Punakaiki Forest Retreat

Anyone looking for a truly special location in Punakaiki, an exceptionally beautiful house, and incredibly warm and wonderful hosts will not be disappointed here!

Absolutely loved the location, the 'feeling' of remoteness, being surrounded by the native bush. The amenities were wonderful, with pretty much everything you need available on site. Great communication from our hosts both before and during our stay.

My only thing that maybe could be improved on is providing some operating instructions for the cooktop/oven, as although we finally managed to work it out, we did inadvertently lock the oven at one stage which took a while to figure out how to unlock it. People who have experience with Induction cooktops would be fine, but there are still plenty of us using dials on their stoves.

The house is beautiful. Andy and Hilary were super generous in organising a wee surprise for my partners birthday. The house is super private and sound proof. We enjoyed the outdoor bath at night listening to the moreporks and wekas calling. The house is full of all the cooking equipment you’d need, it’s a very well thought out house that’s kept very clean. Will be coming back!

Extraordinary setting and beautifully executed

Only thing I would change is separate light switches for bed side lights !

Beautiful location, once there we didn't need to drive much to get to local attractions/activities

Perfection! Peaceful tranquility with simple sophistication. Everything at this property has been well thought out, the most amazing stay we have ever had.

We have loved staying here. The location is peaceful and beautiful. The house is so well equipped with everything you need.

Nothing not to like

Amazing situation. Super-secluded in the forest. Really close to the Truman’s track. Walking distance to Pancake rocks and blowholes and lots of day walks. Beautiful house. Amazing forest views. Lots of light. Wonderful small kitchen. Great stargazing and birdwatching. Amazing regardless of the weather. Log burner kept us cosy in the rain, outdoor bath great in all weather. We felt very spoilt and would definitely stay again.

Nothing. We loved it all! We would take a yoga/exercise mat next time.

Everything! One of the most beautiful places i have ever stayed in my life!

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Location, simple Eco design…felt like living in a modern day tree house, at one with nature.

It was so beautiful, clean and had everything we needed and more. We wished that we could have stayed longer. Couldn’t recommend more.

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Everything exceptional Wonderful design and practicality Perfect location

Nothing

Alles is geweldig! Als deze accommodatie nog beschikbaar is niet verder twijfelen maar meteen boeken !

Niks.

Riesige Fenster, um den Wald und die Sterne zu beobachten. Nachts haben wir Kiwis gehört und das Abendessen draußen werden wir nicht vergessen. Eine einmalige Erfahrung, mit Blick auf die Sterne einzuschlafen.

Man sollte bei der Buchung wissen, dass das Haus aus einem großen Raum besteht und bei vier Personen hellhörig ist. Trotzdem hatten wir eine wundervolle Zeit und würden die Unterkunft wieder buchen.

Une maison au milieu de la nature, très bien équipée et confortable

Les 2 chambres pas séparées, mauvais plan quand il y a des ronfleurs parmi les participants

Wonderful feeling of being in the forest. Such a classy design. Well equipped.

No bathroom upstairs; might be a problem for some….

Die Lage mitten im Regenwald war phantastisch. Ein tolles Haus mitten in einem riesigen Garten. Der Strand ist fussläufig zu erreichen.

Die offenen Schlafzimmer sind für Familien ok, bei befreundeten Paaren aber leicht grenzwertig. Das einzige Bad mit Toilette ist sehr klein und nicht auf der Schlafebene.

Coffee machine

This is a beautiful high spec house with stunning views and surrounds. Andy was very communicative and resolved a very minor issue. The beds were comfortable and the whole house was lovely. The fully equipped kitchen was excellent and met our needs.

It’s quite open plan without real privacy between the 2 bedrooms. It could be awkward with 2 couples. Screen or doors to close off the bedrooms would have been great. However this was minor and we loved our stay.

Que no hubiera cortinas.

Our stay at Punakaiki Rainforest Retreat was nothing short of amazing. The property is set in a serene, peaceful location that instantly helps you unwind. The kitchen is exceptionally well stocked — we picked up some beautiful steaks and fresh veg in Greymouth and had everything we needed to cook a lovely family meal. We loved the family of birds living just outside, which made the setting feel even more special. My wife even braved the bath — and just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the night sky after dark is absolutely incredible. A truly memorable stay.

It was a hot day when we stayed, and with so much glass the house did warm up inside. That said, it didn’t take away from our experience. Some reviews mention privacy concerns, but for us — as a family — it felt completely private. The property is so well positioned and secluded that not having blinds wasn’t an issue at all.

Die Ausstattung, die Lage mitten im Urwald. Selten eine so gut durchdachte Ferienwohnung gesehen. Da hat sich jemand Gedanken gemacht und auch perfekt umgesetzt. Wir werden diese Wohnung an gute Freunde weiterempfehlen.

Wir wären gerne noch einen Tag geblieben...

