Maruia River Retreat
- Location: Nelson-Tasman, New Zealand
Experience: All-Inclusive Luxury Wellness Retreat & Nature Escape
Accommodation: Private Self-Contained Villas
Inclusions: Private Villa, Gourmet Meals, Massage or Skincare Treatments, Yoga Classes, Infrared Sauna, Finnish Sauna, Hot Tub, Magnesium Pool
Guests: 1 or 2 Guests Per Villa
- Retreats: 3-Night, 4-Night or 5-Night Retreats
Tucked away in 500 acres of pristine native forest along the wild Maruia River, this award-winning New Zealand retreat invites you to slow down and reconnect with yourself and the natural abundance around you.
Whether you’re looking for a fully immersive retreat or a more self-paced experience, Maruia River Retreat offers the space to disconnect from the outside world and ground yourself in a deeply restorative setting.
Stay in beautifully appointed villas, enjoy nourishing gourmet cuisine, daily yoga and hydrotherapy, forest bathing and world-class massage therapy – all delivered with the genuine warmth of your hosts Cristina and Lasse.
Come solo or with someone you love. Come to reconnect, to heal, to celebrate, or to simply experience New Zealand’s luxury nature escape.
Maruia River Retreat Highlights
- Choose for 3-night, 4-night or 5-night all-inclusive retreat packages
- 7 private luxury villas available for solo travellers or couples/twin-share
- 500-acre private nature estate in New Zealand’s South Island
- Just 2 hours from Nelson or 3 hours from Christchurch
- Daily yoga, forest bathing, massage therapy, sauna and spa experiences
- Warm, accommodating hosts who tailor activities to all experience levels – even if it’s your first time exploring wellness practices
- Gourmet meals all included with seasonal, nourishing cuisine
- “Deep Sleep Experience” with premium linens, black-out curtains and peaceful surrounds
- Maruia River Retreat is recognised as one of New Zealand’s luxury regenerative tourism experiences, powered by its own renewable energy sources
- Qualmark Gold Certified for sustainable excellence
Your Retreat Options
3-night stay
- 3-night stay Personal Restoration Retreat All-Inclusive Package (Luxe Villa)
- Couple/Twin Share: NZ$5,950
- Solo Stay: NZ$3,550
4-night stay
- 4-night Personal Restoration Retreat All-Inclusive Package (Luxe Villa)
- Couple/Twin share: NZ$6,950 total
- Solo stay: NZ$4,290 total
- 4-night Personal Restoration Retreat All-Inclusive Package (Luxe Villa)
5-night stay (available November 2025)
- 5-night Personal Restoration Retreat All-Inclusive Package (Luxe Villa)
- Couple/Twin share: NZ$8,650 total
- Solo stay: NZ$5,350 total
- 5-night Personal Restoration Retreat All-Inclusive Package (Luxe Villa)
Enquire Now
Interested in a retreat at Maruia River Retreat? Enquire now.
What To Expect At Maruia River Retreat
- Wake up to morning light streaming through alpine forest as birdsong replaces your alarm
- Feel the healing energy of the Maruia River just beyond your private villa deck
- Balance movement and stillness with forest hikes, yoga sessions, massage therapy and restorative soaks in a magnesium pool
- Experience private forest bathing in a secluded hot tub and infrared sauna nestled in dense beech forest
- Savour nourishing meals, thoughtfully prepared with the freshest local ingredients to support wellbeing
- Feel welcomed by caring, attentive hosts offering exceptional hospitality and kindness
- Find space to rest, reset and reconnect with yourself in a setting that grounds and elevates
Your Private Villa – Designed for Deep Rest
Set within a native forest estate, the architecturally-designed Luxe Villa offers a private sanctuary designed to support Maruia River Retreat’s signature Deep Sleep Experience. This 35 square-meter, studio-style villa is ideal for solo travelers or couples seeking a restful, immersive nature stay with comfort at its core.
Every detail has been considered to create the ideal conditions for restorative sleep and relaxation. From natural-fiber linens and blackout curtains to thermal insulation that supports the silence of the surrounding beech forest, the Luxe Villa is purpose-built for those looking to disconnect from external stressors and reconnect with themselves.
Luxe Villa Features
- Studio-style 35-square-metre villa
- Choice of Super King Bed or two King Single Beds
- Choice of pillows – foam, feather and includes Hyoumankind Go Pillows with silk pillowcases
- Blackout curtains and thermal insulation for restful sleep
- Lush robes, platinum linen and towels, and electric blankets
- Private balcony with river and garden views
- Spacious living room, dining area and reading corner
- Full-service kitchenette
- Ensuite bathroom with shower with twin vanities
- Wardrobe closet
- Heated floors and towel racks
- Airconditioning / Heatpump
Your Daily Wellness Activities
Personalised Spa Treatments
Enjoy 90-minute customised skincare or massage treatments.
- Stay 3 nights: receive 2 treatments per guest
- Stay 4 or 5 nights: receive 3 treatments per guest
Natural Movement & Mindfulness
- Gentle wellness sessions including yoga, breathwork, meditation and sound healing (Friday-Sunday mornings) held in the stunning new Yoga Chalet – all levels welcome
- Guided group nature walk through the forested estate.
