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Dear Karina and Lynn,
Thank you for an excellent five night stay.
The studio was well maintained and cleaned every day to a high standard. We appreciated in particular the range of teas and toiletries which were replenished every day.
Both Karina and Lynn were most helpful and contributed significantly to a most enjoyable and relaxed stay.
A small downside – if you’re sensitive to noise at night, avoid studio 6. You can hear the boiler fire up first thing in the morning. This is a minor gripe in an otherwise faultless stay!
We hope to be back.

Our stay was perfect. We were kindly upgraded to a charming cottage and greeted by kakas when we arrived.
A beautiful place to relax, and an easy walk in to the village. An idyllic place to stay.
Thank you!

Great room. Great location. Great staff. Couldn’t be better! Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Very clean, warm chalets, bed comfortable and lovely linen. Large bathroom with very very small shower, plenty of towels supplied.
Dining table and chairs fine, lounge suite needs replacing. Staff/Operators Lynn and Karina very friendly and most obliging.

We really enjoyed our 3 night stay with you. The room was large and facilities modern and excellent. The bed was also very comfortable.
Kaka Retreat is in a good position -just up the hill from Halfmoon Bay – close to the pub and restaurants.
We would recommend Kaka Retreat to anyone visiting Stewart Island.

Found the staff to be really helpful in this tranquil setting. Loved the visit from the kaka birds and the bird calls of so many other species.
Highlight was kiwi spotting with Saff – first time seeing them in their native setting – absoutely awesome. A must have experience.

The staff were friendly and helpful, the venue was clean and modern and very conveniently placed. For me, the outstanding feature was the birds. Kaka and tue were very easy to see. Having cooking facilities meant that I could choose when and what to eat, as well as enjoying Oban’s wide range of eating options.
I loved staying on the Island and wish that I’d spent more time there.

We stayed at Kaka Retreat on two occasions; three days before Xmas 2017 and then again two days afterwards.
Very friendly and helpful staff.
As a party of six, a couple with their parents and their children, we stayed in the three-bedroom cottage. This could not be better: spacious, clean and well equipped. The unit includes a private BBQ with an outside sitting and eating area. Also a small private court yard for the children to play games in (e.g. badminton set provided in the unit). Good laundry facilities. Special features; an Xmas tree in the unit and plenty of Kaka and Kereru outside.
As far as storing our luggage at the motel during our absence; the arrangements were spectacularly good.
Kaka Retreat is within walking distance from the grocery shop and the hotel.
All in all; each member of our party was most impressed.
Thanks for looking after us.
John and family

Our group of 7 stayed at Kaka Retreat for 4 nights in February. We thought the accomodation standard was very high, the care and attention from Lynn and Karina was wonderful, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Great place to stay, so quiet and peaceful. Comfortable and spacious. Handy to amenities. Great pick-up and drop-off service.

From the time we were picked up by Karina off the ferry to the time we were dropped off to go home, we fell in love with Stewart Island and Kaka Retreat was the perfect place to stay. The room was wonderfully warm when we arrived and exceptionally clean. It was really handy to town so an easy walk to dinner etc. Karina was really informative and made sure we were aware of all that Oban had available. It was a wonderful experience and we will certainly come again.

Thanks for the three days accommodation which was truly lovely. Nice and clean and spacious and also well positioned in relation to the main town. Snugly nestled in a bush setting gave us privacy and the dulcet tones of native birds in the early morning and late evening.

Wonderful stay with exemplary hospitality. The owner could not have been more helpful, the room was extremely comfortable and spotless, and the surroundings and birds delightful. A perfect spot in a stunning corner of the world!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The accommodation is very cozy, beautiful and very clean..

Very much enjoyed the Kaka!

We will come back – no doubt

What an absolutely great place to stay. Impeccably clean, beautiful surrounds and staff that are happy to do anything for you to make your stay perfect. Highly recommended.

This place is the jewel in the crown of Stewart Island accommodation. Fantastic accommodation a mere stones throw from Halfmoon Bay. The staff are friendly and the service superb. The facilities are modern, immaculately kept and very comfortable.

