High up, on a small point near the Coromandel settlement of Port Charles, is a truly special getaway with spectacular views - known as Ruru Room.
Ruru Room is 3-hours and 45-minutes drive from Auckland City, one hour from Coromandel Town, and 40 minutes from Colville.
The accommodation consists of two small cabins - one is for sleeping, living and cooking, and the other is the bathroom - connected to each other by decking walkways. Both are light, bright, tasteful and simple - with everything you need, and nothing you don't.
There are incredible sea views in every direction, but from your bed, you'll enjoy the sun rising over the sea to the East as the tide gently laps the rocks on the beach below. Gannets, seabirds and rays inhabit the bay - with snapper plentiful off the point.
Walk to the grassy summit to a shaded lookout - or down to the rocky beach where you can swim directly from the steps at high tide - or explore rich and diverse rockpools until you reach the water's edge.
Large and established trees surround the cabin and cover the property - primarily pohutukawa, but also puriri, kowhai, lancewood and many, many Nikau. The air is dense with the bird song of tui, kaka, piwakawaka, riroriro and many others. As the evening descends, you’ll hear the distinctive call of the ruru (morepork).
Ruru Room is a quietly dramatic property - with spectacular and subtle aspects combined to create a uniquely secluded, and peaceful, place to be.
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.
There are occasionally temporary road closures and diversions on the road to Port Charles due to roading maintenance and events. We suggest checking the NZTA road closures website before you leave to help you plan your trip.
Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive to Ruru Room will be on an unsealed gravel road.
Access to Ruru Room, once you arrive, is via a steep gravel driveway. Big vehicles such as vans and caravans, are not recommended. You'll need to drive carefully up the drive and parking is available at the top near the steps to the cabin.
2) Drive. If you choose to drive, detailed instructions follow below.
Ruru Room is 3 hours and 45 minutes drive from Auckland City, one hour from Coromandel Town, and 40 minutes from Colville. Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive will be on an unsealed gravel road. Make sure you stop to buy provisions in Thames or Coromandel. There is a store in Colville, but the selection is limited.
Follow the Google Maps directions to the address.
Once you arrive at the address, you'll see a steep right-of-way at a corrugated iron Kereru and microwave letterbox. Turn on to this right-of-way. You may need to open and close a gate at the top. Continue down the steep right-of-way, driving carefully near the bottom where there is a drainage hump, and past the old wrecked 4WDs… Ruru Rooms entry is the wide metal gate directly ahead of you.
There is a gate lock and a lockbox with keys to Ruru Room - both require codes. We'll send the codes to you 5 days prior to your stay in a pre-arrival email.
Note: If you have booked within 5 days and haven't received a pre-arrival email shortly after booking, please email us at [email protected].
important arrival and parking instructions
Once you've arrived, proceed up the driveway
The drive is steep, so please drive very slowly, letting your vehicle drive gently so as not to rut and disperse the gravel.
At the top, it is best to drive past the flat area on the right and then reverse onto the flat area, that way your boot will be near the steps to the cabin.
When driving out, be careful of the corner back onto the drive, better to do the turn in two sections unless you have a very tight turning circle.
Ruru Room is perfect for a couple, sleeping 2 people in a queen-size bed.
Duvet and pillows are 100% down, with a waffle cotton duvet cover. Linen is 1000 thread count, 100% cotton. There are extra blankets available in the antique chest.
The kitchen facilities are in the main cabin and include a stainless counter and a sink and hot water. A two-burner gas hob and electric oven are provided for cooking. In the cabinetry under the counter are two under-counter refrigerators. A blender, toasted sandwich maker and toaster are also supplied.
All the pots, pans and utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided.
Some pantry basics are supplied - olive oil, salt and pepper.
The bathroom facilities are in a separate building a few metres from the main cabin and include a hot shower with good pressure, a flushing toilet and a basin and countertop with mirrors.
Water pressure is solid and pump-fed from rain-water tanks but careful usage to conserve water would be appreciated during the summer months.
Only Spark has coverage at Ruru Room and this is best found at end of the property, on the top flat area, at the sea end or on the outward corner of the cabin deck. Vodafone coverage can be found back some kilometres on the road at the turn-off to Carey Road.
