Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views
Secluded wooden double cabin in native bush with stunning views.
Listen to native bird song, watch stunning sunrises, and stargaze from lovely Tauhou cabin, at Ao Marama Retreat.
Tauhou is the Maori name for the native Wayeye birds which are abundant around the retreat.
The cabin itself is a double cabin of wood construction and built to minimise it s impact on the environment, with enough comforts to make your stay feel like a true escape.
Ao Marama Retreat in Golden Bay, New Zealand is a former Buddhist retreat set amongst 16 acres of Regenerating Native Bush. The retreat is nestled on a hill with sweeping views of the sparkling ocean below.
We have various lookout points and bush trails - one of which leads you directly down to Collingwood beach.
We strive to create a more sustainable form of tourism, and believe everyone has the right to travel the world but also a responsibility to reduce our impact on our planet. Our initiatives include:
- our water is all collected rain water
- we grow organic food in our extensive gardens
- have chickens for eggs
- reduce, recycle and re-use everything we can
Next step is to remove our dependance on the grid by installing a Solar and Solar PV system for our main home and cabins.
Golden Bay itself is a true nature lovers paradise - a unique blend of Mountains, Rivers, Bush and Ocean - and if you love the outdoors you will find what you want to do here - walking, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, kayaking, sailing, hunting, fishing. We can help arrange any of these activities.
Of course; if you just prefer to really unplug, slow down and enjoy nature you don t even have to leave the retreat - enjoy the beauty of nature and the bush from various lookout points, order an organic food pack to cook a lovely meal or do a yoga session on our viewing platform.
Come and be closer to nature.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Collingwood
Collingwood is home to this cabin. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Collingwood Museum, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Kahurangi National Park and Tukurua Bay.
Abel Tasman National Park - 45 min drive - 60.0 km
Abel Tasman Coast Track - 45 min drive - 60.0 km
Restaurants
The Mussel Inn - 10 min drive
The Courthouse Cafe - 3 min drive
Lady luck Cafe - 3 min drive
Poss - 5 min drive
Rosy Glow Chocolate Shop - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views on 13 Nov 2026 start from AU$131, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Tauhou Cabin - Ao Marama Retreat - Stunning Bush setting and Ocean Views located?
Situated in Collingwood, this cabin is within 1 mile (2 km) of Tukurua Bay and Collingwood Museum. Collingwood Recreation Ground and Milnthorpe Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Amazing place to stay. Awesome cabins nestled amongst native bush with incredible sea views. Very peaceful. The cabins and other facilities were kept extremely clean at all times. Lovely, friendly hosts. Thanks Duan and Elizabeth. We will certainly recommend Ao Marama to all our friends.
What an amazing spot I am so glad I found it … perfect for me needing some down time . The track down to the awesome beach was magical and having great weather made it even more special….. the sunrise this morning was spectacular.
The hosts were amazing and went beyond expectation. Thank you so much
We loved the bush setting, the magnificent sunrises, the closeness to the beach & Milnthorpe Park and the tranquility/peacefulness of the Ao Marama Retreat. We would definitely recommend the Retreat to others. It was also lovely to be able to take our dog.
Cabin was spotlessly clean. Site was peaceful; outlook to the east over the sea was beautiful.
Owen S.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
Karen l.
2 Jan 2019
Peaceful surroundings and great views.
Peaceful surroundings and unprecedented views. However, a bit too pricey for a shared bathroom. A couple of other small improvements would make the world of difference such as bug screens on the cabin windows and hot running water in the kitchen to save the boiling of the jug for dishes. The outdoor kitchen was quirky. Only 5 minutes drive from Collingwood and a raft of other fabulous activities such as kayaking; hiking or going to the Takaka market (20 minutes) on a Saturday. The store in Bainham is also within 30 minutes drive and worth a look-in. The walk down to the beach was fabulous and the terrain unspoiled. The sunset from the deck was awesome. Wekas roamed about and everything was peaceful and relaxed. I felt healthy and rejuvenated, just taking in life as I sat in one of our private deck chairs on the lawn outside of our cabin.
Karen l.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2023
Thanks Karen for your review and it's great you had a relaxing and rejuvenating stay.
We'll give your feedback some consideration.
Regarding the hot-water in the kitchen - at the moment with a long dry summer forecast we have to conserve water where we can - when the hot is switched on it means the the water runs over a litre before turning hot.
The bug screens- we are looking into getting these on certain windows in the cabins - it's just a balance of not obscuring the fantastic views.
Hope you both enjoy the rest of your summer.
Kind regards
Duan and Elizabeth
About the host
Hosted by Duan and Elizabeth
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.
Or even reverse some of it.
We have become far more interested and concerned in the state of our planet and have recently been studying Permaculture, Solar Power, Organic gardening and Bee-keeping - and want to implement our little knowledge and gain a 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 and Elizabeth
Why they chose this property
Between us we have been very lucky to travel to many amazing countries including Lebanon, Libya, Viet-Nam, Nepal, Cuba, Ethiopia, Japan and Namibia and have always been inspired by the cultures but equally the places that we have stayed at and the people we have stayed with.
We have long dreamt of creating an experience that we shape based on all of these different places we have seen - and started looking for a suitable property in the last few years.
From old farms in Morocco to in-need-of-love Lodges in Spain and Boutique Vineyards the search eventually brought us all the way back home and Ao Marama more than fulfilled our criteria as a starting point and we now want to build upon the amazing effort by former owners and occupants.
From the stunning regenerating bush setting, the absolutely stunning view across the Bay and the indescribable vibe of the place - it was very quickly apparent that this place had something different from anything else we had seen.
We want everyone to arrive excited and leave rested and inspired and hopefully ever so slightly enriched.
And now the journey begins...
What makes this property unique
Whether you seek a peaceful retreat, a base to go Hiking Biking, Sailing or Paddling in the stunning environment that is Golden Bay, or you want share stories and ideas, get close to nature, enjoy organic food or just stare at the stars.
- Our own Bush track leads you right down to Collingwood beach - You can walk into Collingwood village along a country road - Stay with a passionate Kiwi family who will be as accommodating to your needs as possible - if you want help we'll be there - if you want peace we'll be elsewhere. - We are motivated by creating an experience that is in harmony with nature and not against it - we are absolute novices and want to learn as much as possible to make this happen - Next steps is installing a complete solar system to power our house and the cabins - Free Range Chickens laying eggs you can have for breakfast - Eventually we want to introduce organic dining options - with food predominantly grown in our gardens