Kaitake Kabana - Unique, off-grid, studio retreat

It was comfortable, felt like you were miles away from the rest of the world but you actually aren’t and it’s not far to Oakura or New Plymouth. The bed was 10/10 comfy.

Slightly difficult to cook when it’s raining, but there was one gas hob inside if we really wanted to cook. A covered BBQ area would be great!

Beautiful spot to stay after doing a big overnight hike. Well thought out inside and spacious enough for 4 especially having the kitchen seperate. Loved the outdoor bath and fireplace and it was such a lovely way to start the day, sitting on the front deck listening to the tui sing.

Everything! Absolutely stunning location. Peaceful.

Peaceful, idyllic setting. Beautiful plants & gardens. Well-designed building layout that really shows how well a small space can work, and we loved being off the grid. Lots of thoughtful little touches that made our stay comfortable - we had everything we needed and were sad that we didn't have time to enjoy the outdoor fire space. Amazing water pressure! The owner handled us turning up an hour early very well (totally my mistake and we went to the beach for a bit rather than hang around awkwardly).

As others have said a fan would help a lot at night, but this is a small thing (we read the reviews and brought one with us). The photos showed a very different room layout which I thought looked better and also would have worked better for two people sharing the space. These small things are massively outweighed by all the lovely features though and we would happily stay again.

• Veeeeery comfortable bed • All the real plants inside - LOVED IT • That the bedroom & livingroom were separate from the batbroom and kitchen • The private driveway infront of the cabin to park car was huge and it was easy to get luggage in & out

• Not even having a little fan available in this heat was making the start of our stay a bit unbearable as when we arrived the cabin was soaking hot - having moskito nets or blinds from the outside to stop the heat from coming easily in could be an option • The coating of the bath outside was pealing off, which was not nice to lay in

Cette cabane est tres belle, confortable, très bien équipée. La douche exterieure est une belle expérience. C’est très calme et reposant. J’ai adoré.

This place is a little heaven in nature! Tucked away in the forest, you really appreciate nature here. It had everything we needed for a great stay but yet close enough to town for some good food! Owner is great and funny! The bonfire at night was great!

There is no WiFi and you barely get reception. We liked it but if you depend on internet then you might have an issue. Kitchen isn’t fully stocked as they run on solar, but good enough for a simple breakfast.

So clean & spacious! Location was great - the sounds of the trees rustling & the nearby lake was just perfect! A very cute set up, the bed is very comfortable & the outdoor bath was a perfect end to the day. Can’t wait to return!

Nested in the bush

Gosh actually can’t think of anything I didn’t like. I loved everything about this stay - from the warm and cosy interior setting, to the luxurious bath, the off grid feel was something too, loved cooking in the kitchen and hearing the whistle of the kettle going. Everything is carefully thought out and provides a really unique and rejuvenating stay. The cosy feel to the place makes it all the more romantic. We had some clear nights and gosh the stars you see from this place is unreal. One of the main reasons we also chose this accomodation was that it was dog friendly too and she loved exploring the gardens. The hosts were more than accomodating, even helping getting personal belongings back to me after being left. We can’t fault this accomodation at all absolutely loved it.

At first I didn’t like the no wifi feature but it grew on me and it was nice to be phone free for a few days.

The Isolation was fantastic... Also, the bath and fire place we great too. The shower was very good, high pressure and clean. Loved the little things about the place.

Unfortunately... No aircon was a biggie for us as far as comfortability. We got in the room and even the complimentary chocolates were melted. The room did not cool down until dark time so we spend a lot of time trying to cool down. A little more shelter from the driveway would have been good too. Especially the firepit, maybe just a screen that blocks the privacy of the firepit to the driveway.

We loved the uniqueness and quirkiness of this stay. The native and tropical trees around the cabin made it feel like we were nestled away in the bush. We enjoyed sitting out having breakfast while spotting birds and listing to them sing.

The location was wonderful. This is a beautiful place on the maunga that sits halfway between lush green bush and yet still close to the coastal beachheads. Our favourite aspects were the niche off-grid aspects (gas cooking kettle), the outside fireplace, a gas-fed hot water outdoor bath and being surrounded by the night sky & stars.

Nothing - the whole set up is amazing for the cost.

Great place, beautifully thought out with lots of little details that made a huge impact! Would highly recommend

VERY hot in the summer afternoons (a fan would easily help with this)

Beautifully located, surrounded in native bush. Cosy & thoughtfully laid out living spaces. Lush outdoor bath with epsom salts at the ready. Close to a gorgeous beach & town full of good eats. Friendly & accomodating hosts. Would stay again!

I was a bit guttered to see the hammock wasn’t there as advertised, and the shared driveway being visible from the studio prevented me from comfortably utilising the outdoor dining space, as I appreciate my privacy when travelling.. though neither of these things are major, and they definitely wouldn’t stop me from booking again or recommending to others.

Everything! Absolutely love the way it was set out everything so beautiful would definitely be back🥳

Nothing everything was perfect!!

This a true hidden gem. The care and attention Jane and Alby have put into the styling, layout and facilities is second to none. The peace and solitude of the Kaitake Ranges partnered with the native birdsong was so relaxing.

Nothing, not a single thing

I had a wonderful stay here. The place was very comfortable, with all the amenities you could need. The space had its own unique style and character, which made it feel special and different from typical accommodations. Everything was well-maintained, and the attention to detail really stood out. The check-in process is easy. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a cozy and memorable stay. I would definitely choose to stay here again on my next visit!