Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana
Winter special - 3 nights for the price of 2 - ask and we'll amend the pricing.
Magnificent sea and native bush views an hour north of Auckland on the Tāwharanui Peninsula.
On a coastal ridge, Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage is a two-room cottage offering you the ultimate in privacy and tranquility.
We’re five minutes from Tāwharanui Regional Park and only 15 minutes from the Matakana Village weekend farmers’ market, restaurants, cafes, boutique shops and a cinema complex.
Rest, seclusion and luxury are all yours on the Tāwharanui Peninsula at Matakana. Soak up the morning or afternoon sun, enjoy romantic sunsets or star gaze at night to your heart’s content with no city lights to dim the Milky Way.
Situated on a coastal ridge with sweeping views, Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage is a hidden treasure. The 60 square metre cottage boasts a bedroom with ensuite, living room with dining and kitchen areas, laundry, decks on three sides, an outdoor bath and a pretty cottage garden, and is designed to provide you with the ultimate getaway.
The luxurious bedroom is French country chic with a super comfortable king bed and premium sheets to ensure you’re well rested. Your bedroom looks across a gently sloping lawn directly at a huge stand of covenanted native bush. This is a bird lover’s paradise: tūī, kererū, kākā, ruru, pīwakawaka, kōtare, kākāriki and korimako often come to the edge of the decks and into the gardens. If you're lucky at dusk you will see a flock of kākā flying overhead or ruru in the trees catching their puriri moth dinner.
From your living room you have a stunning view of the sea – an 180 vista including near and far islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Kawau seems only a stone’s throw away, while Waiheke and Rangitoto are visible in the distance. On a clear day, you can even see the Auckland Sky Tower peeping over the horizon. This retro styled room is relaxingly comfortable and includes dining area and kitchen with fridge/freezer, oven, hob, kettle, toaster, dishwasher, nespresso machine. There is also a BBQ tucked under the veranda outside. You will have everything you need to put together meals of your own. We provide a selection of local specialities on arrival, enough for a couple of breakfasts or lunches. For dinner, we also highly recommend you try one of the many wonderful local restaurants. A laundry and storage room off the living room includes a washing machine and generous supplies of additional towels and other items you might need.
It’s a strange claim to fame but our visitors have said that we have the best “loo with a view” in Aotearoa. The bathroom feels as though it’s totally immersed in the bush canopy.
A heat pump in the living area, a Noirot convection heater in the bedroom and electric blankets provide heating as needed in the winter. The cottage has high ceilings, a huge picture window towards the sea view and French doors on two sides so is light and sunny on a fine day.
Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage truly does offer an exceptional escape experience. It would be hard to beat this coastal getaway, its expansive views, country location or its ease of access to all the attractions of the Matakana area.
Special conditions: Property is non-smoking inside and outside.
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Tawharanui
Located in Tawharanui, this cottage is in a rural area. Matakana Village and Matakana Weekend Market are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Dome Forest and Goat Island. Action Ninja World and Blue Adventures are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Is Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana?
As of 15 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana on 18 April 2026 start from NZ$316, 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.
How much is parking at Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana?
Checkout is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Kākā Ridge Retreat Luxury Cottage at Tāwharanui, Matakana located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from Tawharanui Regional Park and within 6 miles (10 km) of Baddeleys Beach and Action Ninja World. Matakana Country Park and Matakana Cinemas are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
A wonderful stay in a wonderful space and place. Beautiful views and gardens - we even came home with gifted plants to grow. Highly recommend the cottage and the lovely hosts.
My partner Jennifer and I spent two wonderful nights here. The owners were lovely and a pleasure to deal with. The cottage was bright, sunny and was close to a great nature reserve. We would both highly recommend staying here.
We had a fantastic couple of nights stay at Kaka Ridge Retreat. Katherine and John were fabulous hosts and helped make the stay a wonderful experience. Sitting in the outdoor bath on the deck with the views over Kawau Island and the Hauraki Gulf is just amazing. Have put it on the "must return to" list, that's for sure!
