Serenity Hillside

Tairua, Coromandel

Serenity Retreat is an 80-acre lifestyle property located about 3.5 hours' drive from Auckland on the Coromandel Peninsula. It's set between the seaside towns of Tairua and Whitianga - just 8 minute's drive to Tairua and 30 minutes to Whitianga.

Serenity Retreat has two beautiful cabins on the property. This cabin is Serenity Hillside - the other is named Serenity Hideaway.

Accessed by an 8-metre walkway from the car park, the stylish off-grid hut is set next to a little stream at the bottom of a lush hillside of bush on the property.

Inside the hut, is a queen-sized bed, with a double loft bed up a ladder for children. A small table and banquet seat is available for indoor dining, with double doors opening directly out to a large covered outdoor kitchen, dining and lounging space. A small semi-outdoor bathroom is set by the stream and connected via a walkway to the hut. Nearby, two outdoor baths and a sauna offer the perfect way to unwind.

The views from the many windows in the hut make you feel immersed in the surrounding nature. The outlook from the outdoor kitchen stretches across the Coromandel countryside. At night, kiwi and morepork call from the surrounding bush, and on a clear night, you'll enjoy a star-studded sky.

EATING AND DRINKING

The hut at Serenity Retreat is self-catering. Just bring your own food and drink, and cook meals using the facilities provided in your camp kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.

If you want a break from cooking at any stage, Tairua is just an 8-minute drive away. Here you will find the Tairua Beach Club, Manaia Bar & Restaurant and several food caravans - including fish and chips. Only 10 minutes in the opposite direction are Colenso Country Café and 'The Family' at the Hot Water Brewery. The famous Coroglen Pub is also nearby.

THINGS TO DO

At the hut, relax and soak up the views. Unwind in one of the two outdoor baths or warm up in the sauna after a day of exploring. There are board games on hand, or you can wander the property to meet the animals in the nearby paddocks, including horses, a donkey, friendly goats, miniature horses, a Kune Kune pig and pet sheep.

The local area is full of outdoor adventures. Walk to Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui A Hei) or visit Hot Water Beach to dig your own hot pool in the sand. Nearby surf beaches like Tairua, Sailors Grave and Whangamata are great for beachcombing and water activities. For nature walks, the DOC tracks through Hikuai and Broken Hills wind past old gold mine tracks, native weta caves and rivers perfect for a swim.

Stop by the Coroglen Pub for lunch and cool off in the Waiwawa River, complete with a rope swing. Kids will love the Waterworks, a quirky park of water-based attractions built by a local engineer. With kayaking, horse trekking and fishing charters on offer too, there's plenty to fill your days, whether you're after an active escape or a relaxed one.

YOUR HOSTS

Your hosts at Serenity Hideaway are Chris, Andie and Sarah-Kate.

The family made the decision to leave the bustling city life in Auckland behind and embark on a new adventure in 2011. When they stumbled upon the bare land covered in gorse, they saw potential and embraced the challenge. They were particularly captivated by the breathtaking views that stretch down the valley from their property. Adding to its allure, a significant portion of their land is protected by a covenant, ensuring that the regenerating native forest remains a sanctuary for future generations.

Chris and Andie run an exterior plastering and painting company in Auckland and the Coromandel. They first discovered glamping when Chris built a deck that evolved into the 10m2 cabin - now known as Serenity Hillside.

The Coromandel's beautiful attractions and scenery sets Serenity Hillside as the perfect peaceful escape in nature.

TESTIMONIALS

“ Amazing stay. ”

WEBBER CHEN- 2024-06-19

16 / 16

“ Our family enjoyed our stay at Serenity Hillside. Such a peaceful and relaxing place. Highly recommend if you're after a place to reset and spend quality time with loved ones. ”

Samritha Yean- 2026-01-17

1 / 16

“ Beautiful place with lovely surroundings and things to do. We felt right at home! ”

Harriet Milne- 2026-01-14

2 / 16

“ Perfect escape and getaway. ”

Sarah Wilson- 2026-01-09

3 / 16

“ We had an incredible time at Serenity Hillside. The accommodation is really special, quite unique, and really lets you experience the absolutely gorgeous natural surroundings. The property is incredible, lovely to explore, with the animals and the beautiful walk down to the stream. Just delightful. ”

Amelia Bray- 2025-10-20

4 / 16

“ Great relaxing two days. Being off grid amongst nature and the animals. Very enjoyable. ”

Karen McGovern- 2025-09-27

5 / 16

“ Serenity Hillside was just that: a serene and beautiful little glamping location on a gorgeous hillside. The bathroom was incredible and the entire area was clean and welcoming. We stayed during a storm and had everything we needed to be comfortable and cosy. We would love to return in the future. ”

Paulina Altshuler- 2025-05-03

6 / 16

“ Beautiful spot! Thanks, Andie and family, we absolutely loved our stay. Regular communication prior to arrival and during our stay was excellent. Gorgeous accommodation and facilities made our stay cosy and comfortable. We loved the tranquil sound of the stream nearby, the sounds and sights of native birds in the area, and the friendly farm animals. All made our stay so unique and memorable. We will definitely recommend your beautiful retreat to our family and friends. ”

Nicole Keddie- 2025-04-22

7 / 16

“ Peaceful, beautiful, and everything you could need. ”

Donna Everitt- 2025-04-06

8 / 16

“ First experience glamping! I would do it again! ”

kim Mooney-mcnulty- 2025-04-05

9 / 16

“ We absolutely loved our stay! The glow worms seen at night from the bathroom made it even more magical! Would love to come back again sometime! ”

Lindsay Brooks- 2025-01-28

10 / 16

“ A unique little slice of heaven for a totally chilled-out escape. Relaxing with the native birds and plants was just the treat we needed. Will definitely be back. ”

Cindy Habets- 2025-01-11

11 / 16

“ Beautiful scenery, great facilities and very friendly and accommodating host. ”

Shweta Ilango- 2024-12-12

12 / 16

“ The entire stay at Serenity Hillside was incredible. Everything we could have asked for and more. The bathroom was top-tier for us, and the sound of the stream was beautiful. We will be recommending it to everyone; we had the most amazing time. And I came away as a fiancée. I couldn’t have asked for a better place. ”

Rebecca Hinz- 2024-10-14

13 / 16

“ Absolutely beautiful! There are no words to describe how perfect this location and stay were. It was absolutely breathtaking, and I could not fault a single thing. ”

Danielle Fistonich- 2024-10-03

14 / 16

“ Absolutely loved our stay at Serenity Hillside! Lovely hosts and a great spot. ”

Marsha van den Top- 2024-08-07

15 / 16

“ Amazing stay. ”

WEBBER CHEN- 2024-06-19

16 / 16

“ Our family enjoyed our stay at Serenity Hillside. Such a peaceful and relaxing place. Highly recommend if you're after a place to reset and spend quality time with loved ones. ”

Samritha Yean- 2026-01-17

1 / 16

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