Kahere Retreat

The water in the bathroom was the one letdown. It could swing from too hot to too cold, and sometimes ran at a very low flow, which made bathing difficult. Otherwise, everything was great. The little chalet was cute and sat in a peaceful garden. The area around the house smelled lovely. At night the sky was so dark that I could see the Milky Way with my own eyes. I think it was darker than Lake Takapo. 🥰

The shower was amazing, and I had a wonderful mountain view from my room. These are classic wooden cabins, very nicely done and warm, with heaters and AC. There’s a complete kitchen with a good range of cooking utensils and a small fridge. No TV, but with that view, who needs one? My cabin had its own outdoor seating area with a heater, great for evening beers and vapes. There’s also a big shared BBQ area out back. Check-in was self service, though the owners live on site if you need anything. The spa pool looks out over the mountains. We were lucky to get a morning visit from the lovely, friendly, smoochy dog, who walked right in like he owned the place, because he does. One tip: walk to the end of the driveway and cross the road to find a paddock of miniature horses that come over to be patted.

The cottage is set among trees and feels like it’s in the middle of a farm. It gets very dark at night, and the furnishings and facilities were well prepared and good. We liked the furniture, and self check-in was convenient. But the two heaters weren’t enough for the whole cottage. We put both upstairs to warm that room, leaving the ground floor freezing. We were afraid to shower or even go to the toilet because it was so cold. Freezing in the cottage was a horrible experience. I hope the owner can provide more heaters so guests can be comfortable. Thanks for the service.

We’ve loved the Retreat on both of our visits. It’s a secluded group of five accommodation chalets just a short drive north of Franz Josef township, finished beautifully in local Rimu with an artisan touch. There’s an awesome spa with mountain views, a hot sauna, a woodworking shop, and a BBQ hut. We’ll be back in summer to explore more of New Zealand’s West Coast.