Kia ora and Happy New Year to our KONA Retreat community!
As we step into 2026, we’ve been reflecting on a monumental year of growth and milestones. Looking back on 2025, it’s incredible to think we bought our first home in the middle of "nowhere" and successfully launched our first unique stay, Deerview Cabin. We’ve gone from clearing invasive weeds, massive renovations and installing new infrastructure to welcoming guests from across the globe and hitting 3,500 followers on TikTok. Seeing the Mataikona Express finally on its piles, the treehouse cleaned up, and our log cabin truly becoming a home has been the ultimate reward.
🏆 Honourable Mentions of 2025
Before we charge into the new year, we wanted to look back at the moments that made 2025 the most incredible year of our lives:
Family Foundations: Dad helping us clean up the property when we first moved in, including hand-washing every window of the treehouse to ensure those forest and ocean views are never obstructed.
Community Spirit: Joining the local volunteer fire brigade and the Mataikona community group, and participating in the community firewood day.
Major Milestones: Launching our social media, getting the Mataikona Express off the ground on piles, launching our first stay.
Hard Work: Fixing all the windows on our log cabin, cleaning the water tank, installing a filter, and trapping over 200 possums.
Nature & Play: Countless surfs at "The Gap," 4x4 explorations, and the biggest ice creams at the Castlepoint store.
Connection: Watching our best friends get married, hosting our housewarming for the community, and spending our first Christmas here with family.
The Land: Clearing "so so soooo" many weeds, planting a veggie garden, and falling deeply in love with this land and our community
🌟 Deerview Cabin: A 5-Star Start
We closed out 2025 full of gratitude. Deerview Cabin has been a hit, maintaining a perfect 5-star streak on Airbnb and 10/10 ratings on Booking.com.
What’s moved us the most are the handwritten notes left by guests. Hearing that people have truly been able to "reset" while immersed in our coastal forest is exactly why we started this. We’ve welcomed travelers from all over New Zealand, plus visitors from the UK, the US, and Scotland!
The Bathroom Glow-Up: We recently gave the cabin bathroom a full refresh, and the feedback has been amazing.
Direct Bookings Coming Soon: Emelie is currently building our official website featuring stunning photography by Light by Nika. Soon, you’ll be able to book your escape directly with us!
Ready for a reset? Book your stay at Deerview Cabin here!
🦌 A New Addition to the Family
Just before Christmas, our resident herd of red deer welcomed a new member! This tiny baby fawn stayed hidden in the tall grass until New Year's Eve, but now it’s out and about. Our recent guests were lucky enough to catch a glimpse—it is undeniably the cutest resident on the block.
Welcome to Baby Bambi!
Speaking of help around the land, we’ve also welcomed a new (mechanical) family member: a 4x4 Ford tractor. This "computerless beauty" is already a lifesaver for moving logs, mowing, and transporting building materials across our rugged terrain.
Welcome to our Ford 3910!
🏗️ Building Sustainably: From Forest to Cabin
We believe in living off the land, and that includes our building materials. Sefton has been busy felling Douglas Fir trees from our own forest, stripping the bark to use as timber for repairs on our log cabin.
The Question on Everyone's Lips: The Treehouse? 🌳
We hear you! We are currently designing the Treehouse as a "hike in / hike out" experience. We’ve gathered the materials for a major glow-up and new foundations. Work will be on the way soon, and you’ll be able to follow the progress on our socials!
Our goal is to have the Treehouse and The Mataikona Express (our 1980s guards wagon) ready for bookings by next holiday season!
🌌 Wairarapa: A World-Class Destination
We are over the moon to share that Lonely Planet has named Wairarapa’s stargazing, food, and wine as one of the Best in Travel for 2026! Being part of a Dark Sky Reserve is a privilege, and we can't wait to launch our curated stargazing offerings to show you the brightest stars in the world right here from KONA Retreat!
In the meantime, check out Milky Way Kiwi; their stargazing tours are incredible, and you will learn so much about the stars, planets, galaxies, and constellations from the amazing guides, Sam and Hari.
🌿 Regenerating the Land Our 20-year vision for the forest continues. We’re researching the benefits of the Western Himalayan Alder and working with WellingtonNZ to select the best native species to bring this land back to its full, magical potential. If you know anyone in the business of trees, please link us up as we’d love to learn more!
If you’re visiting the Wairarapa, you must check out the Patuna Chasm Walk. Emelie and her sister Natalie recently explored it, and it is a true hidden gem. It feels like stepping into another world!
💬 We Need Your Voice!
As a small, family-run business, we rely on word-of-mouth and the kindness of our community to grow. If you’ve stayed with us or visited KONA Retreat, would you mind leaving us a Google Review? Your insights help others find their way to our forest.
Leave a Google Review for KONA Retreat here. (bonus points if you add a photo!)
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you follow us on TikTok (where we just hit 3,500 followers!), read these emails, have recently stayed with us or have become a champion of what we’re doing, your support is what keeps us welding, planting, and dreaming.
With gratitude,
Emelie & Sefton
KONA Retreat
💌 You’re Part of the KONA Community
Expect occasional updates about our renovation journey, new stays, events, and behind-the-scenes stories from the place where the forest meets the sea.