar powered with rainwater
tanks as well as robust waste management initiatives to reduce, reuse and
recycle in place, the Timber Trail Lodge is a transformative travel experience
that invites you to truly connect to our people and place. Enjoy bush walks,
freshly baked pizzas on the sprawling deck, drinks by the log fire and warm
hospitality.
100% off grid, Te Awa Glamping is a luxurious riverside haven on
the banks of the Whanganui River just a short drive from Taumarunui. Indulge in
a custom designed eco explorer tent, the only one of its kind in NZ built for
maximum comfort and minimal environmental impact, with 10% of profits going
directly toward environmental regeneration and protecting the awa. Solar
powered and zero waste focused, you’ll be pampered with freshly baked bread, a
delicious welcome hamper full of locally sourced goodies and homemade bath
salts for the outdoor bath. Make the most of holiday mode and enjoy delicious
dinner and picnic options prepared by a nutritional therapist. Your private river
access also means plenty of time to soak up the beauty of the Whanganui River
with a morning stroll, an afternoon paddle or daydreaming on the tree pod.
A unique and
historic accommodation experience, Rua Awa Lodge is a former saddlery nestled
in the small settlement of Kakahi, just 20 minutes from Taumarunui.
Kaitiakitanga of the natural environment is a strong focus at Rua Awa Lodge –
through conservation of the land, regenerative farming, comprehensive
composting, recycling, and the garden to plate ethos woven into the Rua Awa
experience. A truly nurturing place where guests can immerse themselves in
local history, enjoy private access to bush walks, fishing, and swimming as
well as a delicious menu of wholesome meals made to order. Guests can also
partake in raw food workshops, private yoga and stretch sessions. A new space
is also underway to accommodate groups functions, meditation, Myofascial
Release, Functional Training, and traditional Māori healing. As fourth
generation local and of Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent, Sheryl Simpson and partner
Warren are your hosts to discovering the rich history and heritage of Rua Awa
Lodge. With a growing understanding of Tikanga, Te Reo Māori and a deep
connection to the whenua, Sheryl shares, “our ancestors are always whispering
and guiding, if you listen closely, you can hear them too.”
Located 8 km
west of National Park Village, Retaruke Country Estate is a true hidden gem
that offers visitors an insider’s look at a range of sustainable and
regenerative initiatives that encompasses this superb country lodge experience
– working on carbon zero certification by 2025. Spanning across 4,000 acres of
stunning wilderness, visitors are fully catered for with marvellous, made to
order meals as well as all-inclusive access to a mix of activities ranging from
horse riding, farm tours, mountain biking, clay target shooting, swimming
holes, fishing, outdoor hot tubbing, and stargazing. Sustainability is a way of
life for your hosts Glenn and Carolyn – with Glenn’s extensive background in
ecology and Carolyn’s passion for caring for the environment, you’ll learn
about the positive efforts made to make your stay a meaningful one. Retaruke
Country Estate donates $25 from every stay towards the purchase of traps and in
addition, visitors can get involved by helping check traps or sponsoring a
trap.
Blue Duck Station is all about sustainability and community
- an outdoor enthusiast’s playground with conservation at its heart surrounded
by Whanganui National Park offering a fantastic range of unique accommodation
and immersive activities to get amongst. Purpose-built accommodation with water
sourced from springs, Blue Duck Station is a true wilderness escape that
connects you to a pristine wonderland. Long standing composting and recycling
initiatives are in place throughout the Blue Duck Station community with a
wholehearted mission to care for the land and people. Home to one of the
highest concentrations of whio (blue duck) and kiwi in New Zealand, Blue Duck
Station has been awarded three Ballance Farm Environment Awards and a Departmentof Conservation Services to Conservation Award for their continuous efforts to
inspire others to protect and enhance the natural world.
Have you
ever stood in a space so alive that it makes you bow with reverence? Where the
walls are not walls but portals to a forgotten time and each step takes you to
a faraway place where imaginations run wild. Voted as one of the top 5 tiny
homes of 2022, Pumice Tiny House in Ohakune is attracting visitors from near
and far to experience a one-of-a-kind cave-like, straw bale abode. Straw itself
is a waste product but Pumice Tiny House harnesses it as a natural, renewable
material for creating a warm, comfortable and energy efficient dwelling
sustainably by design. Recycled concrete blocks as part of the foundation with
the entire build on a former commercial heavy truck trailer, extending its
practical usability by 125% beyond its design life. The roof structure of
profiled, curved steel is reclaimed, envisaged scrape steel, salvaged from the
Kiwifruit industry.
Raw, earthy,
and primal, this soothing space cocoons you in a tranquil trance and offers all
the conveniences you need, including an outdoor, streamside fire pit, a covered
patio with gas BBQ for alfresco dining and a shallow reflection pool. Tucked
away a quiet residential area, the Pumice Tiny House is a 20-minute stroll to
town or just 10 minutes to the Junction for restaurants, bars, and coffee.
Ideal for couples and is also pet-friendly.