Thanks for a wonderfully comfortable stay. We particularly enjoyed the other “guests” – the kaka and tui.!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our two night stay at Kaka resort suite.
Karina was an excellent tour guide on our arrival, Lynne made sure our departure was seamless. The room was not only clean…it was immaculate.
We will recommend Kaka Retreat to all our friends.

Everything was very good. Excellent location being a short walk from the Hotel (the men’s priority) and the short walks around Oban. Enjoyed the kakas visits.
Appreciated the tea, coffee etc being replaced daily.

Spent four nights here, solo traveller. My room was lovely, clean, well furnished with everything I needed. Kitchenette fine for sandwiches and had a microwave to cook simple things. Small sheltered sitting area on the deck outside. Laundry for washing for those travelling. The surrounding gardens planted with New Zealand plants, very natural, flax was coming into flower which attracted tui in particular. The birdsong delighted me (I was on a wildlife quest). Noisy kaka around but the weather was windy, easterlies during my stay which made it cool but there is good heating in the room
Staff are lovely, friendly, welcoming, helpful. Good local knowledge for recommendations for trips.
I want to return and will definitely stay at Kaka Retreat.

Clean, good position. Very friendly staff. Loved the friendly regular visits from the Kaka. Ideal place to stay on Stewart, highly recommended.

great 3 days we had on Stewart Island. Kaka retreat was fist class. the cottage was spacious for the four of us and had all we needed. Lyn and the team were very friendly and helpful.

Wonderful birdlife around the property.

Stewart Island is certainly a rare jewel and well worth visiting. hopefully we can come back again. I would love to do some of the longer walks.

We had a wonderful 3 nights staying at Kaka Retreat mid January 2017.
From the unexpected van pick up on arrival to the delivery at the ferry dock on the day we left, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the motel and exploring Stewart Island. The motel certainly has kaka and they are around in the early evening being very entertaining. The motel unit was well set up and had a lovely large living area opening onto the deck with a BBQ. Bathroom had a lovely shower and towel heater. We had a two bedroom unit, one with double bed and the other twin beds. About 5 minutes walk into Oban and set for walks in all directions. Delightfully friendly helpful staff. Highly recommended.

Centrally located just up the hill from the bay, Private,comfortable and immaculately clean well equipped units. It’s the little things that set this accomodation apart from the rest , lovely high pressure showers, filter coffee makers, up to date guide books in the unit, comfortable outdoor seating, fresh smells throughout and surrounded by lush greenery with hosts who couldn’t do enough to help….and I haven’t mentioned the friendly Kakas yet!! Take a few apples and they will come visit you on the veranda ( the Kakas that is )

Friendly, helpful staff, very clean, comfy beds and a beautiful piece of NEW ZEALAND that we are so lucky to have seen. Magic. Thank you

I stayed two nights in October. The weather may have been wet but the accommodation was cosy and comfortable and spotlessly clean. I was picked up on arrival at the terminal and the welcome was very warm and friendly. Even though at one point I had the place to myself, I had plenty of Kakas to keep me entertained.

Such a quiet lovely, relaxing place to stay! Had a little trouble with the shower drain the first night. But figured it out quickly. Will definitely visit again for a longer period of time.

My husband and I stayed 2 nights at Kaka Retreat and so wished we could have stayed longer. Everything was beautifully presented and the bed was so comfortable. Loved the mini tour around town was a bonus and so appreciated Lyn’s local knowledge. We really enjoyed our visit to Stewart Island and can’t wait till we can come again.

I think your motel is very nice, quite modern and comfortable
I already recommended you to friends of mine
I hope that I’ll come back when I’ll come to Queenstown where I usually come 2 times a year… when possible
Thanks for everything !

Kind regards
Danielle (your Island is also wonderful)

Another fantastic stay at the Kaka Retreat. From the moment we booked everything went well, with the wonderful staff promptly dealing with any questions and keeping us informed about arrangements for our pick up from Oban Wharf.
The studio rooms were great, they had everything we needed for our stay, and very comfortable beds. We bought friends with us, and they were most impressed with the facilities, and loved the surroundings.
Thank you again for everything.

