Warblers Retreat

We had the best weekend getaway at Warblers Retreat. Our glamping experience was amazing. We were surrounded by the beautiful forest, had a spa under the stars and had fresh bread delivered in the morning. Barb and Dave were welcoming and made our stay very enjoyable. We would highly recommend staying at Warblers if you’re looking for a tranquil stay surrounded by nature.

My husband and I stayed at Warblers Retreat during a portion of our honeymoon trip to New Zealand and, far and away, this was our favorite of all the accommodations we stayed at. First and foremost, Barb and Dave are incredible hosts and are extremely attentive, quick to respond, and make the quiet getaway feel like a top tier luxury stay. The grounds are tucked away in a beautiful forest, where they've made trails running along some water and you can spot glow worms at night twinkling in the brush. There are two outdoor tubs - if you stay in the Cottage, you get your own private one, surrounded by a garden of fragrant flowers. We especially enjoyed the little Sanctuary hut among the trees where we read books and listened to birds. The entire location is very lovingly cared for and beautifully constructed, with a pool and fresh grape vines growing over a wooden archway. We told everyone we came across in New Zealand about the place - if we had more time on the North Island, we would have spent our entire honeymoon camped out there. It felt both pampered and homely, comfortable and incredibly ornate. Cheers to Barb and Dave and their years of work on Warblers, and the delicious bread they kindly baked and delivered to us! After a long journey from the states, it was such a lovely and thoughtful touch.

Very big Thank You!! to Barb and Dave from warblers retreat for the perfect Eco Nature Registry style wedding.Absolutely amazing grounds with so much immersive nature surrounding you.The Canopy venue is truly beautiful, the perfect private setting with everything you need. Our guests were very impressed!Barb definitely made our wedding day as stress free as possible with all the help we needed to make our day perfect. we couldn’t be happier with using barbs celebrant services, The perfect celebrant for our day, Barb made us feel very comfortable and relaxed, allowing us to really enjoy our ceremony.Highly Recommended from newly weds Mr&Mrs Dawson.

We stayed in their eco glamping unit. What an experience! Read further if you want a (really) comprehensive review.The unit is an old caravan which has been converted into a quaint little home for two. The caravan opens out onto a spacious deck with a table and two chairs, with beautiful forest views and a stunning sky of stars at night. The spa bath and outdoor shower are on the deck around a corner, and one has total privacy. The sounds of nature fill the space, and one feels instantly relaxed.One can take a walk around the site and explore, or along one of the forest walk routes. There is also a forest bath for guests to use, in which you can relax and bath surrounded by nature.Amenities were perfectly supplied and went over and above: we were welcomed with a basket filled with goodies + a handwritten note. The room was equipped with basics (eggs, milk, fruit juice, butter, jam, salt & pepper and more) and we were greeted with freshly baked bread in the mornings which was amazing! The dinners served were great, and really had that home cooked taste, which we loved. The desserts were fantastic!That being said, we were fully fed for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, you’re a short drive from Albany, the local town. You can pop into town for a meal, or bring back some supplies and cook for yourself. The cooking process was fun - a BBQ on the deck just outside the caravan door and all the pots, pans and other utensils you may need around the corner from the caravan. The unit was also equipped with robes, towels, slippers and blankets, which made us feel really cozy and comfy!We loved the retro vibe of the converted caravan - it’s very clear that the hosts have wonderful attention to detail and put intentional care into it. The whole place is super eco-friendly, which means that the loo is a compost one! A fun experience for those of us accustomed to regular hotel bathrooms.The hosts clearly understand the balance between giving guests their privacy and making guests feel welcome. Really friendly, super accommodating, but give you your space as well.One thing about the wifi was that it did not reach the caravan, and there’s very little to no cellular signal at all inside of it. One can walk a few metres to the canopy (a little venue perfect for an intimate wedding) for wifi, but the wifi is not fast at all. If you’re someone who needs to stay available via the internet, you should probably make alternative plans to be able to connect during your stay. If you’re like us, though, and really need an escape from your phones and devices, the no wifi thing may be a blessing in disguise! We really feel that the digital detox added to how rejuvenated we felt after the stay. Although we had no wifi, the caravan has board games which we had fun with, and there’s a little book inside the caravan with the history of the place, as well as little handbooks about the history of the local town, natural sites and so on, which we really enjoyed reading through!All in all, this stay cannot be faulted at all, and was the perfect reset. As avid travellers with high standards, this place managed to totally surpass our expectations. Dave and Barb, you have outdone yourself! Thank you so much.With love,Colette and Leon

Really lovely location and well maintained. Can definitely tell that Barb and Dave have put so much thought into making this an enjoyable and relaxing location for anyone staying. We booked this for our first wedding anniversary and were welcome by a lovely goody basket which we enjoyed. The food was fresh with ingredients locally grown at the retreat! The only feedback I have is that the TV was playing up and seemed to take awhile to load. Would recommend this to others for a relaxing time away :)

We stayed here on our last night in New Zealand before a long international flight home. It was a perfect choice for a quiet, calm retreat. We loved every aspect of our stay, from the room to the food and lovely grounds!

We had an amazing time getting married at warblers retreat. Barb was great to deal with. Very friendly and made everything stress free. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a low key wedding that has all the magic of a full large wedding.

I am coming to the end of a 2 day solo getaway and I cannot begin to describe how incredible this place is and how much it has helped me to heal.The hospitality, food, seclusion, bath tubs, bushwalks, bed, pillows, coffee and beauty of the wider property were all highlights.I feel so good knowing if I need a break in the future, I have found my happy place.Thank you, worth every cent and then some.

My biggest mistake was only staying one night. Will definitely be back for more. We only met Barb, who is a wonderful host, their passion for this property and its surroundings are palpable. It really doesn't matter if it is hot, cold, wet or dry, this is a perfect place to relax. I really could go on but come and figure it out for yourself. We'll be back.

My husband and I stayed at Warblers Retreat for our 5 year anniversary. It is a stunning location, peaceful and quiet. Everything was top quality with lots of little extras. Barb went beyond the call of duty to make our stay extra special.