Mels Retreat

Everything, a very chilled environment.

Nothing!

Le petit déjeuner était très bon et beaucoup de choses sont mises à disposition, même dans le réfrigérateur. Possibilité de cuisiner sur la terrasse avec le barbecue Un peu reculé, le lieu est très calme

Lovely location, clean and comfortable. Great range of cooking and eating items provided included a range of snacks and breakfast products - so handy when you are travelling around North Island

Sehr schön gelegene Unterkunft auf einem Berghang. Sehr ruhig Bequemes Bett, Sauberes,Zimmer und Bad. BBQ Möglichkeit auf der Terrasse. Selbstgemachte Marmelade und andere Frühstücksutensilien. Highlight der Whirlpool mit Blick über den Ort. Freundliche Gastgeber, die schnell auf Anfragen reagiert. Schnelles,Wifi

Alles war ok, nur könnte der Hundekot auf dem vorderen Rasen mal entfernt werden, bevor man reintritt

The view was nice

No space for any personal belongings on any surface. No place to put bags (think family room with family bags). 1 bag stand in the wardrobe. Family 'deluxe' room is a busy mismatch of trinkets and unusable items. Fake plant in bathroom, trinkets and unusable candles on windowsills that just get in the way when you try to put blinds down. Battery powered tea candles on outside table all have flat batteries. Outside toaster and egg cooker dirty, egg cooker wet and unclean. We did not use either. Both were sitting awkwardly on a barrel that they didn't fit on. There's nowhere to charge devices. We had to get behind one of the bedside tables to unplug a light and plug in an adapter. Fridge and microwave outside. It didn't look great pulling up to it. The main bed creaks at the slightest movement or large breath, so waking children up is easy. Water pressure in the shower is low. The toilet blocked on first use for no reason, but given it was around 7pm when this happened, there was no real option for help. No air flow, couldn't find air con remote in the busy room. Crammed in breakfast coffee/tea station in corner between bed and wardrobe with breakfast items crammed on to tiny indoor table. The big things we didn't like:- 1. the kitchen to the main owners house looks directly into the oustide area, so zero privacy - at least put up a screen! 2. The spa is in front of the owners house - if we'd had a chance to use it, it again feels uncomfortable to use while being watched 3. The sauna is behind the 'deluxe' family room and in front of the other unit - so no privacy 4. Didn't even get to use the spa and sauna. Arrived after 3, messaged Mel at 4 as instructed to book use, but got no response. Very dissapointing as we booked with intent to use these facilities to relax. The son who 'greeted' us when we arrived said we'd have to contact Mel to book, but she was at work.

I liked the coziness it was well thought out and super cute and lots of effort put into the place

I didn’t like the deceiving way of the photos layout I thought I was paying for the big beautiful marble shower but got the tiny bedroom one which I mean probably my own fault for not understanding but the photos were a bit deceptively placed on the website in that sense all in all it was fine however it smelt as though no one had slept in the bed for a long time very musty smelling.

this is a Kiwi classic stay

Everything was great but the bed very soft so if you have a dodgy back, beware. I was a little cold too - some extra wool blanket be nice

至れり尽くせりのサービスだった。 動物好きの人にはとても良いと思います。 犬、猫、ロバ、牛、羊など、至近距離で見られます。 車高が2.9メートルあるキャンパーバンで入りましたが、ギリギリ門も通過できました。 庭からの景色は昼も夜も圧巻です。星空の美しさは言うまでもありません。冷蔵庫にはフリーのドリンク、お部屋にはフリーのお菓子、お茶、ハンドメイドのレモンケーキもありました。バーベキューグリルやピザグリル、エッグクッカーまでセットされています。

動物アレルギーのある方には厳しいかもしれません。 クッションや生活雑貨がたくさん置いてあるので、室内に荷物がおけるテーブルがあれば良かったかな。

Local muito sossegado. Pequeno almoço muito variado à disposição no quarto.

Lovely Hosts

Lovely home with a beautiful view.