My wife and I were joined by two other couples – we have been close friends since the 1960’s – for a most pleasant 3 night stay at Kaka Retreat. Everything about our stay was really quite delightful, starting with the easy booking process and the convivial welcome at the ferry terminal (plus the bonus drive around the town), right through to final checkout and transport back to the ferry. The 3-bedroom unit was ideal for us . We appreciated the extra heating being used on the rather chilly day of arrival. The whole place was immaculately presented and the standard of housekeeping throughout the 3 days could not be faulted. The local kaka did their very best to entertain us with their antics and many photos were taken of these fascinating birds, as well as the countless kereru, tui and other birds in the surrounding trees. I’m sure all six of us would have no hesitation in booking at Kaka Retreat on another occasion, and we would certainly recommend it to our friends. I need to mention that no visit to Stewart Island would be complete without a walk on Ulva Island (the $20 cost for the water taxi trip there is the best money you could ever spend if you wish to appreciate nature at its finest); Dave Goodin’s jade studio where you can take a lesson in pounamu carving, then take home your own special momento of your visit; an evening spent ‘kiwi spotting’ at Ocean Beach; food at the Kai Kart; and who could forget the quiz night at the South Seas Hotel? (Our team came 3rd!)

We found the Kaka Retreat spotlessly clean and spacious enough for 3. It is a short walk to lovely tracks and shops, but since it is right in a secluded place you feel calm just to be there. All the amenities and hospitality possible.

Do wish we could have booked a smaller lodging since our 3 bedroom apartment was way more room than we needed so of course cost us much more!

From our friendly reception when we arrived at the airline office in Oban, until we left, staying at the Kaka Retreat was a delight. Partly because of the kakas themselves of course, but mainly because of the very high quality of the house, everything supplied in it, and good design. A very pleasant place to stay and I think we’ll be back.

The staff were very helpful and friendly. Lovely tidy and very clean comfortable rooms.
Saw many birds on our balcony. Bird song during the day was fab from all the tuis and wood pigeons
Will definitely come back to Stewart Island and to the Retreat.
Thank you for having us !

Kaka Retreat made our stay on Stewart Island most enjoyable! Accommodation was first class, along with first class staff.. The kaka kept us amused and entertained. If you are thinking of going to Stewart Island you must stay at kaka Retreat.

We (four adults) loved the comfort and cleanliness of Kaka Retreat, being so close to the village and yet quite private, and having our own veranda where we relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the magnificent birdlife. And, as an extra treat, we appreciated having a range of teas and jams to choose from.
Thanks Karina and Lynn. We intend to return someday.

We really enjoyed Kaka Retreat. The hospitality was great. We got a surprise pick up from the ferry. Which was really appreciated. So nice to wake up to nature.

Wonderful, friendly, accommodating staff make the stay excellent from beginning to end. The location is just a few minutes from the wharf, yet the neighborhood is quiet. Beautiful shrubbery and plants surround the facility. The rooms are spacious and clean, the beds comfortable, the nights serene. We enjoyed sitting on the couch that was outside the room. There was also a large table we could have utilized had we wanted to eat outside. One way I judge the “class” of a facility is the size of the bath towels. The were HUGE at the Kaka Retreat–soft and comfortable. We would most definitely stay there again!!

Despite the inclement weather we enjoyed our five days on Stewart Island at the Kaka Retreat.. We really appreciated the friendliness and kindness of Lynne and Karina. The cottage was spotlessly clean , really well equipped. and a cosy warm refuge from the unseasonal gale force winds and bleak skies.

Was very pleasantly surprised with the quality and comfort of our accommodation. Impeccably clean and well finished unit complimented by bird filled bush surrounds.

We had for some time been planning a short stay on Stewart Island to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and had been searching for a place to stay that would be both central and relaxing. Kaka Retreat looked on their profile to be ideal particularly as they would meet us at the air depot in Oban. We were delighted when we arrived and were shown our unit. It was new, fresh and very welcoming. Karina met us on our arrival and made sure that we had everything for our stay including booking a table at Church Hill restaurant for the night of our anniversary. As we left Karina gave us an anniversary gift from the Resort which will remind us of our amazing visit to Stewart Island. The next time we come we will definitely be returning to Kaka Retreat resort!

