So as many of you know I just LOVE glamping. What's not to love? Today I am going to write about my glamping experiences that I have had around New Zealand so far. Keep your eyes peeled as I will continue to add to this blog with the more places I go to. The order is nothing to do with favouritism, just the order in which I stayed at each place :)
Te Pamu Escape
I booked this place for my partners birthday last year. It was actually the first time I'd discovered glamping. Little did I know I was going to fall in love and never look back! We were wonderfully welcomed by the host who gave us a tour of the place. She explained where everything was and then left us to it for the night. The first thing I couldn't get over was how stunning the setting was! A view of the hills, a little stream running past the front of the tent and nothing but the sound of nature. The safari tent was huge, beautifully designed and it had a fire pit, bbq and outdoor bath area. The kitchen was so beautifully detailed, with absolutely everything you could need. In the morning they bring you fresh bread that's still warm to go with the homemade jams in the fridge, delicious!! There is no doubting that this is the perfect romantic getaway, light the fire, roast some marshmallows, soak in the outdoor bath and just relax!!!
Country Retreat Glamping
On our way back from Te Pamu escape we decided to do another night of glamping because why not? This one was also a huge safari tent that was beautifully detailed inside. A lovely host showed us around the place and let us settle in. We even had some friendly cows as our neighbours! The setting was so peaceful, at the front of the tent you're surrounded by hills, but there's a huge surprise when you go round the back to the outdoor bath.. you can literally see Mount Taranaki from the tub!! We had a really stormy night, lots of rain and thunder storms.. but it made the experience even more perfect. Being wrapped up in a blanket whilst listening to the storm, playing cards, eating our burgers from the BBQ. During the night my partner got up to pee (the bathroom is around the back of the tent) and he woke me up and told me to come outside, I was super confused/sleepy but i'm glad I went. I have never seen stars like it.. the sky was completely filled, it was one of the most unreal/breathtaking sights! The next morning we had the clearest day, we had a couple of outdoor baths that were mainly private, apart from the cows haha! All in all this was a truly magical experience and I would highly recommend!
Luxury Under Canvas
Just 40 minutes south of Auckland is the next place i'm going to talk about. It was another safari tent, but this one had 3 bedrooms! The decor was extremely beautiful, it had real cottage vibes, very old fashioned. There is a fire pit, an outdoor bath in the perfect spot, and a bbq area for you to enjoy some food! This place would be perfect for a couples getaway, a girls night, or even a small family break! They have everything you need to enjoy your stay.
Valley Views Glamping
Valley views glamping is located east of Wanaka close to a town called Kurow. We were staying in one of their dome tents, kinda like a giant bubble, with a see through part of the dome. As we approached the accommodation we were wonderfully welcomed by two baby piglets and a lovely lady host. As the lady showed us around we were just gobsmacked at how beautiful this place was. It was so quiet, so private, so peaceful. The lady showed us the kitchen first as this is seperate from the domes, a beautiful, spacious room with everything you could possibly need for your stay. There was also a bbq located outside the kitchen if you needed it. She then showed us to our dome, a short walk from the kitchen.. we had no words. It was just magical.. the layout, the decor, the surroundings, everything was perfect. Then she took us to my favourite part, the outdoor baths! There were two sets of outdoor baths, so you would always get a chance to use them if other people were staying in one of the other domes. The baths had such a rustic vibe, surrounded by forrest on one side and hills on the other, there were fairy lights around the fences for when it got dark and hooks to hang your towels. I couldn't wait to jump in! After our tour we cracked open a bottle of wine, put some food on the barby and settled in for the night. We went for a bath whilst it was light, sat and soaked for a while then went back to our dome to enjoy the sunset. The colours of the sky were like a rainbow, pinks, oranges, blues, and purples. What a beautiful sight. We decided that one bath wasn't enough and went back for a second soak under the stars, it was quiet, nothing but insects chirping and the wind howling, the air was fresh which went perfectly with the steamy hot bath. Waking up in the tent was amazing, I felt refreshed and satisfied. I'd highly recommend!! Ive actually been to this place twice as it was just too good!
Treehouse in the Woods
As we drove down the steep drive towards our location I felt a rush of excitement. We were surrounded by a forest of tall trees on one side and the beautiful clear blue ocean on the other. The scenery was just perfect. We spotted the treehouse and I was literally gobsmacked at how pretty it was, it looked like something from a movie, I couldn't wait to get inside. I ran up the steps, opened the doors to the most cosy, cute little room. It had all the necessities. There were lots of windows, a kitchen with all the basics, a nice couch with heaps of cushions, and a beautiful wooden ladder that lead up to the bedroom. Just wow. Could this get any more perfect? We brought BBQ food and some wine and beers with us, this was all we needed for the perfect getaway. They provided us with lots of water, tea & coffee, and cards for us to play. They also had an outdoor bbq hence the BBQ food! There wasn't anything I could fault about the place or the hospitality. We had the most amazing evening, sat on the balcony with good food and good alcohol, taking in the stunning views. The sun set over the ocean and the sky turned pink, what a dream. As it got really late we decided to top off the night by creeping ourselves out with a horror film. I mean, we were in a treehouse in the woods! We lit heaps of candles, got all snuggled up and watched our movie. This was honestly my idea of the perfect setting and the perfect night. We woke up to the sound of birds chirping, and the ocean waves crashing in the distance.. pure bliss! As summer is coming to an end the air was slightly crisp, so we made a nice coffee and enjoyed the last few hours we had here. I honestly can't recommend this place enough! If you're visiting somewhere in the north island, PLEASE treat yourselves to a stay in this magical place. It truly was fantastic.
