Fern Valley Retreat

Create moments & memories with your loved ones at this unique glamping site centred around exploration and connection. It is located in an idyllic rural setting 15kms south of Tauranga, 20kms south of Mount Maunganui & 40kms north of Rotorua making it an ideal pied-a-terre to explore the area.
Please note this is an off-grid glamping site without 240v electricity or Wi-Fi. We are with One NZ and have good phone reception and mobile data, although there are a few unstable areas on the main road.
We have one bell tent with two beds (a queen & a king single), an outdoor kitchen and bathroom and a separate toilet. Additional bedding could be provided for 2 little people upon request (choice of baby crib, child bed or Kathmandu camping bunk beds).
The fridge is solar powered, the toilet is a composting unit, the lights are LED and solar powered and the shower and bath are exposed.
You'll need to cook your meals and boil your water on an LPG BBQ. We provide quality bedding, towels & linen as well as the essentials for you to cook & enjoy your meals including salt, pepper, oil, vinegar and marshmallows for the fire pit. You'll also find tea, coffee, sugar, milk & cereals for a light breakfast.
We provide a power bank so you can recharge your phones and other devices charging via USB as well as reading lights, fairy lights, a torch, an umbrella, hot water bottles and blankets. There is also an outdoor heater and waterproof gazebo.
We recommend you come prepared with layers, waterproof jackets, head torches and any other gear you may need to enjoy your outdoor experience. Please note that there is no heating inside the tent.
The glamping site is at the start of our property. You may need to manually open & close the wooden gate that marks the end of our neighbour's property & the start of ours.
Unless you prefer to be greeted, we will let you check-in on your own.
You are welcome to go for a walk further down the driveway and explore the valley where you will find glow worms at night. Gumboots are recommended year round.
Please note however there is uneven ground, bees and we have two German Wirehaired Pointers at home. Their names are Spencer and Baxter. They are friendly but energetic family dogs that tend to be both curious and protective. This is the reason we prefer you to let us know if you are going to go for a wonder and explore our property. Chances are, they will find out and bark. After the first acquaintance, they are incredibly friendly and playful.
We enjoy meeting our guests, however we respect your privacy & choice regarding the level of interaction with us. If you need assistance or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out, we live a couple of mins walk down the drive.
Oropi is a lovely rural suburb south of Tauranga prominently occupied by kiwifruits & avocado growers, farmers and lifestyle blocks.
Our property is surrounded by kiwifruit orchards and their typical high hedges which protect the crops from the wind. There is generally no activity day to day, but there are times when machinery is working on the various fields including weekends and public holidays. There is unfortunately no way to predict when there will be activity.
We share our driveway with the orchards and one neighbour. Please drive slowly past their house. Kids and animals are free roaming on their property.
A car is preferable to get around.
We believe it is not safe to walk or bike on the main road due to the speed limits up to 100k/h. {*Noting that Oropi Mountain Bike park is a few mins away and within cycling distance but our recommendation is to drive and park at the facilities provided}
Taxis and Ubers are available but not recommended.
It is recommended to arrive during the day to familiarise yourself with the site and amenities, especially if you have never glamped or camped before in a remote location.
Our accommodation warmly welcomes well-behaved & clean dogs, providing you are confident they will not show any aggression towards kids and other animals, are responsive to your commands and will stay within your eye sight at all times. We have nearby chickens & a very active bird life so we ask that guests ensure their dogs are not prone to chasing or harassing poultry & other birds.
Please understand that our priority is to maintain a peaceful and safe environment for all guests, including our resident wildlife and nearby livestock. Any damages caused by pets will be the responsibility of the owner. We strive to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all our guests, both human and canine, and appreciate your cooperation in making this possible.