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River's Edge Retreat is unique accommodation set in the Ruakokoputuna Valley, just out of Wairarapa wine village, Martinborough and right in the centre of the Wairarapa's new Dark Sky Reserve.
River's Edge has two separate luxury tents on the property both positioned in different private spots on the edge of a quiet, tree-lined river that runs through the farm. This listing is for Ruru Tent, the original tent at River's Edge Retreat. The second tent on the property is known as Te Awa Tent.
The front of the tent has a large glass frontage, offering a beautiful riverside view.
With touches of recycled timber, luxurious textiles and an old chandelier, the tent interior has a rustic chic glamping vibe. A king-sized bed, deer hides, large vintage leather sofa and a wood burner stove come together to create a warm, comfortable, relaxing space - summer or winter.
The tent has an ensuite bathroom with piping hot water and flushing toilet. A second doorway leads to a small but functional kitchenette.
River's Edge is the best kind of luxury accommodation. It's the ideal place for those looking to enjoy a weekend escape, celebrate an anniversary, or relax with a post-wedding wind-down. Breathe the country air and immerse yourself in nature. Soak in the outdoor bath overlooking the river and countryside. Enjoy the pleasure of a glass of good Martinborough Pinot while dining al fresco under the stars. Relax in your plush, comfortable king-size bed and let the sound of the river lull you to sleep...Bliss.
FROM $295 p/n
Make sure you download or print this handy info sheet with directions and host contact details prior to your journey. You may not have mobile reception at all times.
239 Ruakokopatuna Road, Martinborough 5781 (Note this address is the entrance to the glamping accommodation. Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has a self-check-in procedure so you'll need to follow the directions below to get to this address and find Ruru Tent on the property)
Your hosts are located at 307 Ruakokoputuna Road, Martinborough 5781.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is a 1 1/2 hour drive from Wellington and 45 minutes from Masterton.
Check-in: 3pm - 7pm
Check-out: 11am
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has one large wooden framed luxury tent, sleeping two people in a king-size bed.
Full linen, towels and bedding are supplied. The sheets are 100% Egyptian cotton with a wool duvet.
Extra blankets are provided to keep you warm on cooler nights.
The camp kitchen has a gas ring for cooking and bench space for food preparation. A weber BBQ is also provided. All the pots, pans and utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided. A chilly bin with ice packs is provided for cool food storage. Hot water is supplied by a gas califont.
Some pantry basics are provided - tea, coffee, salt, pepper and cooking oil.
The tent has an ensuite bathroom accessible from inside the tent, with a flushing toilet, basin and shower. Hot water is supplied by a gas califont. There is also an outdoor bath down at the river's edge.
Towels, handwash and bodywash are provided.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is completely 'off-the-grid' and has no electric power source.
Guests are welcome to charge phones or devices at the house, but please contact your hosts prior to arrival to arrange this (contact details will be sent in the pre-arrival email). Otherwise, we recommend bringing portable chargers.
Mobile phone reception is available on the property up the hill from the tent. Guests are welcome to charge phones or devices at the house, but please contact your hosts prior to arrival to arrange this (contact details will be sent in the pre-arrival email). Otherwise, we recommend bringing portable chargers.
There is a wood burner stove inside the tent which provides warmth for the cooler evenings.
Extra blankets are also provided.
No, there are no outdoor fires allowed at Rivers Edge Ruru Tent.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is open for winter stays, but bear in mind that you're booking an off-grid escape - without the usual luxuries of a fully powered home. Glamping is still a form of camping!
River's Edge Retreat has lots of warm bedding, a wood burner in the tent, and lots of other elements to make your stay cosy and atmospheric. If you book a stay in winter, bring your sense of adventure, brush up on your fire-lighting skills, and be prepared for the elements!
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site.
If you're looking for a safe family-friendly glamping site, select the family icon in the search bar on our 'find your escape' page to easily find them.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has a 'no dog' policy, and it's not suitable to bring your horse.
If you're looking for animal-friendly glamping, check out some of our other Canopy Camping Escapes sites that welcome dogs or horses - you can select the filter in the search bar to easily find them.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is very private. Tucked well into the property, you'll feel like you're a million miles from anywhere with just the sound of the river, the birds and the occasional sheep baaa.
You can drive your vehicle right up to the tent on a gravel farm track.
You're welcome to come and go from the property as often as you please.
Most of our stays are nature-based with components of outdoor living, and Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is no exception. Because of this, you may be exposed to various creatures and critters that you wouldn't usually find at your average hotel or motel.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is a working sheep and beef farm, with hazards both farm related (ie. machinery and animals) and natural (ie. Ongaonga/stinging nettle). You'll need to exercise caution, as there are specific water hazards, such as troughs and the river in front of the tent. For your own safety please do not touch any farm machinery, and do not enter the woolshed or other buildings on the property.
Sorry! Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has a standard minimum stay period of two nights, with no exceptions.
The minimum booking period for long weekends such as Labour Weekend, Anniversary Weekend, etc is 3 nights. The minimum booking period for Easter is 4 nights. There are sometimes longer minimum stay periods across Christmas and New Year and these will be specified in the online availability calendar.
Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies outlined below for Rivers Edge Ruru Tent.
