Tui Retreat | Lake Manapouri

Take it easy at this cosy and unique lake house. Our space is like a fairytale, hidden away in the wee slice of paradise where the Waiau River meets Lake Manapouri. It's a sanctuary for nature and wilderness lovers, nestled into a breathtaking Beech forest. Beautiful birds fill the trees above. Fantastic fish fill the river and lake below. Humble and wondrous, Tui Retreat was built by local legends in the 70s, and is available for the first time ever as visitor accommodation, as of March 2022.

For reservations of just 1 or 2 guests, the whole property is still private just for you and we would recommend to take the upstairs bedroom(s) adjacent to the dining/kitchen/lounge space. Groups/families of 3 to 5 guests can choose to also occupy the downstairs bedrooms. Our retreat home is limited to 5 guests, but we do have additional accommodation options available. Special requests are welcome for larger groups :)

Manapouri Village is built on the doorstep of the Fiordland National Park. I would say it's quaint, characterful, leafy, and very pretty. The lovely locals are outdoorsy and adventuresome. The lake and the river wrap around the main township, so you're never too far from freshwater. Some say it's the most beautiful lake in NZ, and others say it's the best fishing in the country too. Scenic tracks seem to branch out at all angles, so walking and biking are highly recommended.

Both the lake and river are just a stone's throw away. Everything in the Manapouri Township is very walkable and bikeable. Take a 5-minute stroll down the river, under the Beech tree canopy, and you will stumble upon the RealNZ Doubtful Sound main passenger terminal. We can highly recommend taking a trip from there.

The main Manapouri beach is a 5-10 minutes walk around the lake and the local bar, café, restaurant, and shop are a 3-minute walk up the track.

The mighty Kepler Track has a car park just a 10-minute drive away, and Te Anau is 15 min drive. Milford valley starts just beyond Te Anau and various transportation options are available.

The driveway is fine for the average car, but may be a bit challenging for very large vehicles. There is room for 1 car in the carport, and also plentiful shared parking adjacent.

Groups with children are 100% welcome, but please note to take care on the spiral staircase.

For any thoughts/ideas/questions during your stay, our guests our welcome to pop over to the reception desk at our neighbour property, Possum Lodge. They have an abundance of info to share about exploring the local area, hiring bikes, kayaks, fishing, and booking trips to Doubtful Sound etc.