STORIES FROM RIPPLES

Ripples Retreat began with a river, a family farm and a simple idea: to create a place where people could experience rural New Zealand the way we do. You get designer cabins that feel more like a giant hug than accommodation. Long before there were cabins, there were family picnics by the Mangaotaki River, evenings spent fishing, sheep grazing in the paddocks, and countless hours exploring the limestone bluffs and tomos (caves) that have shaped this valley for generations. Wh

My kids think I'm obsessed with details. They're probably right. This little patch of winter sunshine is why I spent more than a year obsessing over where the cabins should sit. Worth it. Before we built River Song and Cascade, I spent more than a year watching how the winter sun moved across our farm. Not because guests would notice, but because I hoped they'd feel it. In architecture, it's called passive solar design. I just called it standing in paddocks watching where th

“The farm tour at Ripples Retreat was the highlight of our New Zealand honeymoon.” Many guests arrive at Ripples Retreat with detailed North Island itineraries planned around Waitomo Caves, waterfalls, beaches and Hobbit filming locations… then find themselves unexpectedly slowing down. Ripples Retreat riverside farm with calm river and green hills. Two bespoke warm cabins - perfect for winter stays. Instead of rushing off early each morning, guests begin lingering over coffe