Imagine waking to birdsong, surrounded by bush and no-one else in sight, let alone traffic noise? This was my reality last month, when I took the family to stay at Matakana Retreat, a luxury off-grid home just quarter of hour from beautiful Matakana village north of Warkworth, New Zealand.
Relaxed mode at this idyllic eco lodge called Matakana Retreat in Smiths Road Matakana surrounded by bush with not another house in sight or earshot, just birdsong. Loved it, highly recommend.
The wooden home had been recently renovated and had chic Scandinavian furniture and luxe bedlinen. The kitchen came fully equipped complete with pantry accoutrements from oils, vinegars, to spices and baking supplies as well as milk, fresh coffee, and tea.
Hot water is heated from gas or if you’ve lit the fire this will also heat the water and feeds underfloor heating throughout the gallery area during winter. There is a gas bbq on the deck.
It was about $450 a night when I booked in January 2025, and you could have a number of people there for the price and i imagine you could share it between two small families or two couples for a larger group holiday. The only thing was there weren’t doors on the bedrooms; they were up a few stairs for privacy but didn’t have closing doors. The bathroom ensuite also was behind a wall but didn’t have a closing door to the bathroom.
Bedding configuration at full capacity is as follows:
One Super King in the master loft (2pax)
One Queen in the gallery bedroom (2pax)
One Queen in the second gallery bedroom (2pax)
One King bed in the Mezzanine Loft (2pax)
Two fold out single sized sofa beds/couches (up to 2 pax)
Mattress under the bay window which could comfortably sleep 1-2 people.
Rain-water from the roof is collected in the large tank in the back yard, all rubbish is recycled, and power generated off-grid, making it a luxury eco experience.
Photos by Megan Robinson, 15 February 2025