NA

The view was spectacular ! Our kids love to see the dog, cats, pony and horses! Toys included for infants and toddlers! Sauna was nice, needs 20 minutes to heat up, very nice in a cold winter night with spa in evening. We made dinner on the heated terrace with BBQ, that was a great outdoor feel.

The location is excellent and the facilities within the Garden room are good ,although the en-suite is tiny ,particularly the sink.

We arrived by car into the parking area by the gate into the property. Unfortunately I did not see the two large piles of dog faeces in the parking area. I stepped from the car straight onto one of them. I spent the first fifteen minutes of our stay cleaning my heavily soiled shoes and the pathway around the entrance. The lawn which has to be crossed to reach the garden room door also had signs of previous dog or cat faeces, despite recent rain. Mel came into the garden room shortly after our arrival, along with a cat, and immediately announced that "I was not expecting you". We explained about the dog faeces and she informed us that she has a large greyhound. The following morning we awoke to the meowing of another cat by the doors into the garden. There was a new pile of dog faeces adjacent to our parked car. I leave people to judge if they wish themselves or their children to stay here

Easy booking at the last minute, clean, spacious and comfortable room. Would've been good to have been provided with a small book/leaflet advising of the location of things - specifically the fridge and cooking facilities being outside of the room.

Not being advised of the fridge and cooking facilities being outside of the room - outside, under the porch. Am sure, it just slipped his mind and assumed I noticed these things before entering the room.

地理位置非常好，风景非常美！

没有

Love ❤️ everything! Mel was so lovely. The view was just beautiful. 😍 I love the animals, we were even allowed to pat the horses 🐎 and a pony. Love, love....love. Morning sun so beautiful I sat and watched the sunrise.

Nothing that I didn't like!

The owners were super helpful and the view of the town was amazing. They stocked the frig with free food, snacks and drinks. We had the large room in front which was very comfortable; the shower was great too. The town doesn't offer that much but they have a great New World supermarket and we used Mel's as a base for visiting the caves.

Use their address to find their driveway up the hill but it's easy to find off the main road out of town.

Comfy bed. Nice snacks and treats

excellent location, amazing views and the thought put into making your stay comfortable was amazing.

Tout. L’accueil, la simplicité, le confort, le service, la propreté, le petit déjeuner à disposition, le jacuzzi, …. Proximité des caves de Waitomo.

Rien.

We had a great night stayed. Very comfortable and made us feel like home☺️ We wish we could stay longer. Thanks Mel for all the treats you gave us and see you again!

N.A

The view was amazing -- it looked like a painted movie scene. The beds were exceptionally comfy. The homemade banana bread was the best I've ever had, along with the homemade spreads and everything available in the fridge for breakfast.

Was absolutely amazing, there was everything you would need and more. We cooked dinner while we were there and enjoyed the amazing view in front of the outside fire. Our little girl loved the animals and exploring. The place was another level of clean, inside and out which added to the comfort of the stay and the owners were very welcoming and friendly

N/A everything was perfect for us

Quiet,rural aspect

Mab a bit cluttery and to do book needed an up date

Perfect place, quiet, out of town with excellent facilities.

nothing. Track to approach is quite steep and narrow....not an issue but need to be aware.

Beautiful setting with amazing views. Breakfast and snacks supplied were above and beyond and very appreciated. The room was beautifully decorated and the bathroom was jut out of this world. Would definitely stay again, Thank you for everything Mel.

Beautiful outlook, comfy bed, and the little extras in bathroom and kitchenette were special.

Mel's Retreat is as described, quiet surrounding and nice elevated view of the town especially at night as it's on an elevated ground. The room set up is as good as a 5 star hotel room. The refrigerator has all the assorted drinks. You could watch Netflix and other programmes. At the farm, scattered are a few sheep and horses. I could park my car at the entrance. I would stay here again. Mel and Glen are very hospitable. Thank you.

None.

Everything!

Nothing. It was perfect!!

emplacement idéal , copieux petit déjeuner bref tout est parfait .et que dire de la vue fabuleuse .

