Warblers Retreat

Really lovely location and well maintained. Can definitely tell that Barb and Dave have put so much thought into making this an enjoyable and relaxing location for anyone staying. We booked this for our first wedding anniversary and were welcome by a lovely goody basket which we enjoyed. The food was fresh with ingredients locally grown at the retreat! The only feedback I have is that the TV was playing up and seemed to take awhile to load. Would recommend this to others for a relaxing time away :)
Mar 20th, 2023

Mar 12th, 2023

Feb 3rd, 2023

My husband and I stayed at Warblers Retreat during a portion of our honeymoon trip to New Zealand and, far and away, this was our favorite of all the accommodations we stayed at. First and foremost, Barb and Dave are incredible hosts and are extremely attentive, quick to respond, and make the quiet getaway feel like a top tier luxury stay. The grounds are tucked away in a beautiful forest, where they've made trails running along some water and you can spot glow worms at night twinkling in the brush. There are two outdoor tubs - if you stay in the Cottage, you get your own private one, surrounded by a garden of fragrant flowers. We especially enjoyed the little Sanctuary hut among the trees where we read books and listened to birds. The entire location is very lovingly cared for and beautifully constructed, with a pool and fresh grape vines growing over a wooden archway. We told everyone we came across in New Zealand about the place - if we had more time on the North Island, we would have spent our entire honeymoon camped out there. It felt both pampered and homely, comfortable and incredibly ornate. Cheers to Barb and Dave and their years of work on Warblers, and the delicious bread they kindly baked and delivered to us! After a long journey from the states, it was such a lovely and thoughtful touch.
Jan 31st, 2023

We stayed in their eco glamping unit. What an experience! Read further if you want a (really) comprehensive review. The unit is an old caravan which has been converted into a quaint little home for two. The caravan opens out onto a spacious deck with a table and two chairs, with beautiful forest views and a stunning sky of stars at night. The spa bath and outdoor shower are on the deck around a corner, and one has total privacy. The sounds of nature fill the space, and one feels instantly relaxed. One can take a walk around the site and explore, or along one of the forest walk routes. There is also a forest bath for guests to use, in which you can relax and bath surrounded by nature. Amenities were perfectly supplied and went over and above: we were welcomed with a basket filled with goodies + a handwritten note. The room was equipped with basics (eggs, milk, fruit juice, butter, jam, salt & pepper and more) and we were greeted with freshly baked bread in the mornings which was amazing! The dinners served were great, and really had that home cooked taste, which we loved. The desserts were fantastic! That being said, we were fully fed for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, youre a short drive from Albany, the local town. You can pop into town for a meal, or bring back some supplies and cook for yourself. The cooking process was fun - a BBQ on the deck just outside the caravan door and all the pots, pans and other utensils you may need around the corner from the caravan. The unit was also equipped with robes, towels, slippers and blankets, which made us feel really cozy and comfy! We loved the retro vibe of the converted caravan - its very clear that the hosts have wonderful attention to detail and put intentional care into it. The whole place is super eco-friendly, which means that the loo is a compost one! A fun experience for those of us accustomed to regular hotel bathrooms. The hosts clearly understand the balance between giving guests their privacy and making guests feel welcome. Really friendly, super accommodating, but give you your space as well. One thing about the wifi was that it did not reach the caravan, and theres very little to no cellular signal at all inside of it. One can walk a few metres to the canopy (a little venue perfect for an intimate wedding) for wifi, but the wifi is not fast at all. If youre someone who needs to stay available via the internet, you should probably make alternative plans to be able to connect during your stay. If youre like us, though, and really need an escape from your phones and devices, the no wifi thing may be a blessing in disguise! We really feel that the digital detox added to how rejuvenated we felt after the stay. Although we had no wifi, the caravan has board games which we had fun with, and theres a little book inside the caravan with the history of the place, as well as little handbooks about the history of the local town, natural sites and so on, which we really enjoyed reading through! All in all, this stay cannot be faulted at all, and was the perfect reset. As avid travellers with high standards, this place managed to totally surpass our expectations. Dave and Barb, you have outdone yourself! Thank you so much. With love, Colette and Leon
Mar 24th, 2023