MARUIA RIVER RETREAT IS THE PERFECT BASE to EXPLORE THE NELSON-TASMAN AND WEST COAST REGIONS.
CHOOSE TO STAY IN OR EXPLORE THE NEARBY HIDDEN GEMS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.
EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE ESTATE
Available only for Resident Guests.
Whether it’s a spa day, a yoga class, or just relaxing in one of our saunas or hot tub, we are all about YOU and your wellbeing at Maruia River Retreat.
We have many exclusive nature walks in our estate, guided garden tours and a white water rafting trip that goes straight from our doorstep. Advanced bookings are essential.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN WELLNESS ADVENTURE.
PRIVATE FOREST BATHING
As a resident guest, you get daily private access to the Outdoor Stoked forest tub with amazing views of the Maruia River as you sit below the canopy of the beech forest trees. Within steps from the forest tub is our new Infrared chroma-therapy sauna, that provides the perfect balance to your tub bath, detoxifying and invigorating your body naturally.
WELLNESS RETREATS
Throughout the year, we run and host wellbeing retreats. Special interest workshops such as creative writing, photography, nutrition and wellness, meditation immersions and silent retreats are held throughout the year by knowledgeable local Kiwis who are eager to share the learning experience with the guests in an absolutely conducive learning space.
SPA & SKINCARE TREATMENTS
Facials, body scrubs, neck and shoulder and full body massages are available for our in-house guests and are also included in the daily activities for those who book the Personal Restoration Retreat packages.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Enjoy a massage treatment of your choice in our Wellness Centre with a trained massage therapist. Treatments available include Relaxation, Remedial, Deep Tissue, Musculoskeletal & Sports Massage.
GUIDED WALKS
Join a local nature guide for a walk through the native beech forest on our estate. Learn about the local ecology. The walk is only a couple of kms, but there are plenty of points of interest to pause with along the way! Traverse through 5 creeks, trekking along the 1.5-km river frontage of Maruia River and in a rich private NZ native beech forest.
RIVER RAFTING
An exclusive white water rafting journey, departing from Maruia River Retreat via transfer and arriving back at the lodge via river raft! Accessible only to resident guests, this river journey provides private access to the Maruia River through the Maruia Gorge. A picnic stop and a gourmet lunch pack is provided.
NEARBY & LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
There is so much to see and do in our corner of New Zealand. Take a leisurely day-trip in our rich natural surrounds.
Within 25-minutes is the Maruia Falls Reserve, 35-minutes to the Buller Swing Bridge, 45-minutes to the Nelson Lakes National Park and Maruia Hot Springs and 1.5 hours to the coastal walks and towns of the West Coast.
We are happy to assist you with booking any tour, and give you recommendations on what to go and see locally, here we have a few of our favorites.
REEFTON DISTILLERY TOUR - WEST COAST
It’s no secret that we are big fans of Little Biddy Gin. The Reefton Distillery run tasting tours where you can learn about their journey, how they craft their products and sample their range.
SCENIC FLIGHTS
A range of scenic helicopter rides of different durations including 1000-acre plateau, the Clearest Lake in the World, Mountain Picnic and Heli Yoga. Choose your own views!
NATURAL FLAMES TOUR
A 'must-see’' natural treasure in the Top of the South, visit and walk through the world's only perpetually burning fire in a fairy-tale forest.
FLY FISHING
Organise a local guide to pick you at the Lodge or helicopter for a half or full day of guided trout fishing in the local rivers. Available from November to April and gear rental is available too.
CANYON JETBOAT
Take a thrilling jet boat ride on the mighty Buller River, carve your way through the pink granite rock of the canyons, pass waterfalls and surf on the earthquake rapids, right in the heart of historic gold mining country. A mind-blowing 40 minutes of pure thrill at 85km/hour.
WEST COAST ROAD TRIP
The West Coast of the South Island in New Zealand is wild and stunning. Punakaiki, Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport and Reefton. This makes a perfect day trip with everything being within a 1.5-3 hour drive of our estate. You could start by stopping in Westport, then Punakaiki, down to Greymouth then Hokitika followed by a stop in Reefton on your way back to Maruia River Retreat.
HOKITIKA
Hokitika is a cool little town situated on the West Coast that has so much to see and do - it is well worth a day trip. The highlight would be the Hokitika Gorge walk and swing bridge.
MURCHISON
Murchison’s a place which is rich with history. It’s had its share of natural upheaval, after almost being destroyed by an earthquake in 1929, but the landscape has also provided great riches, including a gold rush in the 19th century. Don’t miss a visit to Rust and Dust - a shop filled with antique treasures and the Tutaki Bakery for one of their delicious pies.
GREAT WALKS
The multitude of rivers in our area makes Murchison a white water playground and an angler's paradise. DOC also has a number of short and day walks in the area.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
We have advanced mountain bike tracks in Matakitaki Valley and Glenroy Valley that are nearby (and many more). The tracks pass through farmland, open grassland, and beech forest. Ask your host for recommendations.
MARUIA HOT SPRINGS DAY TRIP
Just 45-minutes away are the natural hot pools of the Maruia Hot Springs tucked among the snow-capped Southern Alps on the picturesque Lewis Pass National Reserve. We can arrange day trips to the hot springs for our guests to enjoy a private bathing experience and more, just ask your host to assist in booking.
NELSON LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Nelson Lakes National Park is situated in the north of New Zealand's South Island.
The 16 picturesque lakes that make up the Nelson Lakes National Park are undoubtedly the calling card for a visit to the village of St Arnaud, and many a visitor has been spotted capturing that iconic jetty shot at Lake Rotoiti.
MARUIA FALLS
Walk to a waterfall created following the 1929 Murchison earthquake.
BULLER GORGE RAFTING
From ages as young as 10 years old and upwards, you will find yourself tackling rapids from grade 2-4 on the spectacular Buller River, the perfect tour for you and your team! You get to check out the famous Ariki Falls and pink granite canyon along with other rapids like O’Sullivan’s rapid, Jet Boat rapid and Whale Creek.