Very warm welcome, Mel loads up the fridge and counter with plenty of treats, some home baked which are excellent. Outdoor area and jacuzzi are fabulous. Parking. Mel does the washing up!

As some gave said before the bathroom is really quite small. The sink is very small. We were there a couple of nights and whilst not a major issue, it was slightly annoying.

Lots of extra little snacks & drinks available + some home baking 😊

Fabulous views, lovely friendly people, very welcoming and couldn’t do enough for us, a real hidden gem!

Absolutely nothing!

Mel & Glen went over and above. Glen lit the firepit and we drank wine and chatted to our new neighbours while admiring the view. Mel has thought of very possible item that you might want while on holiday. The fridge is well stocked with free drinks, homebaked muffins, bottled water and juice just to name a few things. We would have liked to have spent another few days at Mels. The bed is super comfy and the shower is luxurous. Thank you Mel and Glen for making us feel so at home.

Nothing. Mels exceeded our expectations.

The beautiful location, hot tub and fire pit and a lovely host. Cozy and comfortable

Amazing views. Mel was friendly and wanted to make sure we had everything we needed. Home made jams,cakes,plenty of tea and coffee.

Nothing

Everything

Nothing

Beautiful farm style location. Lovely outlook from property. Accommodation was comfortable and clean. Clearly looked after with love. Felt like we were in someone’s home. Plenty of snack items provided, including home made. Fresh milk, bread, jams, and eggs to make own breakfast with. Proprietors are lovely people and we felt well looked after.

Nothing

Fantastic. Such a lovely place and such thoughtful little touches

The property is amazing, peaceful and with a gorgeous view. Unit is large and spacious. Mel and Glen are super nice hosts. Loved the hot tub. We loved the animals around the property and the country feel. We are vegan and though we couldn't eat any of the snacks provided, we did request and have soy milk so we had plenty of breakfast options.

The room has a lot of decor, which limits the space on counters, etc. Not really a big deal for our one night stay.

Great little room on the farm stocked with tons of brekkie goodies and close to a lot of cool NZ sights!

Hot tub and sauna require a cover charge and scheduling, which we missed before booking

Had everything, clean

Can not fault it.. I loved Everything,, the room the views and Very welcoming host's, beautiful place for a little getaway.. well worth every cent!!!

Es was alles und sogar mehr vorhanden, als man braucht. Sehr wohnlich eingerichtet. Eine sehr ruhig gelegene und saubere Unterkunft. Für das Frühstück wird eine große Auswahl zur Verfügung gestellt. Auf einem Hügel mit steiler Anfahrt gelegen, dafür aber mit super schöner Aussicht. Besonders herzliche Gastgeber. Vielen Dank!

Friendly, super clean, homemade goodies.

Nothing

Amazing place and amazing people together with the care and attention paid to every little detail by Mel and Glen makes for an unforgettable stay for anyone.

Das Hotel liegt ausserhalb Te Kuiti und ist über eine Schotterstrasse erreichbar. Das Auto kann direkt vor dem Zimmer geparkt werden. Wir hatten das vordere Zimmer, welches ein neues, schönes und grosses Bad, mit begehbarer Dusche, hat. Der Kühlschrank ist, nicht nur für das Frühstück, grosszügig gefüllt. Das TV Angebot ist dank Zugangsdaten von Mel gut. Der Ausblick Richtung Te Kuiti lädt am Abend zum Verweilen in der gemütlichen Sitzbank ein. Dennoch können wir das Diese „Haus“ nur bedingt empfehlen, denn…