The Love Nest
If you're looking to surround yourself with nature on a romantic night away then this place is perfect for you. At just $132 per night this is a super affordable/dreamy experience. About 20 minutes from Raglans small town you will approach the hidden love nest. The place is surrounded by a forest with a slight view of the ocean breaking through the pine trees. This is what freedom feels like, no phone service in the nest (you can go on a short walk to get wifi if you need too), the wind howling through the trees, birds chirping, nothing but yourselves and the world around you. Play some board games, listen to music, have deep chats with your partner, pour a glass of wine, put some food on the barbie, light some candles and most importantly.. RELAX!
The Love Bus
Wowwwwwwwwwie, I felt like a child as we approached the bus, I was soo excited. From a distance it looks stunning, then as you get closer it becomes more and more perfect! The cost for one night is $185 and it is seriously worth every penny! It had given out rain for the whole day we were there but our luck was in and we had the most beautiful sunny day. The idea of the bus is so unique, the layout and style inside is incredible. Plenty of windows to take in the views, gorgeous plants and cushions, a big soft bed to crash in.. perfection. Behind the bus there is a huge forest full of pine trees, then in front of the bus there are big green hills that overlook the ocean. The setting is just unreal, like something out of a movie. There is also plenty to do here, soak in their outdoor bath, collect some firewood from the forrest and light a fire, roast marshmallows, have a BBQ, gaze into the ocean. One night was definitely not enough for us, we really wished we had booked a second night. But we made the most of our time. We lit the fire, had a couple of outdoor bubble baths, watched the sun go down and took in every second of this amazing experience.
Rockwood Station
This was one of my all time favourites! A stunning glass house surrounded by streams and forest trees, a huge brick fire and the most perfect bathroom with a jacuzzi bathtub. If you're looking for a wintery escape, this is the place to go! It would definitely be amazing in summer too, but we stayed in peak winter and haven't experienced anything like it. It kinda felt like I was in Canada. What better way to spend a night than sitting in this beautifully designed cabin. Light a fire, slide the doors open and listen to the stream, have a jacuzzi bath, cook some good food, there's plenty to do! Everything about this place was just perfect, I wouldn't change a thing! The stars at night were a bonus to how great this place was, so make sure you take a peak outside when it goes dark.
Castaways Totara Tree Tent
This place is seriously amazing! Its like your very own little jungle cabin. The light shines through the trees and creates a magical effect. You have everything you need for a stay. They even provide a 3 course dinner and everything you could want for breakfast, you just have to cook it yourselves on the bbq. Such a great touch. The tent has a huge bed, a little seating area, kitchen, bathroom and bench top area with a bbq. Oh and lets not forget the floating jungle bath that's held up by chains, wrapped around the trees!! This was definitely one of the most unique places that i've experienced! You should check it out!
Matapouri Glamping
So I went for a one night stay at Matapouri glamping and WOW! How will I even find the words to describe this place! From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave its just the most unreal experience. Nestled in the trees is this stunning glamping tent, with a luxurious yet quirky style. It has a beautiful deep outdoor bath that overlooks the ocean, a fully equipped kitchen and bbq area and the comfiest kingsize bed! The huge safari tent has ocean views, along with beautiful hills and trees. You can see farms full of cows, birds flying, and we even saw a beautiful owl at night! the detail in the decor is amazing, they have literally thought of everything. I would highly recommend this place, its perfect for couples on a romantic getaway, or maybe a night with your girl friend. Sit back on the comfy bean bags and take in the breathtaking views, gaze at the stars from the outdoor bathtub, take a long, hot, shower with a view, or watch the sunrise from your bed! You are definitely not going to be disappointed!
Redwood Farm
Just 15 minutes from Te Puke, or 40 minutes from Tauranga is this gorgeous little cabin with huge windows where the views seem to go on for miles. They have the biggest outdoor tub i've ever seen, it has enough room for you both to sit super comfy and enjoy the stars at night with a glass of bubbles. We spent two nights here for Stu's birthday and there was plenty to do. Light the outdoor fire and roast some marshmallows, read a book and take in the peaceful views, have a huge bubble bath whilst star gazing, you won't run out of ideas I promise! The sun rises in front of the cabin so the morning light is magical. It beams through the glass doors and the best part is you don't even have to leave your bed to watch it!
River Bothy
Over in Mangonui is this beautiful little cabin called River Bothy. The cabin is surrounded by olive trees on one side and a gorgeous river on the other. They have everything you could need for a relaxing stay, including an outdoor bathtub that overlooks the river.. Bliss!
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