Thank you for picking us up from the ferry and the tour of town. Our room was great, clean & comfortable with everything we needed. Corena so helpful with anything we asked. Kaka, tui and kereru right outside our room was the icing on the cake.

We loved our very special holiday on Stewart Island and part of what made it so special was our lovely, quiet accommodation set in beautiful gardens. Both of us have busy jobs in Auckland and it was so relaxing to step back into the slower pace of life on Stewart Island and take the time to be able to enjoy the wonderful bird life and Kaka Retreat’s natural bush surroundings. There were kereru making their homes in the trees and every evening we were visited by giant Kaka who landed on the deck railing and the bushes outside our unit.

The staff were very friendly and when we were picked up from the ferry, we were taken on a tour of the village, which was a great orientation to Oban.
Our unit was spotlessly clean and a good size, with a surprisingly generously outfitted mini-kitchen – which we didn’t use, but appreciated anyway.

When we were at the Kaka Retreat we felt like we could have been in the countryside, but despite the quiet and lovely setting, we were only a couple of minutes walking from the village. We will definitely want to stay here again when we come back to Stewart Island in the future.

These ladies are fabulous. Everything from the collection after the flight to the Island, the breakfasts, the service, accommodation and then the drop back to catch the flight to Invercargill was fantastic. I really recommend staying here.

Thanks, we had a lovely stay. very friendly staff. Good location. Very comfortable studio unit

The friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Excellent range of teas and coffees, good breakfasts. The Kaka (Native Parrots) on the balcony. The peace and quiet.

My husband and I had four wonderful days here – romantic and secluded. Large, modern, beautiful, self-contained unit set amid stunning native bush. The staff were wonderful – helpful and friendly – and we wanted for nothing. Fantastic shower, comfortable bed, and masses of pillows to choose from = a real luxury retreat. Priced at the higher end of the market, but worth every cent! We will definitely return, and with our children’s families next time!
Thank you Lyn and Karina, for a memorable holiday! We highly recommend your stunning retreat to everyone wanting privacy, peace and beauty.
Kind regards,
Sally and Patrick Frengley – Auckland

We stayed at the Kaka Retreat in mid December 2017. The staff were welcoming and had offered to collect us from the ferry (the motel is actually easy walking distance to the ferry terminal) The location of the motel is therefore very good, quick walk to the restaurant, pub, and fish and chip shop.
The accommodation is spacious and of a good standard. Nice bathrooms and clean throughout. Staff were very knowledgeable and passionate about the island and made every effort to enhance our experience..
Overall, a great experience and highly recommend.

We loved our time at Kaka Retreat and on Stewart Island. The place was awesome. Well equipped, comfortable and new. Lynn was awesome, both picking us up and dropping us at the ferry and giving us tips for Stewart Island highlights. Our only regret was not being able to stay longer.

Great place, with resident Kakas, a bit above the town – easy walk down to food and harbour, and less easy walk back. Nice rooms, very helpful and friendly staff. Couldn’t ask for more in a remarkable place.

Spent a happy couple of days with great help from staff but little help from weather..

We were picked up and taken to our room no problem, the room was spacious and well equipped- the kitchen had more facilities that we saw on the website. Rooms were clean, and the location is great – easy walk to the town centre, and very quiet – apart from the birds of course! Would recommend the Kaka to anyone wanting to stay on Stewart Island for a few days.

Enjoyable Stay at your lovely retreat. The facilities were superb & met our requirements perfectly.

Great stay but felt breakfast should have been included in tariff
Fantastic room service and magnificently clean even the bbq.

All eleven of us had a splendid time. We stayed in the two cottages – homely, well equipped, well serviced, warm & dry. The management are relaxed and accommodating. We have been there before and we will be back again.