Truly incredible location and property, we spent the evening staring out into the Forrest and chucking at the many weka! Comfortable beds and linens, lovely shower. The outdoor bath looks lovely but we were scared at the prospect of the sandflies. We would wholeheartedly stay again.

There are no blinds or curtains on the extensive glazing - there were are zero privacy concerns due to location (unless you care about a bird seeing you!) However, either supplying eye masks or mentioning this in the pre seat information might be helpful for some. The bedroom spaces are open plan for noise but a screen is provided and they’re around the corner from each other. Wasn’t an issue for us.

This was the perfect place to take my mother and father in law visiting New Zealand for the first time from Peru. Sheltered among beautiful native bush, with weka, tui, and kereru, it was so relaxing and an experience to remember for all of us.

It was such a treat to be so connected with nature at the property. A beautifully designed home that created harmony and peace for our family.

It would have been good to have a clothes dryer - especially given how wet the West Coast is but it was by no means a deal breaker and we definitely intend to visit and stay again soon!

Amazing house in amazing spot. Felt like a house on a tree with a cool style

That we had to stay just one day 😉

Was eine wunderschöne Unterkunft mit allem, was das Herz begehrt. Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt

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Beautiful location, wish we. Could have stayed longer

Everything!

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There are too many great things to list about this property! We loved watching the lush rainforest and resident family of wekas through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The kitchen is well-stocked and had all the amenities we needed for a home-cooked breakfast. The beds were incredibly comfy (the soft and cozy cotton sheets especially stood out). We encountered a housekeeping issue when we first arrived, but the hosts called us back right away and addressed it very promptly and fairly. Overall they were incredibly helpful and responsive and we are very satisfied with how it was handled.

As can be seen in the photos, this property has lots of glass windows with no covers. Remember to bring your eye mask you're a light-sensitive sleeper and would like to sleep past the early sunrise of summer in New Zealand ;)

Everything ! The surroundings are gorgeous and the house was perfect. It had everything we needed and we really enjoyed the well equipped kitchen and the tea and board games that were provided. The location is perfect and we enjoyed the local walks and dinner at the pub nearby too !

Nothing, it was perfect

Great location in the middle of the rainforest. So tranquil and peaceful.

Detailed instructions provided regarding check in. Beautiful house. Perfect location. More to see than I expected in Punakaiki- a highlight of our visit to New Zealand . House well appointed and comfortable

The fact that the bedrooms didn’t have privacy. It wasn’t mentioned clearly in the description and it was difficult when you share a house with friends.

Fantastisk beliggenhed. Super lækker arkitektonisk perle. Du bor midt i skoven. Wow oplevelse. Der var alt i kaffe, the, krydderier, olier og andet. Lækkert med grill. Kan varmt anbefales.

Beautiful open-concept home surrounded by nature. It truly felt like a private retreat in a prime location just a few minutes from site seeing. The home was fully equipped with high-end appliances and kitchen-ware, beds were super comfortable, and the place was very clean. The host was also very nice and let us stay a few extra hours past check-out time.

The house had mostly glass walls with no curtains, so when we arrived late at night, we felt like we were staying in a fish bowl. Just something to keep in mind especially for women travelers! I think it would be a welcome addition to have curtains downstairs for added privacy.

Pretty much everything. Fabulous design in a beautiful rainforest setting. Incredibly well equipped. Super comfortable beds. Great kitchen and appliances.

Only one thing. The BBQ needed some attention. The oceanside setting had left its mark.

It was very nice house

It is open space house and it is not comfortable to 2 couples

Stunning house and location in the forest, so tranquil. It has everything we needed. The plunger coffee was lovely. Loved the fireplace, it made the whole place very toasty. Beautiful natural bath products were a nice touch. The kids loved the board games!

Everything was great.... maybe a microwave to heat up left overs? I do prefer a firmer mattress but that's probably just me.

The location is absolutely superbe, a real sense of being in nature. The fire stove was very much fun.

A microwave would have been helpful to reheat coffee.

The star filled night sky viewed from the very comfortable bed. Surprisingly very well equipped with everything a couple, or family require. Magical private native bush setting.

Beautiful private house with a fantastic outlook into the bush, comfortable beds, great log burner which made it very cosy in winter. Lovely hosts who were available for assistance.

Location is beautiful and the stay is isolated which we enjoyed, the forest is amazing it feels prehistoric, loved it. Most comfortable beds we have stayed in for quite a while, nice to have a full kitchen. The weka were delightful, I would recommend.

It took a really long time to heat the property even though there was a fire, could have had the heating on before people arrive especially in winter. MUST take all your own food closest shopping is Westport. Also we could not get our car down the steep driveway because the ground was scraping the underside of our car, the camber and the steepness was not great, we had to park up by the entrance and walk in, if you had a 4 wheel drive I would think you would be ok, but not ideal when to park that far away in such cold wet snowy weather.

