Ao Marama Retreat

91 Excellent Street, 7073 Collingwood, New Zealand – Excellent location – show map

<p><b>Excellent</b> location – rated 9.6/10! <small>(score from <b>103</b> reviews)</small></p> <p>Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions</p>
9.1
Scored 9.1
Wonderful
Rated wonderful
103 reviews
a living room with a couch and a table at Ao Marama Retreat in Collingwood
a living room with a couch and a table at Ao Marama Retreat in Collingwood
a window with a view of a dirt road at Ao Marama Retreat in Collingwood
a bedroom with a mirror in a wooden wall at Ao Marama Retreat in Collingwood
+37 photos

Ao Marama Retreat

Lock in a great price for Ao Marama Retreat – rated 9.1 by recent guests!

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Lock in a great price for Ao Marama Retreat – rated 9.1 by recent guests! to get started.

Ao Marama Retreat in Collingwood provides accommodations with a garden and barbecue facilities. This beachfront property offers access to free Wifi and free private parking. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen for guests. A terrace with an outdoor dining area and sea views is offered in some units. The resort village has a picnic area where you can spend the day outdoors. The nearest airport is Nelson Airport, 79 miles from the resort village.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.7 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

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Most popular amenities
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Beachfront

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.6)

Free Private Parking Available On Site

Saved to 70 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 twin bed
1 king bed
1 king bed
2 twin beds
1 king bed
1 king bed
Bedroom 1:
1 twin bed
and
2 bunk beds
Bedroom 2:
1 queen bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
9.8
Facilities
8.8
Cleanliness
9.3
Comfort
9.1
Value for money
9.3
Location
9.6
Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Gustav
    United States of America United States of America
    “Sanctuary with spectacular views out over Golden Bay. Owners, Elizabeth and Duan made us feel right at home, went the extra mile to ensure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend staying here.”
  • Y
    Yvonne
    New Zealand New Zealand
    “The Ao Marama Retreat used to be a Buddhist Centre, I believe, and so it was wonderfully peaceful and the views and walks through the bush were lovely. We were able to take our dog and there are plenty of walks from the accommodation - including...”
  • Philip
    New Zealand New Zealand
    “Very reasonable price! Spectacular location. We stayed in the one (main) room chalet with our own bathroom. Very clean and comfortable. Really enjoyed our stay.”

Hosted by Duan, Elizabeth, Niko, Bonnie and Mazzy

9.8
9.8
Host Review Score
Host Review Score
Duan, Elizabeth, Niko, Bonnie and Mazzy
Ao Marama Retreat is a former Buddhist Centre set in 16 acres of regenerating native bush on a sheltered hill overlooking Golden Bay, New Zealand. The name can be translated to ‘The Place of Light and Life’ and there is an abundance of both here. Once you arrive you may not want to leave as we have numerous places to enjoy just being in nature from short bush walks to various look out points and a wooden deck for relaxing, dining or even do a sunrise yoga session. All the while being surrounded by plentiful native bird life. But if you do want to leave the retreat on foot you can follow our bush track down to the beautiful and near deserted Collingwood beach for relax, swim or even catch a fish. Walking a further 25 minutes along the beach brings you to Milnthorpe Forest and Scenic reserve.
We are a family who loves our planet. 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. We have become far more aware of – and concerned for – the unprecedented decline of our natural environment. To find solutions we feel can help us make a difference we have recently been studying Permaculture, Solar Power, Organic Gardening and Bee-keeping. We want to implement our little knowledge and gain a whole 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, Elizabeth, Niko, Bonnie and Mazzy.
Collingwood is located at the Western end of Golden Bay. 'The Bay' offers many unique and stunning attractions – from an Eco Tour to Farewell Spit, Walking the Heaphy Trail, Mountain Biking former Gold Mining routes, fishing for Salmon or discovering many of the stunning beaches including Wharariki or experiencing the clearest freshwater in the southern hemisphere at Pupu springs.
Language spoken: English

Area info

Amenities of Ao Marama Retreat
Great facilities! Review score, 8.8

Most popular amenities
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Beachfront
Outdoors
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Beachfront
  • Sun deck
  • BBQ facilities
  • Terrace
  • Garden
Kitchen
  • Shared kitchen
Pets
Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.
Activities
  • Beach
  • Hiking
Food & Drink
  • Fruit
Internet
WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.
Parking
Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
    Services
    • 24-hour front desk
    Safety & security
    • Fire extinguishers
    • Smoke alarms
    General
    • Heating
    • Non-smoking rooms
    Spa
    • Hot tub/Jacuzzi
      Additional charge
    Languages Spoken
    • English

    Property practices

    This property told us they've implemented certain practices across some or all of these categories: waste, water, energy and greenhouse gases, destination and community, and nature.

    House rules

    Ao Marama Retreat takes special requests – add in the next step!

    Check-in

    From 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM

    Check-out

    From 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

     

    Cancellation/
    prepayment

    Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

    Children & Beds

    Child policies

    Children of all ages are welcome.

    To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

    Crib and extra bed policies

    There's no capacity for cribs at this property.

    This property doesn't offer extra beds.

    No age restriction

    There's no age requirement for check-in

    Payments by Booking.com

    Booking.com takes your payment for this stay on behalf of the property, but make sure you have cash for any extras once you get there.

    Parties

    Parties/events are not allowed

    Quiet hours

    Guests need be quiet between 10:00 PM and 9:00 AM.

    Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

    The fine print
    Must-know information for guests at this property

    Please inform Ao Marama Retreat of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

    Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

    This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

    Quiet hours are between 22:00:00 and 09:00:00.

    FAQs about Ao Marama Retreat

    • Check-in at Ao Marama Retreat is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 10:00 AM.

    • Yes, there's a hot tub. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Ao Marama Retreat on this page.

    • Yes, Ao Marama Retreat is popular with guests booking family stays.

    • The nearest beach is 1,650 feet from Ao Marama Retreat. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

    • The prices at Ao Marama Retreat may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

    • Ao Marama Retreat offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

      • Hot tub/Jacuzzi
      • Hiking
      • Beachfront
      • Beach

    • Ao Marama Retreat is 0.8 miles from the center of Collingwood. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.