OPENING SPECIALS! Enjoy over12% off!
Use discount code CASCADE for either cabin!
ABOUT RIPPLES RETREAT
“Beautiful, tranquil retreat, with a fascinating history"
FREE Farm tour! for bookings of 4 days+
Double outdoor bath
Our Riverside Cabin Dream
Built on land used to film The Hobbit, I've (Trudy) combined 30 years of design experience and passion for organic design with our familie's stunning farm to make your stay incredibly special. We have put in hundreds of hours of planning to ensure an affordable luxury experience that we are immensely proud of and excited to share with you.
Our family - Brendan, Trudy, Katie, Corban and Harley - built our first cabin in 2020, on what was our original picnic site, nestled next to the river. We have spent many, many happy ours teaching our children to swim, fish and kayak here and we wanted to share our little piece of paradise with others.
We've just completed our second cabin on 2025 and we'rethrilled by how well it has turned out!
Our goal was to challenge ourselves to build practical, luxury cabins that function as a romantic escapes for two as well as family holiday accommodation. Finding family accommodation for 5-6, especially suitable for older teenage children, can be challenging based on our travel experiences. Hence, Ripples Retreat was born. It's two cabins are light-filled, heart built, cosy interesting and unique. Heated by the sun, sustainable, bespoke, warm, and luxurious.
We are all immensely proud of them!
As a family that loves the outdoors, we've discovered so many amazing day trips and activities in the Waitomo area, and we've tried them all so we can recommend the best ones to you. From waterfall walks to visiting Waitomo Caves, there's so much to explore right from our retreat..
Please feel free to take as many photo's as you like and share them. It is beautiful!
Us & River Run-The Farm
Our Mission Statement
At our core we believe in crafting unforgettable holiday experiences where creative, sustainable design sits alongside beautiful nature, weaving together to form magical holidays that not only delight the senses but also deeply nourish your body and soul.
Creating memories that last a lifetime!
Ripples is nestled on our third-generation sheep and beef farm River Run, situated in the heart of the stunning Mangaotaki Valley. So you may hear in the distance the sounds of farm dogs working sheep or spot Brendan or Graeme riding along farm tracks, moving stock.
We farm 870Ha of steep to rolling hill country and have 3600 ewes, 5000 lambs in spring and 300 head of cattle. We have and continue to plant 100's of native trees to keep our farm sustainable for future generations, they help to retain our soils, provide shelter for our stock, improve the water quality and also add to the aesthetic quality of our land.
Our guests are welcome to walk our farm track and we offer free farm tours to those that book 4 days or more. During our authentic farm tours, you will be able to witness breathtaking views of our private farmland that is not accessible to the general public. You will be able to see our beautiful ponds, waterfalls, and craggy bluffs. On a clear day, you will be able to enjoy stunning views of Mt. Ruapehu. Please note that our farm tours are at limited times of the year.
"The Farm tour at Ripples was a highlight of our NZ Honeymoon"
"Our family farm, River Run, boasts stunning views of lakes, bluffs, and waterfalls, making it a truly picturesque location."
From the top of our farm above Ripples Retreat, you can see stunning views of the Majestic Mangaotaki Valley and Mt Ruapehu.
"As the sun sets, the freshly shorn sheep are on their way back to their paddock."
Our beautiful Family Farm: River Run
The panoramic photos above showcase the beautiful views and experiences that await you during your stay. Our farm is private and exclusive, and the tour will not be available to the general public. We will coordinate with you to find a convenient time for the tour that works for both of us, and we will do our best to schedule it around the weather.
We look forward to welcoming you to our farm and sharing this unique experience with you. We may need to split large groups into two separate farm tours.
*Availability is limited to certain times of the year.
Hobbit Film & Other Filming History
The cabin is set on the spot where Gandalf's caravan was parked for the filming of The 1st Hobbit Movie (An Unexpected Journey) in 2011. For 10 days the paddocks surrounding Ripples were transformed into a village of 500 people, 100's of cars trucks and marques. It was an exciting time and we have been lucky enough to have other various film crews on the farm, including an ad for the Super bowl in 2017.
We've had a variety of films and Ads shot at Ripples. This is a scene from a Budlite ad for the Super Bowl
This pop up village was here for a month back in 2011
Lights, camera, action!
We've had a variety of films and Ads shot at Ripples. This is a scene from a Budlite ad for the Super Bowl
Some of the best stargazing in New Zealand.
The night sky at Ripples Retreat is absolutely breathtaking!
It is located in a rare area of the North Island where the skies are incredibly clear, comparable to the likes of Tekapo in the South Island. It is also the closest area with clear skies to Auckland and Hamilton. It is one of the best places in the North Island to view the Milky Way and on those clear moonlit nights when you cannot see the Milkyway there's always multitudes of stars and satellite trains.
Fishing
Located on the banks of the picturesque Mangaotaki River, Ripples provides an excellent opportunity for fishing enthusiasts. You can fish directly from the front lawn of our property, and you'll find plenty of Rainbow and Brown trout suitable for both fly and spinners, in the river. Our fishing season runs from October to June, but if you travel just five minutes downriver, you can fish all year round. Additionally, our guests have exclusive access to the Taumangahau stream that flows through our farm. You'll hardly see any other angler in this serene location, yet there's plenty of fish.
Sustainability
Both of our cabins at Ripples Retreat have been thoughtfully designed with sustainable natural materials, providing a cozy yet luxury holiday experience that wraps around you like a warm hug. We have dedicated countless hours to searching, upcycling, crafting, and refining every layout and detail, blending them with high-quality, sustainable materials to create our unique cabins.
Perfectly positioned on each site, they capture the gentle winter sun while blocking the intense summer heat, and with double glazing and added insulation, our cabins maintain a comfortable temperature year-round without the need for air conditioning.
We take great pride in our cabins, and our guests are loving their unique holiday experiences at Ripples.
