Listen to native bird song, watch stunning sunrises, and stargaze from lovely Torea cabin, at Ao Marama Retreat.

The cabin itself is a single cabin of wood construction and built to minimise it s impact on the environment, with enough comforts to make your stay feel like a true escape.

Torea is the Maori name for the local Oystercatcher birds which you will see on the shores around Golden Bay.

Ao Marama Retreat in Golden Bay, New Zealand is a former Buddhist retreat set amongst 16 acres of Regenerating Native Bush. The retreat is nestled on a hill with sweeping views of the sparkling ocean below.

We strive to create a more sustainable form of tourism, and believe everyone has the right to travel the world but also a responsibility to reduce our impact on our planet. Our initiatives include:

- our water is all collected rain water

- we grow organic food in our extensive gardens

- have chickens for eggs

- reduce, recycle and re-use everything we can

Next step is to remove our dependance on the grid by installing a Solar and Solar PV system for our main home and cabins.

Golden Bay itself true nature lovers paradise - a unique blend of Mountains, Rivers, Bush and Ocean - and if you love the outdoors you will find what you want to do here - walking, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, kayaking, sailing, hunting, fishing. We can help arrange any of these activities.

Of course you if you just prefer to really unplug and slow down and enjoy nature you don t even have to leave the retreat - enjoy the beauty of nature and the bush from various lookout points, order an organic food pack to cook a lovely meal or do a yoga session on our viewing platform.

Come and be closer to nature.