Ruru Room is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site. The one exception to this rule is for non-mobile babies under 6 months with BYO bedding and portacot. If you are bringing your non-mobile baby, you'll need to mention this in the comments box when you book.
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.
Ruru Room has a 'no dog' policy (with no exceptions).
If you're looking for dog-friendly glamping, check out some of our other Canopy Camping Escapes sites that welcome dogs - you can select the 'dog-friendly' filter in the search bar to easily find them.
Ruru Room is very private, with only a few faint signs of other habitation from the cabin.
At the back of the property, looking south, you can make out the roof of the closest neighbour below, and catch glimpses of a gravel road and a few partial sites of small bachs.
From the cabin deck, you'll see a handful of small houses far in the distance across the bay, in Port Charles. To the North is the glorious open sea and landscape.
Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive to Ruru Room will be on an unsealed gravel road.
Access to Ruru Room, once you arrive, is via a steep gravel driveway. Big vehicles such as vans and caravans, are not recommended. You'll need to drive carefully up the drive and parking is available at the top near the steps to the cabin. You'll be able to come and go as often as you need.
Yes. There are plenty of options for storing a boat during your stay at Ruru Room, although none are undercover. The property is secure in that there is a gate with a lock.
There is a flat (although rather weedy) area just inside the gate. There is also a large flat area halfway up the drive and the flat area just behind the cabin is long enough to park both boat and vehicle.
This is a steep property in areas, and often over-grown, so caution and diligence are advised.
The deck’s outermost corners are a little over a metre and above agapanthus, so caution needs to be taken.
The short walkway between bathroom and cabin is raised and, as yet, foliage has not established at its sides - please be cautious and turn on the outside light at night.
The pathway to the sea is steep in places with steps that are steep. Although robustly constructed, please be mindful as the land on either side is steep and loose. The final steps to the water's edge are a rope ladder down a relatively steep bank, you'll need to take it easy and watch your step.
Ruru Room 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.
Ruru Room 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.
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.
1.1 If you book within 28 days of your stay, full payment via credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) is required at the time of booking. If you book more than 28 days prior to your stay a deposit of 10% is required to confirm your booking and secure the property. This will be charged to your credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) at the time of booking. A 2.5% credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payment surcharge will be applied to all credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payments.
1.2 Once you have made the online booking and payment, you will receive an email confirming both the payment and your booking details.
1.3 If you book more than 28 days prior to your stay, the remaining balance of your stay will be due 28 days prior to your arrival date. An email reminder will be sent to you at this time requesting payment for the outstanding balance. The reminder email gives you the option to pay the remaining balance by A2A (Internet Banking) or credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard). If your internet banking payment has not been received within 24 - 48 hours, the remaining balance will automatically be charged to the credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) used at the time of booking. Please note: a 2.5% credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payment surcharge is applied to all payments made by credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard). Credit/Debit Card data is held in a secure and encrypted environment.
1.4 If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.
1.5 Bookings made online within 48 hours of arrival will not be confirmed immediately. Once the campsite has agreed that the booking can be honoured, the guest will be informed by Canopy Camping Escapes and the credit card used for the online booking will be charged the full balance of the stay. Note that there is a 2.5% credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) fee.
2.1 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.
2.2 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.
2.3 Date changes made more than 21 days prior to your original arrival date are allowed without penalty.
2.4 Force Majeure
Under our Force Majeure policy, you will be entitled to a full refund if you need to cancel for the following reasons:
Road closure. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, a road on your route to your accommodation is designated by Waka Kotahi as closed or for essential travel only, and there is no detour, or the detour adds more than two hours to your travel according to the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner.
Metservice RED Weather Warning. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, the Metservice has issued a RED warning/forecast in either your home region or the region of your accommodation, for either the day of your arrival or departure.
Natural disasters in New Zealand. Natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and other severe and abnormal natural events causing large scale disruption of essential services and/or transport, specifically impacting your travel to or from your accommodation.
Canopy Camping hosts reserve the right to cancel a 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) Any alteration to the host property which may pose a safety risk for the guest;
(b) Unexpected damage or destruction of the site;
(c) A death in the host family.
Canopy Camping’s liability will be limited to the 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.
4.1 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.
4.2 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.