It is not often you find a place that exceeds expectations but this is one of them. I won't spoil the suprise for you but if you want quiet - apart from birds - a view and comfort near the Tawharanui park sanctuary, this is it.
The Kaka Ridge cottage was the perfect place for our New Zealand holiday rest. The hosts gave thought of everything to make the accommodations comfortable and functional. Bedding is fabulous, kitchen well equipped, furnishings just what you need - it’s all meticulous. And the view and setting are spectacular!
Thank you Katherine and John for a lovely 2023 Christmas.
What a place.
Katherine & John were great hosts and very welcoming.
The accommodation was cosy and had more than we needed, it was very homely. It had small added touches such as local bread, spreads and breakfast options, which really felt above and beyond - we really appreciated this.
The views were also outstanding.
We can not fault it and would love to stay here again. 10/10
Nothing disappointed about this place. The views were amazing, the hosts were friendly and accommodating and the cottage was spotless! A real gem, worth every penny.
Perfect spot, everything well thought out, we loved the unexpected extra yummy local treats to try. Great shower pressure and the bath was very relaxing. Board games and good old DVD's also perfect for the crazy weather we had, still loved our weekend away.
We really enjoyed our stay at the Cottage. It is exactly as described - tastefully furnished, very comfortable, spotlessly clean, with quality bed linen and a very comfortable bed. We woke up to stunning views and at night had the most amazing clear views of the Milky Way from our deck. The Cottage is very private and it was lovely to enjoy the birdlife and the quietness. Breakfast goodies were delicious and the outdoor bath was an absolute hit!
Katherine and John were welcoming and accommodating. Thank you!
Just perfect. Very quiet, private and peaceful. We had a lovely weekend away from the kids. We spent time visiting Matakana and swimming at the beach. The hosts were helpful, and left lovely food for our breakfast. Would definitely go back!
Fantastic property, we had such a great stay. Arrived on Easter Friday and Katherine had thoughtfully provided fresh bread, salmon, and fruit. Absolutely gorgeous views and the native birds were a delight. Would definitely stay again if we had the opportunity.
Wonderful hosts sharing a beautiful spot with others, thank you to you both. By far the best experience we've had. So quiet, so private, a beautiful outlook and plenty to do or not do as we chose. Fantastic. We want to do it again.
The property is a great couple retreat, private, well appointed, scenic and well-maintained. John and Catherine were delightful to deal with and couldn't have been more welcoming. We enjoyed our stay immensely.
This was an amazing oasis of calm up on the ridge with amazing views one way to the bay and the other out across virgin bush. The bach is luxurious with the best view from a bathroom window ever! The local inhabitants welcome you with a vast range of calls- from the screech of the Kaka that fly up and over the ridge to the unworldly cackle of the Kookaburras - yes I did say Kookaburras! Katherine and John are helpful and thoughtful hosts allowing you to set the level of engagement you want. We had the most blissful, quiet and relaxing few days here and will definitely be heading back soon.
Lovely private cottage with a great view and amazing native bird life. Katherine and John are wonderful hosts, making us feel welcome but leaving us to the privacy of our stay. Their provided breakfast was a treat.
Chris and I loved Kaka Ridge. It is everything in the listing and more. If you are after a relaxing, quiet (except amazing birdlife), comfortable weekend - this is the place!
Meredith K.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020
About the host
Hosted by KatherineFa3
My husband John and I moved from Auckland city to the Tāwharanui Peninsula in 2015. We love it here and have never missed city living once!
Prior to living in Tāwharanui John and I had corporate careers in telecommunications and project management. We still do consulting work from home and travel to Auckland for work from time to time.
Why they chose this property
We love the peace and quiet and the abundance of bush, birds and sea. We are lucky enough to have a completely separate cottage on our property that we renovated for short-term rental during 2016 and updated in 2021.
What makes this property unique
Beautiful bush and sea views, wonderful bird life, privacy and a 15 minute drive to Matakana Village or five minutes the other way to Tāwharanui Regional Park. The cottage is fully equipped for travellers looking for privacy, seclusion, the beauty of nature and some luxury. There is so much to do here and it's classic New Zealand.