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"Hands down the best accommodation retreat in New Zealand"
 

"This is real New Zealand.

Stay here."
"Impeccable detail throughout the house. Incredible views. Cozy but so smartly laid out there’s enough room for everyone. I don’t take baths, yet I took two in two nights. One under amazing stars and the other in a relaxing drizzle. We got a kick out of the property history of the super bowl commercial and the hobbit connection. Everything was wonderful including our hostess Trudy.
We just did not want to leave!"
 
Rob USA

Ripples Retreat Guest Reviews

Here are some of our guest reviews. More reviews can be seen on Google, Airbnb and Facebook.

Bryan Bonacum

NC USA November 23

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The only word to describe Ripples is perfect! The property is stunning and the cottage is beautiful. Every detail has been so wonderfully thought out. I couldn’t imagine a better place to begin our New Zealand adventure. Trudy was a fantastic communicator and host. Ripples will exceed every expectation! We will recommend it to anyone we know headed to NZ. Absolutely heavenly!
Great views, Luxury, Romantic & Quie, Great Value
5/5
Mele Johny
Auckland NZ October 23
Ripples Retreat has been a place I wanted to stay at for a really long time and finally we had the opportunity to this weekend and it was the best Airbnb stay for me so far. The place is very peaceful and tranquil. Exactly what we wanted for a weekend getaway. Thank you Trudy 😊
Best Airbnb stay so far!
5/5

Coleman Macuch

USA November 23

We had a fantastic stay at Ripples Retreat and it was the perfect location to end our honeymoon from the United States. The location of the cabin is beautiful and everywhere you look is gorgeous scenery. The river running through the property was very peaceful. The interior is very well done and we appreciated all of the luxurious details. We highly recommend Ripples!
Luxury, Great view, Romantic, Quiet
5/5

Cos and Karen Cirillo

Australia August 23

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Cabin retreat at it's finest. Secluded valley location where you will feel compelled to soak in the nature and unwind.
The cabin is very romantic with a 4 poster bed, plenty of comfy pillows and rugs, double head shower (Very cosy bath robes) and a glorious outdoor bath overlooking the river. Fully equipped kitchen and bbq for all your cooking needs.
Lots of little details you won't get elsewhere that make you feel at home.
If you appreciate a location with a story you won't get much better. The surrounding country side was used in many of the scenes from that well known trilogy Lord of the Rings, which you can visit via hairy foot tours!
Absolute gem. Ripples is an absolute must! 10/10
Great views, Luxury, Romantic & Quie, Great Value
5/5
Kate K
USA Maine July 23
UN-BE-LIEVABLE.
Hands down, the most incredible airbnb stay ever. Trudy and her family have created an outstanding experience for their guests. The photos truly do not do this place justice, everything about it is immaculate and comfortable but so stylish. I think my favorite aspect was that there was space *everywhere* - to sit, to spread out luggage items, to write (postcards/letters/journaling), to place your tea or wine glass. The built-in bench seating along the giant window was perfect for curling up with the fluffy pillows and blankets and watching the stars from inside. The patio seating was perfect for enjoying the sunrise with a steaming cup of coffee. Everything was clearly labeled, the provided treats were plentiful (homemade honey?! apple cider vinegar?! lemons and limes!!?), the variety of appliances meant you could easily sequester yourself here indefinitely with a load of groceries. I cannot WAIT to return (for longer, three nights was not enough)!! Ripples is paradise!
Luxury, Great view, Great Value, 
5/5

Lucy Piercy

USA Sept 23

Ripples was magical. I needed a peaceful and relaxing getaway and Trudy really curated this home to be just that. Situated beautifully in the hills next to peaceful running water, I was transported to tranquility.
Trudy treated me like family and was so welcoming and helpful when I needed it. Hospitality is definitely her gift— you don’t even need to interact with her to feel that. The thoughtful touches at Ripples really said it all.
I can’t wait to come back!
Luxury, Beautiful, Thoughtful touches, Quiet, 
5/5

Kelly Edwards

New Zealand June 23

Ripples Retreat was the ultimate haven for couples. The attention to detail was incredible, making our stay comfortable, relaxing, romantic and fun. Sunset and sunrise in the outdoor bath, listening to the river and birds was the highlight for us. Thank you for being so welcoming and considerate. We can’t wait to book our next weekend at Ripples!
Great views, Luxury, Romantic & Quiet
5/5
Natalie Clarke
New Zealand June 23
This is a bespoke location. Serene and beautiful. Cozy but with all amenities. An excellent retreat!

