Matakana Retreat
Scandinavian Eco-Lodge
A completely private and unique off grid retreat set amidst 50 acres of mixed forest and native New Zealand bush. If you want a digital detox, the lodge is a magical place to reconnect with nature while enjoying the bird life and beautiful views across the Matakana valley all the way to Hauturu / Little Barrier island. The lodge is located just a convenient 7 minutes drive from Matakana village.
The Lodge
The lodge is a large, open plan home, with a full entertainer's kitchen and large covered deck that overlooks stunning native bush and the Matakana valley beyond - all the way out to the Hauraki gulf.
The lodge contains a master bedroom with a fully equipped ensuite, a large loft space with king bed and seperate toilet), two downstairs bedrooms with queen beds.
The house and property provide unmatched privacy in the Matakana valley. The comfortable living space is fantastic for families and groups of all ages wanting to enjoy quality time together. It's also a great base to call home if you are attending local events or weddings in the area.
Within 15 - 30 minutes drive you are on the doorstep of a wide range of Auckland's famously beautiful east coast beaches such as Pakiri and Omaha. The famous Leigh Sawmill is close by as is the Goat Bay Marine Park.
You can easily visit and access the fabulous Tawharanui Regional Park where Kiwi spotting at night is a favourite activity. During the day time the stunning golden beaches are also perennial favourite of Aucklanders.
Guest access
Access to the Matakana Retreat is down a long winding country road, over a bridge, and up a long relatively steep driveway to your completely private getaway. At the top of the driveway is plenty of car parking and space to turn around. The driveway is sealed concrete all the way to the top but its steepness has made some guests nervous. It's really not that bad as long as you take it slowly!
If you stay in the lodge you will have the entire house to yourselves with fantastic privacy surrounding you.
There are numerous fantastic outdoor sitting areas and multiple places to relax so you can completely unwind from our usual busy lives and fully enjoy this special environment.
Other things to note
The house is located on what we are calling an experimental farm and nature reserve. As such there are some natural hazards, for example, there are waterways and some steep areas. We ask that you stick to the paths and keep children away from these areas. We also ask guests to please not take any produce from the farm other than that provided as part of your stay. There is however a kitchen garden immediately outside the lodging which has a section of culinary herbs and salad stuff we encourage you to add to your meals.
The house itself is beautifully built and has modern conveniences and satellite internet. This is a private and peaceful retreat with ample solar energy and storage to provide a comfortable and memorable experience. For families we have loads of games and DVD's. We are slowly improving the land and creating new paths to explore and walk and from which to enjoy the property.
We hope you will enjoy our place as much as we do and our previous guests have done!
"My favourite AirBnb so far! Immaculately presented and just renovated my jaw dropped when walking in" (Kasey)
"This place is incredible - one of the best AirBnb's I've ever stayed in. It's been recently renovated and it looks amazing. Perfect for a group, comfy, cosy and relaxing. 10/10! (Jasper)
Gallery
Amenities
Kitchen & dining
- Blender
- Coffee machine
- Cooking utensils
- Dishwasher
- Grill
- Kitchen stove
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Spices
- Toaster
- CookingEatingWaterCooler
- Water purifier
Entertainment
- Piano
- Stereo system
- TV (Satellite)
- WirelessBroadband Wireless Broadband Internet
Heating
- Fireplace
- Floor heating
- Heating available
Laundry & bathroom
- Bathroom & Laundry
- Iron & Board
- Washing machine
Facilities
- Vacuum cleaner
- Carbon Monoxide Detector
- Fire Extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Smoke Detector
Bathroom
- Bidet
- Hair dryer
- Essentials
- Shower
- Towel-set
- Hot Tub
- Washbasin
Sleeping
- Bed linen
- 2 King bed
- 2 Queen bed
- 1 Sofa bed
Parking
- Parking available
- Parking Included
Availability
Live availability from our booking system — weekends and holidays book out well in advance.
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
Available Booked
Reviews
★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews across Booking.com, Airbnb & Google
★★★★★
via Booking.comWe had the most beautiful time away at the Matakana Retreat! We were there during a storm and it was so cozy. The rooms were all perfect. The kitchen was amazing. The fire kept us nice and toasty. We loved every minute of it! Highly recommend.
★★★★★
via Booking.comBeautiful spot in the bush. Lovely house with lots of character.
★★★★★
via AirbnbLovely location, comfortable bedding, beautiful home and wonderful hosts.
★★★★★
via GoogleNestled in a secluded valley a short drive from Matakana village, Matakana Retreat offers wonderfully comfortable accommodation in a modern and well equipped lodge. This is a place you can truly unwind and disconnect whilst feeling close to nature (with reliable wifi for those who need to remain connected). Definitely a place I hope to return to with my family and friends in the future.
★★★★★
via AirbnbMy favourite air bnb so far! Immaculately presented and it has just been renovated and my jaw dropped when walking in. Wrap around deck is great in sun and rain as there is ample covering. The kitchen breakfast bar and dining table provide great accomodation for guests. Incredible interior design. Wish we had longer!
★★★★★
via AirbnbWe had a lovely stay at Damon's place and would definitely recommend it. We stayed in October and it was nice and warm. It's a beautiful house and location. Thank you Damon and Dee.
★★★★★
via AirbnbBeautiful secluded stay. Very clean and cozy. Cupboards were stocked with all the essentials. Hosts were very responsive and friendly. We loved our stay here!
★★★★★
via AirbnbThis is a very cozy, peaceful and beautiful place to stay. Great for large groups. Damon was a superb host. Thanks for everything!
★★★★★
via GoogleWe recently had the opportunity to stay at Matakana Retreat, and it was a most relaxing and enjoyable experience. The lodge is located in the heart of the Matakana wine region, and is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, native forest and fabulous views, it's incredibly peaceful and private and is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We ventured out a few times and enjoyed being so close to everything this wonderful area has to offer including surf beaches, walks, cafes, shops and the popular Matakana Markets. The lodge itself has a cosy fire, gorgeous kitchen with wrap around decks for outdoor BBQ's and plenty of comfy spots to hang out. The bedrooms are spacious with large, comfortable beds and well appointed bathrooms. Can highly recommend as a perfect place to relax, recharge and create lasting memories with your partner, friends and family.
★★★★★
via AirbnbSuch an awesome, tranquil place to stay. Used it as a space for wedding preparations and it was perfect - heaps of space to get ready and perfect place for photo opportunities. Damon and co were super helpful and accomodating! 5 stars!
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