Pihopa Retreat

What a fabulous gem of a resort, hidden away and sitting in its own beautifully manicured grounds. On arrival, we received the warmest welcome from the owner, Sarah, which made us feel immediately at home. And what a glorious room - the Eaton Suite - to relax in! Every attention to details is there, in the many thoughtful touches in the bathroom, the homemade patisserie in our lounge (which was replenished daily), the bowl of fruit. And beyond - pre dinner canapés and drinks in the bar, before the complementary taxi took us to dinner at a local restaurant that had been organised for us. Breakfast - served in the chapel - was sumptuous.

Everything about Pihopa Retreat is excellent! The Retreat was formerly the residence of the Anglican Bishop of Nelson. A chapel stands on the property. From our arrival - driving up a drive with beautiful flowers and landscape, being greeted by amazing staff, to arriving at our room - we enjoyed every moment. Our room (The Hobson Suite) was tastefully appointed with great attention to detail. A wet bar area will filled with a great selection of tea and coffee along with delicious snacks, cold drinks in a refrigerator, wine, and a perfectly ripe fruit selection. The bedroom was lovely with a super comfortable bed bedecked with amazing linens. This led to a bathroom complete with a soaking tub, large shower and two sinks. The bathrobes and slippers provided were very much enjoyed. A lovely porch was accessible from the bedroom and sitting room. Sarah had made a dinner reservation for us at a delicious restaurant on the water. She also arranged a taxi to transport us to and from. This gave us the night “off” to maneuver driving on the left side of the road. Prior to departure for dinner, we enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in a living room near the pool. Breakfast was served in the above mentioned chapel. The breakfast was one of the best we have ever enjoyed starting with cold selections of homemade muesli and homemade granola, Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, croissants, muffins and coffee/tea. A cooked breakfast menu was very innovative, and our selections delicious. We said our goodbye’s and loaded the car to prepare for a journey to Murchison. We will definitely return, and we highly recommend this unique and spectacular property.

The Pihopa Retreat is an exceptional boutique inn nestled into the hillside of beautiful Nelson, New Zealand. We loved every minute of our two night stay. Our lovely cabin was beautifully and thoughtfully decorated, very comfortable and private. We were a short walk to the exquisite church where a delectable breakfast was served each morning and a short distance from the poolside cabana where we enjoyed a glass of wine at cocktail hour and chatted with the other guests. The owner Sarah and her family made us feel at home and went out of their way to make our stay as pleasant as possible- an example of hospitality at its best. We greatly enjoyed two full day excursions including a private guided tour around Abel Tasman National Park and a self-guided bike tour along the Great Taste Trail to Rabbit Island and Mapua Wharf (we rented bikes at the Gentle Cycling Company). I highly recommend staying at this lovely inn- it doesn’t get much better than this!

From the moment we pulled into the drive we knew we were in for an incredible experience. The rooms are perfectly elegant and beautifully furnished. The fireplace warmed us up after a drizzly bike tour and the soaking tub, complimentary drinks and tasty treats made for a spa like retreat: breakfast in the Church is nothing short of praise-worthy and afternoon cocktails and canapés a delightful start to our evenings. Sarah and her team are outstanding and do everything with a smile. We truly hated to leave and look forward to returning! Thank you!

Pihopa Retreat was the highlight of our trip. Having arrived after a long flight and shown our room, I was reluctant to leave its four walls. A vast and sumptuous bed, a beautiful bathroom to restore oneself and a living room with every possible drink and snack to replenish this tired traveller. Needless to say, we did venture out of our room eventually. Sarah and her team's attention to detail ensured our visit will be etched in our hearts forever. From the exceptional breakfast in the chapel to a cocktail at dusk by the pool to the superb recommendations for day trips, our experience was truly magical. Thank you Pihopa Retreat. We will be back!

What an exquisite experience. Staying at Pihopa is luxury from start to finish. The rooms are incredibly comfortable and Sarah and her team provide amazing hospitality. All the little touches made it a very special spot. It was a privilege to stay in your beautiful property.