Marahau Retreat, Abel Tasman

Gorgeous elevated sea view location with amazing views & a huge variety of activities in the area including walking, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, horse riding, cafes, crafts & markets. Our sea view Chalet is just a 15-20 minute walk (2-3 min drive) down to the Abel Tasman Park entrance and makes a great location for those wanting retreat space but close to the action . There are many stunning places to visit in the area. Upon booking you will receive lots of local area info. The space The Location and Land: Marahau Retreat sits on 15 acres of land, much of it regenerating bush. It's a peaceful setting…abundant in nature, close to rivers and the sea with an amazing choice of activities and stunning places to visit in the area. A gorgeous location for those wanting retreat space and or a base for outings. Many of our visitors wish they had booked for longer! On the property is a mountain fed gully stream and the climate is lovely. Warm to hot in summer, winter is cold but stunning with few people, very quiet and quite special; spring and autumn are absolutely delightful and bursting with colour. The surrounding nature feels soft and lush but of course dryer in the hot season. Rain here is a truly wonderful experience. Set on a rise in Marahau Valley, Marahau Retreat is next to the Abel Tasman National Park. The park's entrance is an enjoyable 15 minute walk down the road and we have fabulous elevated views over the Park, Marahau beach front and river. Sunrise is spectacular! Moon and starry nights equally spectacular! Accommodation: our Sea View Chalet is basic but chic with some of the best views in Marahau. It's a lovely 15-30minute walk or 2-3minute drive down the road to the Abel Tasman Park entrance, beaches, water taxis, kayak operators, paddle boards, local store, cafes etc. The covered deck has elevated views over the ocean, Fisherman Island, Marahau River and Abel Tasman National Park. The Chalet itself is an old cottage which was moved onto the land by previous owners. Guests say it's super relaxing and they sleep well. Everything is rustic and casual but appealing with details like quality linens on the bed and eco friendly soap choices in the bathroom. You are surrounded by nature, so there are insects about, birdsong, amazing energy and gorgeous views. The Chalet has a deck and contains a separate bedroom with a queen size bed and fly screen on one of the windows, a kitchen living area with cooking facilities (electric oven & hob, no microwave), fridge, dining table and sofas with double sofa bed option for twin share or extra person bookings. Bathroom is very simple with a shower, toilet, heated towel rail and vanity. Laundry washing/drying machine and eco laundry liquid facilities are accessible from the back door in a simple concrete floor lean to. In the kitchen you will find a selection of teas, coffee, salt, pepper, oil & vinegar. Also in summer there is a herb garden by the Chalet. Please note that the wifi is rural based and can be slow sometimes but generally we have no problem using it. The Energy: a major part of Marahau Retreat is the energy of the land itself which is peaceful yet vibrant…..all encompassing....healing...actually it feels quite timeless, a great zone to enter during your stay in this remarkable part of the world....sometimes it honestly feels like being in another time and place… Guest access Your Chalet accommodation is private and away from the main house though not isolated. Other things to note 1) Our tip...We have many guests wishing they had stopped for longer than the average two nights at the Abel Tasman. I know it is hard trying to decide what to do when there is only so much time! I organise tours to Greece and other places and it can be a challenge creating an active but also relaxed itinerary when you have come so far and want to see everything. I find I always have to weigh up whistle stop touring versus having time to sink into a place more deeply. I guess the question which pops up is how much time do you want to spend in nature versus the cities? Another idea is that instead of taking a whole day travelling on the ferry between Wellington and Picton then driving to Abel Tasman...catch a 30minute flight from Wellington to Nelson and pick up a rental car at Nelson Airport. Then you have an easy 1.15hr drive to us with fun stops on the way. When booking with us, you will receive useful info on what to do & see in the area plus places to visit en route including where to get food supplies etc. Also when planning your time in the park this is what I suggest: when you are pressed for time and you are visiting the park for walking – do not walk the Marahau to Anchorage section. The entire park is stunningly beautiful but I find the Marahau to Anchorage section not as stunning as the rest (it is still gorgeous). This is only my personal opinion and ideally you would have 3-4++ days to spend in the Park and include Marahau to Anchorage. Book water taxis (type Abel Tasman water taxis in the search bar - they are all good) to take you on wonderful boat trips into the park for walking and kayaking adventures. If you want a very short walk with no water taxi then I do love Marahau to Porters Beach (about 20-30mins each way). The Park entrance at Marahau is very special and worth a looksee. When you book I send out an extensive Local Area info which can help you plan your visit more efficiently.