All Year Round:
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has a standard minimum stay period of 2 nights with no exceptions.
Public Holiday Weekends:
The minimum booking period for long weekends such as Labour Weekend, Anniversary Weekend, etc is 3 nights. The minimum booking period for Easter is 4 nights. There are sometimes longer minimum stay periods across Christmas and New Year and these will be specified in the online availability calendar.
All Year Round:
The nightly rate is $295 for up to two people.
Give the gift of glamping! Gift Vouchers are available for use at any of our Canopy Camping Escapes glamping sites. These are provided in electronic format, for you to print out and pop in a greeting card for the lucky recipient. Read more about our gift vouchers, including how to purchase one, here.
2.1 Canopy Camping reserves the right to cancel the booking in the event of exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. This right will only be exercised in good faith and in exceptional circumstances such as:
(a) Extreme weather conditions that mean accessing or staying may pose a safety risk for the guest;
(b) Any alteration to the host property which may pose a safety risk for the guest;
(c) Unexpected damage or destruction of the site;
(d) A death in the host families.
Canopy Camping’s liability will be limited to refund of booking cost and under no circumstances shall extend to any other incidental or other costs incurred by the client. In the unlikely event that Canopy Camping must exercise this option it will use its best endeavours to offer either a full refund, or to alter the booking to another date, or site at no additional cost or penalty.
2.2 Your 10% deposit (or 10% of the value of your stay) is non-refundable, however it can be transferred to another booking made within a 12 month period, if your stay is cancelled more than 21 days prior to your arrival.
2.3 Cancellation or date changes by you within 4-21 days of your arrival date will result in 50% of the total cost of your stay being charged. Cancellation or date changes within 3 days of your arrival date will result in 100% of the total cost of your stay being charged.
2.4 Date changes made more than 21 days prior to your original arrival date are allowed without penalty.
3.1 Accommodation is often situated on working farms and there are hazards both natural and man-made. You accept that you enter the property at your own risk to participate in a glamping holiday.
3.2 Participation in activities such as, outdoor baths, climbing trees, walking on the property and any other activity on the property is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.
3.3 Canopy Camping Escapes accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.
No pets are allowed unless otherwise specified on the website listing. Most accommodation is situated on working farms and therefore are not suitable for visiting pets.
GST of 15% (where the accommodation is GST-registered) is included in the daily per night cost. A tax receipt will be supplied by Canopy Camping Escapes if requested.
6.1 Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid holiday period only.
6.2 Guests are required to observe the rules and familiarise themselves with the procedures contained in the information folder provided in the accommodation.
6.3 Guests shall take all reasonable and proper care of the property and its furniture, fittings and effects in or on the property and leave them in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period.
6.4 Guests are required to inform the owner of any damage or breakage in or around the property promptly so that it can be repaired and replaced for the next guests. Guests are bound to reimburse the owners for replacement or repair.
6.5 Where the property has not been left in the same state of condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period, the guest will be required to pay an additional cleaning cost of $100.
6.6 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property.
6.7 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with Canopy Camping Escapes.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is self-catering. Just bring your own food and drink, and cook meals using the BBQ and gas ring provided in your private camp kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
If you feel like a meal out, check out the fantastic cafes and restaurants in nearby Martinborough as there are plenty to choose from.
The nearest store for stocking up on food and supplies is in Martinborough, a 10-minute drive away.
Rest and rejuvenation are what a stay at Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is all about. Relax at your tent and watch the changing light on the river directly in front of your tent. Watch the mist lift from the valley in the morning. Take a long hot soak in the outdoor bath or lounge in a hammock with a good book. Connect over a board game or a game of cards.
If you want to get out and about, take a tour of the Martinborough vineyards. There is also Lake Ferry and Camp Palliser which make for an epic scenic drive. Stop on the way at The Land Girl cafe in Pirinoa for hot coffee and a bite to eat.
Visit Wairarapa's version of stonehenge near Martinborough, a NZ interpretation of the famous English landmark. Patuna Farm just up the road, has the amazing Patuna Chasm walk - a nature walk and limestone gorge.
Matt and Nicki Thomas are the owners and hosts of Rivers Edge, located on Llandrindod Farm, a sheep and beef farm owned and farmed by Matt’s father Rex.
Matt grew up at Llandrindod while Nicki grew up in Karaka, rural Auckland. After returning to NZ from their OE adventures, Matt brought Nicki back to the Ruakokopatuna Valley where they settled with their two sons, Ben and Henry. Many summers have been spent enjoying the river and the natural beauty of the area.
Glamping was seen as the perfect opportunity to share the natural environment of the farm while providing a unique and luxurious style of accommodation. Having visitor accommodation close to home fits perfectly with the family’s busy lives. On top of keeping up with their children’s extra-curricular activities, Matt has his own farming operation and agricultural contracting business, while Nicki has a criminology and law degree. Developing both Rivers Edge Ruru Tent and Te Awa Tent has been an exciting experience, with Nicki thoroughly enjoying putting together all the interior details.
Both Nicki and Matt think that Martinborough, especially Ruakokopatuna is a pretty special place - and delight in sharing it with guests.
Beautiful tents surrounded by nature, quirky cabins with packets of personality and secret hideaways that offer something completely unique... Explore the other places in our collection.
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