4.3 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.
7.1 Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid holiday period only.
7.2 Guests are required to observe the rules and familiarise themselves with the procedures contained in the information folder provided in the accommodation.
7.3 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.
7.4 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.
7.5 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.
7.6 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property.
7.7 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.
The person who completes the Booking Form certifies that: he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date; the signatory is over eighteen years of age; they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy Camping Escapes if they are not a member of the holiday party.
Eating and Drinking
Ruru Room has all the facilities you need to self-cater. Just bring your own food, and prepare meals in the kitchen space. There is a gas cooktop and electric oven for cooking and you'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
Dining options are few and far between, but you'll find a cafe at the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat which is occasionally also open for dinners. There are also a couple of cafes in Colville (40 minutes away) and a broader range of options in Coromandel Town (1 hour away).
If you need to pop out for supplies, there is a small store at Colville, but otherwise, you'd be wise to ensure you bring everything you need!
Things to do
Once you arrive at Ruru Room, you won't want to leave, and nor will you need to...
Read, rest and recharge your soul. Hours can be spent relaxing on the cabin deck - watching the light change on the ocean. As night falls, listen to the ruru calling from the trees and even the kiwi calling from the denser bush beyond.
In the morning, head down the path to the sea below for an early morning swim off the rocks. Bring your rod and gear and catch a snapper for lunch! There's a fish bench available behind the bathroom cabin.
If you feel the need to leave the property, a 10-minute walk back up the drive and north along the road brings you to Sandy Bay, a large gentle crescent of golden sand and tepid brine. Along the road to the south is Little Sandy Bay, best visited at high tide, with its rope swing out over the sea. From the right of way, and down a shared path, is the jetty - a good place for fishing and also a great place to park your yacht, or meet your charter boat. A helicopter can land here.
A few kilometres back up the road is Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat with over 50 wild kiwis on the property and their Kiwi Experience walks are open to the public when there is availability. Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat also offers massages which are available to day visitors (bookings essential though!)
For guided local bushwalks and fishing trips – either land-based fishing or using your own boat – visit Colville Guiding or treat yourself to a horse trek - Colville Horse Treks come recommended by your hosts!
Your Hosts
The owners of Ruru Room are an artist and scientist who are based overseas. For them, Ruru Room represents the perfect synthesis of respite from their busy lives, while offering nourishment for their life pursuits. They say “our place is charged with a resounding and peaceful spirit. With its abundance of unique flora and fauna, this private eyrie is an idyll unlike any we’ve encountered”. The property is a part of the family and they have long-term plans for ecological regeneration.
They have a property manager nearby who will be your point of contact during your stay at Ruru Room if needed.
"
It felt like the perfect escape. So warm and full of beautiful energy.
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- 22 Nov 2023
"
Ruru Room has an awesome location overlooking Port Charles, a great walk down to the rocks, and everything you need for a relaxing break.
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- 31 Jul 2023
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The most peaceful place! It has everything you need, it's very tidy and it's very cosy. Such a lovely place to rest and relax.
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- 12 Jun 2023
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Amazing spot to disconnect and relax, very peaceful.
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- 22 Mar 2023
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A beautiful bush setting with a stunning view of Port Charles.
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- 08 Mar 2023
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Sitting in the Adirondack deck chairs and looking out across Port Charles Harbour was very dreamy and relaxin. Listening to the Ruru at night on the same deck was truly magic.
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- 02 Feb 2023
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A beautiful escape that I would absolutely reccomend to anyone. We didn’t want to leave.
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- 16 Jan 2023
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This was a lovely stay at a fabulous property. A gorgeous outlook and we were also lucky with great weather!
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- 09 Jan 2023
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Such a beautiful spot and well equipped place to stay, it had everything!
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- 06 Dec 2022
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Ruru Room is amazing! The view is breathtaking. Perfect place to be present, stargaze and watch the world go by. You might even be lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins come into the Bay just as we did!
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- 03 Aug 2022
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Situated in a private peaceful spot with stunning views and a great fishing spot, we caught great snappers. We loved our Ruru room experience and would love to come back.
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- 16 May 2022
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A great escape from the world and the chance to completely unwind. It was well worth the drive to get there. Such a beautiful and peaceful spot. Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise.
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