Man muss Tiere schon sehr lieben! Der freilaufende Windhund setzt schon mal einen Riesen „Haufen“ 2 Meter von einem entfernt, während man die Aussicht geniesst und gemütlich ein Glas und Käse zu sich nimmt! Er kackt aber auch sonst überall hin (direkt vor dem Vorzelt beim Zimmer). Die freilaufenden Katzen sind da etwas diskreter und verrichten ihr Geschäft im Blumenbeet, neben dem Sitzplatz. Mit den 3 Pferden und der freilaufenden Ente, wähnt man sich auf dem Lande / Bauernhof. Somit hat es natürlich auch viele Spinnen und Fliegen im Zimmer. Das Zimmer wäre eigentlich gross, jedoch stehen überall kleine Möbel mit enorm vielen Kleinigkeiten darauf, sodass es eigentlich keine nutzbare Ablage gibt. Da dieses Haus auch noch ein zweites Zimmer anbietet, muss auf allen 3 Seiten der Nachtvorhang gezogen werden, wenn diese vermietet ist. Da jeder „seinen“ Grillbereich hat, kann es laut werden. Auf dem Teppich gibt es noch zusätzlich 6 kleine Teppiche, welche zu unnötigen Stolperfallen werden und leider auch das Problem der Geruchsemissionen sind.

Absolutely perfect! Mel and Glen go above and beyond to make your stay wonderful. The room is comfortable and well stocked with a selection of goodies. There was fresh banana loaf and eggs in the fridge, and they even took us for a walk around the farm in between the pouring rain! Before our stay, Mel took the time to give us advice on what to do locally as well. Honestly the best place we have stayed ❤️

Nothing, it was perfect!

Приветливая хозяйка, отличный вид

Très bon accueil de Mel et son mari. Vue incroyable ! Petit dej offert. Les enfants ont même pu nourrir les animaux.

L’accès à la vaisselle n’est pas très pratique mais pour une nuit aucun souci.

Clean, tidy, great view!

The inclusion of breakfast and the spa, the generosity of the snacks (alcohol included) and the comfort of the room.

There were few furs on the bed sheet (likely from the dog), and even though it's very few, a provided lint roller would be awesome.

The view was beautiful. Bathroom was clean.

The bed smelled bad, which kept me awake nearly the whole night. The bedding was not clean.

Our host was so helpful, the room had lots of hidden extras, a book of things to do in the area, and which Mel explained how to get to them, lots of extras for our breakfast, great selection of teas and coffee, extra homemade muffins, so delicious!

No complaints, whish we could have stayed longer.

What a gorgeous view! We used the family suite for the two of us - spacious room, large and comfortable bed, modern rain shower, lovely details... We had breakfast (all food provided by Mel) outside in the BBQ area overlooking Te Kuiti. A lushious garden. And if you love animals (dog, cats, ducks, sheep, cows, horses) you'll be in heaven. Mel is a wonderful host. It was a perfect stay!

NOTHING to complain about.

Wish we could have stayed longer! The hosts are the best we've ever had. They let us feed the horses, lit the fire pit, had the hot tub available to reserve- it was paradise, with a beautiful view of the town below. Pick this place for your stay!

Having stayed in a good selection of accommodations around the world I was trying to be realistic in managing my expectations around a property with such a high rating. I was expecting a good experience of course but honestly… Above and beyond. A stunning view of the area at height from the front surrounded by a plethora of animals and nature, the room had every possible want and need realised, a fantastically generous provision of drinks and snacks and an amazingly comfortable bed. I didn’t even make use of the complimentary use of the huge hot tub or sauna but it was already an 11 out of 10. To then see the gloworms the following day after such a restful time made that experience even more magical. Do not miss this hidden gem if you’re lucky enough to find it available. Book it immediately and thank your good fortune later.

We had the best sleep so relaxing and comfortable. Mel is so lovely and welcoming

Nothing

Great location, small but perfect space. Mel was very friendly & helpful, enjoyed the hot tub & chatting with the hosts round their fire pit. Mel provided LOTS of treats for breakfast & snacks.

Nothing it was great

A atenção da Mel com os hóspedes. Além disso, tem um cachorro muito fofo que veio falar oi. O local é isolado, mas fica a 5 minutos de carro do centro.

Nada

Had everything we could possibly need! Loved the location looking out to the cows, horses sheep and ducks! Best nights sleep we’ve had in ages!