- Daily 1-hour private forest bathing with access to our riverside hot tub and infrared chroma-therapy sauna
- One unforgettable overnight sky forest bathing experience – soak under the stars after dinner for a deep, restful sleep
- Finnish sauna rituals with dry sauna and cold shower contrast therapy
- Private, meditative walks through the 500-acre beech forest, featuring nature trails, a mini waterfall, creek crossings and panoramic views
- Relax in the new hydrotherapy spa with personalised massage jets or swim in the heated magnesium pool with swim jets
Quiet Spaces & Thoughtful Touches
- 24/7 access to the Wellness Center, featuring a curated library and cozy reading nooks
All activities are optional and can be tailored to your individual needs – whether you’re a seasoned wellness guest or exploring for the first time, you’ll be supported and cared for every step of the way.
Your Meals: Healing & Seasonal Cuisine
Dining at Maruia River Retreat is a celebration of nature, seasonality and healing cuisine.
Rooted in a locavore philosophy, each dish is thoughtfully prepared using fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients sourced from the retreat’s own garden and trusted local producers. Inspired by macrobiotic principles, the menu is designed to restore balance and vitality.
Guests enjoy gourmet international cuisine tailored to the season, with options for vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free diets. Every meal is an invitation to slow down, savour, and reconnect with food, with nature and with yourself.
Who This Retreat Is For
- Couples reconnecting: Uninterrupted time in nature, private dining, shared experiences – all designed to bring you closer.
- Wellness seekers: Restore body and mind through yoga, daily massage or skincare treatments from the Wellness Spa, nourishing food and holistic therapies.
- Solo travellers: Disconnect from the daily grind, find your calm and discover New Zealand’s ultimate solo retreat experience.
- Nature lovers: Explore a network of private trails that wind through ancient beech forest, take a refreshing dip in the pristine Maruia River, or simply find a peaceful spot to experience the restorative benefits of forest bathing. This is a place to reconnect with nature and yourself.
- Off-the-beaten path travellers: Looking for something rare? Experience world-class luxury comforts while immersed in the untouched natural beauty of the Maruia Valley.
Book Your Retreat
Maruia River Retreat is one of the most peaceful destinations in the world to recharge. Let us help you experience it fully. Enquire below with your preferred dates and take the first step toward a truly restorative escape.
Enquire Now
Interested in a retreat at Maruia River Retreat? Enquire now.
Maruia River Retreat FAQ
Tucked within 500 acres of pristine native rainforest in the Nelson-Tasman region of New Zealand’s South Island, Maruia River Retreat offers a private, intimate and luxurious escape into nature. With just seven private villas, this secluded sanctuary combines luxurious accommodation with a focus on holistic well-being and connection with nature, ideal for celebrations, rejuvenation and deep restoration. Recognised with a 5-Star Boutique & Lodge rating and a Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award from Qualmark, we are proud to be one of New Zealand’s most exclusive wellness destinations.
Maruia River Retreat is a Luxury Wellness Resort offering 7 architecturally-designed villas for comfort, privacy and for deep sleep experiences. You have a choice of Super King or 2 King Single mattresses with premium linens, pillow choices and block-out curtains. The self-contained cocoons are equipped with an Italian kitchenette, luxurious linen, lush bath amenities, bath robes and slippers, its own dining and lounge area and its own balcony with mountain, river and forest views, ensuring a private and comfortable stay. There is no Wifi access in the villas but there is high-speed internet access in the Main Lodge and Wellness Center and 4G mobile coverage across the entire estate.
Guests can enjoy a range of wellness activities, including yoga sessions, indulgent spa treatments, relaxation in both dry saunas and the forest infrared sauna, soaking in the river hot tub or the forest hydrotherapy spa, swimming in a heated magnesium pool with swim jets and even experiencing a refreshing cold plunge in the stunning Maruia River.
Maruia River Retreat offers a gourmet farm-to-table omnivore menu with ingredients sourced from its kitchen garden and nearby growers. You can expect artisanal bread baked fresh each day and menus designed daily with the freshest seasonal produce for all dietary requirements. There is a range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from the best of the region.
The retreat is located within a high-ecologically significant rainforest, offering opportunities for guided nature walks, forest bathing and exploration of nearby trails. For those seeking adventure, river rafting, cruises and kayaking are also available in the surrounding area. Day trips to the West Coast and local towns is accessible, making it the perfect base to explore the hidden gems of this region.
Yes, Maruia River Retreat is a 100% New Zealand family-owned and operated business deeply connected to its natural environment. By Spring 2025, the resort will be powered by renewable sources from its own mini-hydro plant, supplying both the property and to the demands of the grid. Being situated within a significant rainforest highlights their commitment to ecological preservation. Awarded the Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award in 2025.
Maruia River Retreat operates seasonally from early Spring, all of Summer and Autumnn to late Winter. The new season begins on September 18, 2025 and ends 22 June 2026. The best time to visit depends on your preferences, whether you’re drawn to Spring blossoms and fresh mountain air, Summer’s long warm days and river swims, or the golden hues and stillness of autumn and winter forest walks.
You can easily book your stay at Maruia River Retreat through our Retreats Abroad platform. Simply navigate to the Maruia River Retreat listing, check the available dates and packages and follow our secure online booking process.
If you have specific questions about Maruia River Retreat, please don’t hesitate to contact our Retreats Abroad support team. We can provide you with more detailed information and help you plan your perfect wellness escape.
Contact: hello@retreatsabroad.co.nz