This was my second visit. We came in for short stay after completing the Paparoa Track It is the best place to stay in Punakaiki. Looking forward to returning

Nothing

Loved the character of the house. Loved the location.

Amazing house in amazing location. Everything about the house is impressive. Very tasteful and high quality equipment. It is a wonderful experience to stay here. Quickly warms up and stays warm. Staircase has a night illumination.

Lack of privacy as living room/kitchen and both bedrooms are practically not separated.

The property is located in the bush. WOW, what a great place. Very relaxing.

The sleeping arrangement does not allow much privacy, which can be an issue if travelling with friends.

Omg amazing place! Clean, great location near walks and the pancake rocks. Cannot fault it at all. Highly recommended.

Nothing major, but might be helpful to have nets installed on all the windows that open . I can see this house being a hot box during summer months. ?

Unique, beautiful surroundings, lovely building with all modern features

We loved everything, our favourite ❤️

Fantastic home. The experience of being with nature was incredible too.

We loved the surrounding bush. The kitchen was very well equipped. Super private surrounded with birdlife. Loved being able to open up the living area. Great walks nearby.

The place was great

Stairs...

The location! Amazing little walkway to the beach.. incredible! Also very private.

I’m sorry to say, for the price, this place is overrated and tired. Furniture inside and out needs updating. Can’t tell which cycle washing machine is on, no cycle lights up. No conditioner in the shower.

Location in the trees was fabulous.

The stairs up to the bedrooms and of course down in the dark to the toilet during the night we're a challenge for us older folks. A wee bit of a warning about them would generally help potential bookers.

The property's location in the bush; it's simple yet elegant design; the sliding glass doors that open the living space to connect with the outdoor spaces; its isolation & serenity; the quality of the fit out; the provisioning that was made available for cooking meals; and the resident Weka's....all made for an amazing stay in this beautiful property

Nothing

Stunning, light filled structure for perfect viewing of the rainforest.

Lack of window screens and no air con or fans meant we couldn’t open the windows until the bugs subsided after sunset. And the house was quite warm upon arrival.

Beautiful tiny house, everything you need. The location is unbeatable, easy walk to the beach for the best sunsets.

We loved the glass walls. The forest was right there. We went on the hike to the beach. It was awesome.

There was not a coffee maker so I used the provided coffee like it was instant like every other place we stayed in New Zealand but it was not instant. We did get the needed caffeine but with a lot of grounds at the bottom of the cup and throughout.

an amazing place where the all beauty of new zealand in one place. Ferns, pathway to the ocean, sunset, great tourist routes nearby. It was a very private , hidden in a forest house with a million dollar view just from your bedroom and living/kitchen area downstairs. Warm, clean, comfortable.

We didn't expect sandflies in a house, so we really couldn't open the window. Just in case it's better to have something to prevent bites of sandflies. Also, the bedrooms are not isolated , so you all really sleep in one big bedroom :) It suits our family, so we were OK.

Great location and so nice being in the bush surrounded by all the beautiful birds

Some outdoor loungers would have been nice.

This is a beautiful unite, modern, well equipped, all walls are glass w/o curtains so you are actually leaving within a forest. It means that you also need eye mask if you want to sleep later than sunrise....

Spectacular location in the bush - had everything needed for a weekend away

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Absolute stunning surroundings and birdlife. Retreat was well hidden and was clean comfortable. Will visit again.

Unfortunately with the rain we couldnt visit most of the places

That you were sitting right in the bush

The main door was really heavy and hard to move

The location is stunning. Beautiful and clean. Nice warm fire. Comfy beds. Nice to be surrounded by nature.

The hot water ran out very quickly! 4 people staying but only managed 1 person to have a hot shower.

Location and Design

less privacy for 2 couples.

There was not enough hot water to fill the outdoor bath.

Fantastic design and blends really well into its location, really enjoyed the bath.

Exceptional - feels like you are in a luxury treehouse in a secluded rainforest - loved the open plan living, large sliding doors that opened out into the rainforest and the clean, modern nature of the apartment! Great location- has a secluded feel, but also easy access to explore Punakaiki and surrounds!

It was a very special place: beautiful clever architecture with an eye for detail and surrounded by nature, amazing!!

When we stayed it was raining all the time and we were not able to dry our wet shoes and clothes after our track.

Very warm and comfortable. Beautiful surroundings.

Minor issue with the wifi not working for the first 24 hours but it got sorted.

Incredible stay in an architectural gem, a true hidden treasure in the forest. Inspired build that made us feel at one in nature. Gorgeous home with a well equipped kitchen, extremely comfortable bedding and views for days. Made to feel like we were sleeping in the tree tops! Private yet easy to access and find. Wood fireplace at the heart of the home kept everything warm and cosy. Cooking here at night was a real treat! Short (beautiful) stroll to incredible beach and only a couple of minutes drive from pancake rocks. Highly recommend!

Nothing!