We can highly recommend Kaka Retreat, Stewart Island. We were met at the wharf and given a very warm welcome by Lynn. Our room was superb – spacious, immaculate and very well-equipped. The room servicing was excellent. The daily Kaka visits were a treat – the birds were so funny!
There are lots of wonderful places to visit within easy walking distance of Kaka Retreat but just sitting on the veranda outside our room was pure pleasure. Stewart Island is a long way from home but we hope to return one day and stay for at least a week.

We absolutely loved our stay at the Kaka Retreat! Lynn gave us such a warm welcome and was available many times for help and advice. My husband particularly enjoyed feeding the Kakas with Lynn. Our room was very comfortable, the amenities were perfect. I appreciated the use of the phone outside the office for local calls I needed to make. We also very much appreciated Lynn picking us up and delivering us again to the ferry.

I am so glad I picked this place. Warm and comfortable, and the staff were lovely….but the really amazing thing was the garden, and the large group of Kaka ( Native parrots for those who are not familiar with them) who choose to visit, feed and play in it. I spent ages enthralled by these cheeky little clowns. The Kaka retreat is delightful

Can’t fault Kaka Retreat, beautifully presented spacious modern clean and warm accommodation with all the facilities you need. Hostess Karina is warm and welcoming with a sense of humour. And the big bonus bountiful birdlife at your doorstep. Magic!

What a gorgeous unit we had- spotlessly clean with comfy beds and beautiful fresh white towels. Lovely bathroom products. Heaters if needed but we were lucky enough for hot mild weather. Karina and Lyn were FABULOUS hosts/tour guides/friends…
We would highly recommend Kaka Retreat- we had 20 family members staying in different accommodation around Oban and we felt Kaka Retreat was the best…. thanks so much Karina you are a gem….

Great room with some nice touches that show a guest’s practical requirements have been thought through and addressed. Very welcoming and helpful people. Good location for facilities in Oban. Would definitely stay here on return to Stewart Island and would recommend to all friends & family

Thank you so much , we so enjoyed our 3 days on Stewart Island , your 3 bed cottage was comfy, clean, and had everything we needed even games and toys for the evenings.

We got to see penguins and even a kiwi, the weather was warm and dry and our trip to Ulva Island was a delight,

We really would like to return one day but sadly are back to UK next week

My wife and I stayed here for 2 nights and we were very impressed.

Not only were we picked up from the ferry, but we also received a quick tour around the town before heading to our accommodation.

Our room was perfect – very clean and very good amenities.

Breakfast was good and there are a few options for dinner, all within walking distance of Kaka.

We were very impressed and would recommend this place to anyone wanting good self contained accommodation on Stewart Island.

What a magical place to stay! We were promised plenty, including comfort, hospitality and bird song…..we received so much more! When we return to Stewart Island we will definitely stay at this amazing haven, Kaka Retreat, again.

We loved our stay at Kaka Retreat.
The room had everything we needed, a comfortable bed, lovely shower, and basic but good, cooking facilities.
The Kaka toiletries were lovely, I now need to see if I can get some in the UK!
Karina and Lynn were really nice, picking us up and dropping us back at the ferry point.
And we saw loads of kakas, a bonus.

Very comfortable

We stayed in the three bedroomed cottage at Kaka Retreat and this provided the best possible accommodation for a family or group. The cottage was spacious with a well equipped kitchen and a big BBQ on the covered deck which also had deck furniture for sun-sitting. The bedrooms were comfortable and the cottage had excellent heating. Staff were obliging and very friendly. The experience could not have been improved upon. Kaka Retreat is close to the town centre so shopping for supplies was easy, as was getting to all of the town’s facilities. With this great accommodation we were able to enjoy our time on Stewart Island, which is absolutely a premier NZ tourist destination.

Excellent in all respects.

I loved staying at Kaka Retreat. It was welcoming in every way. The rooms were pleasant, the atmosphere great, the reception warm. It was one of the best, maybe the best place, we stayed on our entire vacation. Thanks.

Spacious, clean and comfortable room in fabulous surroundings. Nice friendly staff. Complimentary pickup included a quick tour of Oban which was very useful and appreciated. We’ll be back. 🙂