Noteworthy details: Having an outdoor bath next to a stream and under the stars was divine
 
Luxury, Great view, Romantic, Quiet, Kid-friendly
5/5

Barbara and Graeme

Australia May 23

Great location. Private. Stunning views – river runs through property, in front - own fishing spot. Super accommodation – modern, comfortable. Wonderful backdrop, green hills– sheep and cows. Terrific slice of rural NZ – with all the mod-cons. Can't list all the extras that are lovely surprises - we adored staying here - so so good
Luxury, Great view, Romantic, Quiet, 
5/5

Anika Schroder

Germany Mar 23

Ripples is a truly magical place, it’s a beautifully designed and well-equipped cabin right next to the Mangaotaki river and is surrounded by stunning scenery. The river offers excellent fly fishing for trout(catch &release), a quick dip, a kayak trip or lazy river tubing. Trudy and Brendan are great hosts and you can really feel that they put a lot of hard work and love into the place.
Linda W
New Zealand Feb 23
Stunning Valley and surrounds, a beautifully comforting cabin equipped with everything you could possibly need, and even more. My bestie and I felt so at home and at peace here. The cabin is gorgeous, the outside bath just divine and floating down the Rioples River on the sea biscuit - absolute delight and fun. We usually chose a different Venue every year, but we're coming next year! Thank you to Trudy and family, for the help and friendliness, plus providing all the comforting touches to make our stay magical. Being able to book massages from local therapists and relax on the deck to receive these was an added bonus. Can't recommend Ripples enough!

Renee Pari

New Zealand Mar 23

This made my wedding day even more special; myself & bridesmaids were in awe of the beauty of this place. The finer detail of this place is spectacular and quirky! This slept 4 of us easily, without feeling like we were squished in! I feel so grateful for the stay at Ripples, thank you, Trudy and Brendan, this is a piece of paradise! A nice little getaway within our little village. We will be back!

Wayne

Australia Dec 22

"Ripples exceeded our expectations and for us, the highlight was the absolute privacy and serenity, being lulled into sleep by the sounds of the river and woken by bird life calls" 
Bonnie-J
New Zealand Dec 22
"The most amazing place to stay! All the small details really made it extra inviting like the fresh free range eggs & lemons left in the fridge, homemade infused ice cubes for hot/cold drinks and more. The river was stunning and that outdoor bath was 👌. Will definitely recommend and would love to come back again. Really friendly hosts as well."

Amanda & Mario

USA & Austria Nov 22

BEST AIRBNB EVER!!!! Literally don’t look any further, this place blew us away so much we were speechless. We had the most relaxing stay and will definitely be coming back the next time we travel through New Zealand. Trudy and Brenden are fantastic hosts who were so lovely and kind. The space is so well designed and you feel completely alone with nature. If you’re ever in New Zealand this Airbnb is a MUST STAY!

Alyssa Moore

Auckland Sept 22

“Absolutely breathtaking!! We really don't want to leave! Thank you so much to Trudy and Brendan for making our stay so magical. The care and attention to detail you have put into this little slice of heaven is unmatched. We loved chilling on the deck, listening to the river and birds, with a glass of wine in hand. The outdoor bath was glorious in the early evening when the sun went down. And our personal fave was getting to feed your beautiful baby lamb! You've literally thought of everything. We hope to be back soon! Thank you both so much!!!

Tracey Simon

Auckland Oct 22

Best getaway I have ever been on (from someone fussy about accommodation). Ripples Retreat is a perfect getaway, well equipped with thoughtful extras warmly provided by the owners (farm fresh goodies, games, a digital detox box that encourages you to disconnect like you should), tucked away into pristine nature yet with every luxury retained.

The cabin is well designed, beautiful and modern, with a very much fully fledged kitchen so you can cook anything you'd want to, plus great shower pressure (so hard to find).

The backdrop and location is quite literally out of a movie and looks exactly the part - stunning.

No photos can truly do this place justice. Will be back in a heartbeat.

Georg Birch

UK Oct 22

Ripples Retreat is an absolute dream. From the moment we pulled up we were in awe of our surroundings and the beautiful little cabin by the river. We had the most relaxing stay. Taking in the views from the tree swing, listening to the sounds of birds, cows and the breeze. The decor, amenities & just the amount of thought that has gone into this place was unreal! I would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting a relaxing, unique escape! Trudy, the host was wonderful and told us about what to do in the area, she left us to enjoy our stay but made it clear she was around if we needed! Couldn’t have asked for a better experience! 11/10 😋
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