Te Moata- Tairua (W)
Someone on Facebook was asking about Retreats in NZ. I thought, ‘If Im going to type it all out for them, I should share it with you too!
In no particular order, here are my fav retreat spaces and why. (Sorry they are mostly North Island NZ)
Near Tairua (bottom bit of the east coast of the Coromandel)
Te Moata is one of those rare places that feels like it has been quietly waiting for you. Tucked into the Coromandel bush near Tairua, it is best known for its beautiful replica of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth, held in a clearing of native forest. Walking it is never just a walk. It feels like a prayer in motion, a slow returning to yourself, and every time I have moved through its winding path I have come away with something shifted, softened, or revealed deep in my soul.
After the labyrinth, the path down to the stream and the Goddess Pool feels like a continuation of the same blessing. This small, magical pool has a cleansing, devotional quality to it; a place to release what is finished, listen more deeply, and rededicate yourself to the next part of your journey.
The whole of Te Moata has the feeling of its own little world. Even the arrival feels like a threshold. The road appears suddenly after a corner in the road, that has a breathtaking view of the coast, then softens into a well-cared-for dirt road that seems to lead you out of ordinary life and into something quieter. At the top, the is very unassuming driveway marked as the entrance to “Te Moata”. The driveway winds gently down through trees, and you arrive in an oasis of calm, beauty, and deep serenity.
Originally a Buddhist meditation centre, Te Moata still carries that grounded simplicity. Much of the accommodation is basic and communal, with single beds set into tiny individual cubicles. I remember, on my first visit, looking at the little space meant to hold me and the generous amount of crystals and treasures I had travelled with, and feeling a bit ….surprised. But over the years I have come to understand that this simplicity is one of Te Moata’s great gifts. It gently invites you to put things down, return to what matters, and remember how little you actually need when you are held by nature, silence, and good company. There are also self-contained spaces available for those who need a little more privacy or ease during their stay.
The centre is off-grid, which adds to its medicine. A big furnace provides plenty of hot water for showers, and a small amount of electricity comes from solar panels, but the constant hum and energetic noise of modern devices is beautifully stilled. Without the usual electrical buzz around you, the forest, the birds, the water, and your own inner world become much easier to hear.
The centre itself is deeply lovely. There are koi ponds, warm and nurturing community spaces, and the beauty of New Zealand forest everywhere you look. Native birds everywhere, even Kiwi’s can be heard at night. Te Moata feels cared for in a way that makes it easy to exhale. The food is always delicious and made with love, the kind of nourishing retreat food that seems to feed more than just the body. The kitchen team do their best to accommodate dietary requirements, and if food needs are a major consideration, choosing a unit with your own kitchen gives you the option of self-catering. For me, Te Moata is not just a retreat centre. It is a sanctuary for people, a sanctuary for nature, and a place that reminds you how healing simplicity, beauty, and sacred land can be.
