Good things about this stay: On a whim we decided to cut our stay in Christchurch by one night and come to stay at the Te Mahuru Retreat. This turned out to be a GREAT choice. The owners are so friendly, really genuinely wonderful humans. The room was spacious, quiet and comfortable. There was onsite laundry (free) which was excellent for us because we were a bit over a week into our adventure and needed to do a wash. The hot tub was very calm and relaxing - we did go in summer time so it was probably a bit too warm to really enjoy, but we still did as much as we could. Complimentary breakfast was excellent and just enough to give us energy to be on our way. The property was also tucked between some very curious (and friendly) cows and some totally disinterested llamas and we could go right up to the fence and watch them graze, which for us was a wonderful treat.

Not so great things about this stay: NA (it was all great!)

As we were unable to spend the night as our original ferry was cancelledd and we had to get the 2am ferry we only spent breakfast and caught up with a couple of hours sleep it is hard to rate. when I rang Jen to let her know we wouldn't make it Jen was wonderful. Said if we managed to get there at any time we could use the facilities to freshen up and have a sleep. Jen did not mind what time we got there. She has a wonderful attitude. It was a life saver for us as we could not have driven directly to Hanmer from Picton.

Nothing

An absolutely brilliant place to stay! A super comfy bed. I really enjoyed the guest book in the room with all the info about the retreat, the places around and the earthquake. Despite the big communal kitchen, the room also features a kettle and a fridge. There is a french door to the garden with plenty of outdoor sitting. The kitchen is equipped exceptionally well. At dinner and breakfast (which was provided!) we really enjoyed chats with the fellow travelers and the host who was super welcoming, nice and considerate. Our 3yo was super happy with the playground and all the toys in the lounge, including massive railways. We haven't tried the hot tube but no doubt that would've been a really pleasant experience.

That rare case when nothing comes to mind! The accommodation was quite pricey (the most expensive out of all our places to stay during the trip), but it was absolutely worth it.

Everything! The entire property was a dream - especially the private spa and the extensive grounds that could be explored. Views were amazing. Felt like we had the place to ourselves due to plenty of space for all guests and lots of different amenities and areas. Lots of games and activities available for your leisure. Well maintained and clean property. Doggie pats were an extra treat. Steve was very friendly and helpful by accommodating an earlier breakfast time for all residents. Made use of the star gazing swings and got to see some beautiful stars and constellations.

Nothing at all.

Absalutly everything. We were warmly greeted on arrival and made to feel at home. We were able to doniur washing which was great! Unfortunately we were to tired to enjoy the hot tubs. But we watched the sun go down with the stunning back drop of the mountain range. The night sky was lit up with stars. Breakfast was perfect, warm home made bread and lots of options. Our hostess was incredibly attentive and very knowledgeable. We wish we could have stayed longer!!

Just that would couldn't stay longer!

it is a very nice accommodation with hot tubs and a huge beautiful garden as a bonus. The facilities were very clean and we appreciated the heaters in the room. The view was breathtaking! The breakfast is very simple (but with delicious homemade bread!), so be sure to take a bit of your own food with like at least some spreads for the bread. The kitchen is shared by everyone, but it was clean and well-equipped.

- the breakfast was very simple - the beds are super soft, my back was painful for the next day - the walls are very thin - we were lucky that our neighbors were quiet after 9 pm, but I heard a guy snoring from the next room.

A pretty nice facility, well located with large garden, playground and many other stuff for kids. A well equipped kitchen, prepared for breakfast with fresh eggs. The hot tub was one of our favourite places to enjoy a wine while watching the astonishing Mountain View.

In the general setting we missed just one towel and some bread for the second breakfast. But actually nothing really to complain about.

Everything was prepared upon check-in, swift check-in process, breakfast spread was nice to have (cereals, muesli, bread, jam, cold spread & coffee/tea/milo). Love the spacious surrounding outdoor area & playground for kids to play. Didn't get the chance to use the hot tub, but pretty sure it was a nice enhanced experience. All in all, Jen is a lovely host & able to provide insights based on our plan. Highly recommended!!

Our stay was too short ;-)

Lovely accommodation 5 minutes from Kaikoura town centre, but on a quiet road away from traffic. Lovely grounds, gardens, seats, outdoor spaces. 2x hot tubs, one undercover with a garden view, one open to the stars. Children's play areas. Very comfortable, warm rooms with sliding door to gardens plus internal access. Nice lounge, dining room and kitchen you can use. Books and games. Great continental breakfast, highlight was homemade bread and jams.

The breakfast was awesome! Even for one person glutenfree, many options. The host Jen went out of her way to make us feel welcome and at home. The hotpools are lovely. The host Jen was very knowledgeable about Kaikoura and surrounding. We did the 'Wings over Whales' flight to watch whales and dolphins and seals from the air in a small aircraft. We were so lucky: we saw 5x different whales and heaps of dolphins. . Thank you immensely for the excellent retreat!

There was no Sky Channel to watch the Womens World Cup matches. That's the only little remark we have.