N/a

Great location on top of the hill with a view, close to Waitomo caving activites, great food in town at Stoked eatery. Mel had the heating on for us when we arrived, woke up to the gorgeous view and lots of beautiful friendly animals. Was only a quick one-night stop for us but couldn’t have asked for more.

Everything was perfect, Mel put in a lot of effort to make it a lovely stay. Homemade food, animals outside, bed extremely comfortable, spa heated and ready to go. Everything was delightful.

N/A.

The bed is incredibly comfortable! The private sauna was amazing!

The bed is cozy and gives me the best sleep I’ve had in a long time, and the host is very nice.

Mel really goes above and beyond in terms of hospitality. Many little things, like complimentary breakfast, wine/beer, use of hot tub, chocolates/cookies in room. Guests are made to feel special.

While clear efforts are made to equip the outdoor kitchen, a stovetop and sink would make this place a little more functional.

Definitely a hidden gem! Thank you for sharing your sanctuary with us. The views were spectacular and peaceful. Mel, you have spoilt us with all the little extras which reminded us of home. Definitely felt at home with all the pets you have! They kept sneaking into our room, Thank you for helping me with my knitting.

Having a small table with chairs inside the room would have been beneficial.

Views were amazing hot tub great and a beer and wine on arrival plus great breakfast and snacks.. Mel was very welcoming.

Great views , very comfortable & all the little extras included to make our stay perfect . Highly recommended!

It would have been good to meet the hosts , which through out travels in NZ has provided invaluable history of the area

First, Mel and Glenn-- they're so nice, so very accommodating, sat with us by a lovely fire pit overlooking their expansive valley view and talked about their family, domestic and farm animals, and hobbies, while we shared our stories and the horror that the US has become in one short month before we began asking about NZ emigration procedures! After nightfall, Glenn pointed out the Southern Cross and Milky Way and we headed inside as we had an early morning. Our room was large, the beds comfortable, and there were many fun snacks to munch on, which we tried not to eat but hey, vacation is for trying new things, right? Sorry if sheets were filled with crumbs, Mel, and thanks for everything!

That we couldn't stay longer. I really wanted to see the piglet... >;)

Great location, high above Te Kuiti. Well equipped room attached to owners house with use of hot tub, sauna and BBQ. Breakfast provided.

Nothing

They are incredibly friendly and kind. They created such a wonderful time just for us. We just want to say “thank you.”

Non

The place was quite, the room excellent and the chickens great fun!

No internet

Location, Location,location

N/a

Mel is a brilliant host and a wonderful person. The room was so homely and the extra touches were an added bonus. The view across the valley was breathtaking, and lovely animals all around. Their electricity had cut out when I arrived but they went over and above to ensure I was fed and comfortable whilst they fixed it. I ended up having an unplanned and totally fantastic evening with Mel and her friends (and Elvis!!) - I only wish I could have stayed longer. I highly recommend this stay for anyone passing through, you won't regret it!!

The room, facilities, view, space and friendliness of the owners. The attention to detail for having everything covered was marvellous.

Nothing to dislike

The place was beautiful location away from anywhere

It was a slight musty damp smell

Amazing views from location very well presented snd lots of attention to detail

Nothing

This place is absolutely a hidden gem! With a great view of the town, the spa and sauna are a great bonus to rewind after a long day! There is little touch here and there to make you feel like you are home. The attention to detail is immaculate. Highly recommend staying here!

None

My wife and I had a wonderfully relaxing stay at Mels Retreat. The cozy atmosphere made us feel right at home, and the spa jacuzzi and sauna were the perfect touches to help us unwind even more. Mel was very friendly and accommodated all our requests. We loved their home made fresh lemon loaf treat - delicious! We wish if we could stay one more night.

Stayed two days at this fabulous place. Everything was clean, comfy and enjoyable. Room was good size, lovely shower. Whirlpool and sauna great. Mel a lovely host. Oh and the views were brilliant

N/A