Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views
Secluded wooden double cabin in native bush with stunning views.
Listen to native bird song, watch stunning sunrises, and stargaze from lovely Weka cabin, at Ao Marama Retreat.
The cabin itself is a double 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.
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 have various lookout points and bush trails - one of which leads you directly down to Collingwood beach.
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 is a 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; if you just prefer to really unplug, 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.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Collingwood
Collingwood is home to this cabin. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Collingwood Museum, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Kahurangi National Park and Tukurua Bay.
Abel Tasman National Park - 45 min drive - 60.0 km
Restaurants
The Mussel Inn - 10 min drive
The Courthouse Cafe - 3 min drive
Lady luck Cafe - 3 min drive
Poss - 5 min drive
Rosy Glow Chocolate Shop - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
As of 1 Jun, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views on 2 Jun, 2027 start from S$117, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Weka Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views located?
Situated in Collingwood, this cabin is within 1 mile (2 km) of Tukurua Bay and Collingwood Museum. Collingwood Recreation Ground and Milnthorpe Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Perfect location, friendly hosts and ideal base for exploring Golden Bay and Farewell Spit. Loved the walk down to the beach and the outdoors setting. And no sandflies! Thankyou Duan and Elizabeth.
The cabin was tucked away on the hillside with a beautiful view and easy access to the shared kitchen and bathroom. The cooking facilities and bathroom were kept very tidy by the owners and occupants. The owners were very friendly and had lots of recommendation s of things to do in the area. Thankyou for the stay 🙂
This is a querky place living in the bush and one to remember. Cedar Wood Hot tub an experience. Beds comfortable but duvet was too hot for us oldies! Living outside was a new experience but all that was needed in the kitchen BBQ was provided. Lovely walk down through the bush to the beach makes this place special.
Oh such a gorgeous setting, really cute huts all layed out between bush and fruit trees and vines, picking off delicious grapes on our way to the kitchen was delightful. Kitchen very well stocked with quality utensils, cooking meals was easy. Cosy blankets on the bed, great coffee made to order in mornings too! Elizabeth and Duan communicated with us promptly via message when needed, and were such a pleasure to chat too. They were really helpful and willing to share their local knowledge. Our little doggy was made more than welcome which is so nice.
Then there is the view!!!! Wowsers, I took so many photos from the sun deck, it's incredible, uninterrupted nature 😍 Loved the path down to the beach too.
We will be returning again before the summer ends, we both felt really relaxed there, just what we needed!
,
A lovely quiet hideaway on the hill with fabulous views and empty beach; really warm welcome from Elizabeth and Duan - good local knowledge - what’s not to enjoy!
Susan S.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020
Verified
8/10 Good
Sally C.
21 Jan, 2019
Review of kanuka cabin
Duan and Elizabeth were superb hosts. We ended up staying In the kanuka cabin which has an ensuite and is very convenient. The site is just beautiful - peaceful, birds singing, sunrise and sunset and stars all magical. The kitchen is well equipped with a gorgeous view. A good place for meeting the other people staying at Ao Marama. We had a relaxing and very enjoyable stay here! Thank you.
Sally C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
Emma H.
4 Jan, 2019
A peaceful holiday retreat
A fantastic, remote spot along the Golden Bay coastline with stunning sea views and birdlife. We really enjoyed our stay in the Weka Cabin, one of the more remote huts at Ao Marama, and thought there were good facilities for the number of guests staying there at the time. Thanks Duan & family for a wonderful stay!
Emma H.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar, 2020
Thanks Emma
So glad you had a lovely stay at AoMarama - if you make it down this way again we'd love to have you back.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Kind regards
Duan and Elizabeth
Both originally from New Zealand (Papakura and Bluff) we met in London where our three kids were born.
After living overseas for 20 years, and seeing many amazing places and cultures we decided to return to New Zealand to create an experience for people who love to travel yet reduce their impact on the world in which we live.
Or even reverse some of it.
We have become far more interested and concerned in the state of our planet and have recently been studying Permaculture, Solar Power, Organic gardening and Bee-keeping - and want to implement our little knowledge and gain a lot more.
This is the beginning of a new journey for us and we welcome you to come and spend time with us in this special corner of the Earth.
Duan and Elizabeth
Why they chose this property
Between us we have been very lucky to travel to many amazing countries including Lebanon, Libya, Viet-Nam, Nepal, Cuba, Ethiopia, Japan and Namibia and have always been inspired by the cultures but equally the places that we have stayed at and the people we have stayed with.
We have long dreamt of creating an experience that we shape based on all of these different places we have seen - and started looking for a suitable property in the last few years.
From old farms in Morocco to in-need-of-love Lodges in Spain and Boutique Vineyards the search eventually brought us all the way back home and Ao Marama more than fulfilled our criteria as a starting point and we now want to build upon the amazing effort by former owners and occupants.
From the stunning regenerating bush setting, the absolutely stunning view across the Bay and the indescribable vibe of the place - it was very quickly apparent that this place had something different from anything else we had seen.
We want everyone to arrive excited and leave rested and inspired and hopefully ever so slightly enriched.
And now the journey begins...
What makes this property unique
Whether you seek a peaceful retreat, a base to go Hiking Biking, Sailing or Paddling in the stunning environment that is Golden Bay, or you want share stories and ideas, get close to nature, enjoy organic food or just stare at the stars.
- Our own Bush track leads you right down to Collingwood beach - You can walk into Collingwood village along a country road - Stay with a passionate Kiwi family who will be as accommodating to your needs as possible - if you want help we'll be there - if you want peace we'll be elsewhere. - We are motivated by creating an experience that is in harmony with nature and not against it - we are absolute novices and want to learn as much as possible to make this happen - Next steps is installing a complete solar system to power our house and the cabins - Free Range Chickens laying eggs you can have for breakfast - Eventually we want to introduce organic dining options - with food predominantly grown in our gardens