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Early Bird Winter Special | Stay 3 Pay 2
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Tarata Tent

Waikato


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Eating and Drinking

EATING AND DRINKING

Tarata Tent is self-catering. Just bring your own food, and cook meals using the two-burner gas stove top and pizza oven provided in the outdoor undercover kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.

If you fancy a meal out, Toi Toi Cafe is a 25-minute drive away and has great coffee and Denheath Custard Squares. Make sure you ring ahead to check opening hours though!

A little further afield is the Kāwhia Fish and Chip shop.

Taharoa has a simple dairy offering basic supplies and a limited selection of takeaway food options, just a 15-minute drive away. There is also a convenience store in Ōpārau, 40 minutes drive away and the nearest full supermarket is in Otorohanga.

Things to Do

THINGS TO DO

With board games, cards, and a stunning view to soak up, once you get to the tent, you'll find you won't want to leave.

If you want to get out and about though, there's plenty to explore.

If beaches are your thing, check out the local options! Marokopa Beach is a stunning black sand West Coast beach - about a 40-minute drive away. Kāwhia Hot Water Beach is a bit further afield but a real gem. To experience the hot water, take a shovel and get digging. The hot water is accessible two hours before and two hours after low tide. Kiritehere Fossil Beach has 200 million-year-old fossils of shells in the rocks at the South end of the beach. If you're going fossil hunting, go when the tide is out. Finally, Waikawau Tunnel Beach is accessed by walking through a tunnel. The tunnel was originally used for exchanging goods with ships in the harbour.

A fantastic outing from the cabin involves a visit to the Marokopa Falls (about 30 minutes away) at sunset, followed by a walk to the Piripiri caves as it starts to get dark. When you arrive at the Mangapohue natural bridge, you'll walk along the river and see thousands of glowworms emerge as darkness falls.

The famous Waitomo Caves is about 1.5 hours from Te Waitere.

Your Hosts

YOUR HOSTS

Your hosts at Tarata Tent are Kirstie and Michael.

Kirstie and Michael bought the property on the edge of Kawhia Harbour in 2019 as a peaceful retreat from their busy lives. They are both passionate about restoring the native forest and wildlife, experiencing the beauty of New Zealand's diverse landscapes and sharing this with others.

Kirstie and Michael have meticulously crafted their two accommodations, Tarata Cabin and Tarata Tent, with love and care for others to enjoy.

TESTIMONIALS

“ Amazing setting and beautiful accommodation. Loved all the personal touches and interior design elements. A place to truly relax and recharge. ”

- 2024-03-25

17 / 17

“ Exactly what we expected and more! Gorgeous atmosphere and a relaxing space, it’s everything needed. The hosts were accommodating and communicated fast on queries we had. Will love to stay again! ”

Sara Edwards- 2026-03-31

1 / 17

“ We cannot fault Tarata Tent, what an absolutely stunning, romantic and relaxing getaway. I couldn’t believe my eyes when it was available over New Year’s Eve, we booked it immediately. The host has thought about absolutely everything and I can’t recommend this place enough. The tent, the bath, the view, the surroundings, the peacefulness, the nature, the fresh flowers in vases, bath robes, comfy warm bed, everything was incredible. I highly highly recommend Tarata Tent. ”

Kelly Carson- 2026-01-05

2 / 17

“ Such a special place to stay, as soon as you arrive you feel relaxed. Thoroughly enjoyed cooking outdoors. ”

Melanie Mitchell- 2026-01-04

3 / 17

“ Amazing stay! Super clean tent and great atmosphere. ”

Jessica Riley- 2025-11-15

4 / 17

“ Great setting and atmosphere, recommend for an off the grid getaway. ”

Andrew McKay- 2025-09-01

5 / 17

“ My partner and I were seeking an eco-friendly, off-grid, private escape, and Tarata Tent was above and beyond what we imagined. Staying in a canopy tent in winter sounds cold, however, the addition of the indoor wood fire, the outdoor fire which heated the hot tub, and fun added extras like chopping our own firewood and making wood-fired pizzas kept us warm, cosy, and very happy. We would so love to return. ”

Emma Ridley- 2025-08-13

6 / 17

“ Tarata Tent, what a beautiful gem. The backdrop of bush and water, the bird call to wake and end the day, the attention to detail inside and outside the tent make this place truly special. We will definitely be back to unwind and unplug from the daily grind. It was the first time in a while I felt I actually stopped to breathe and appreciate all I am blessed with. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous space. ”

Bex Hoy- 2025-07-27

7 / 17

“ What a stunning location! I didn’t realise Tarata Tent is so close to Kāwhia Harbour. The setting of the tent is lovely and so beautifully set up. We loved our mid winter stay. ”

Rachel Ziesler- 2025-07-22

8 / 17

“ What a beautiful set up. Absolutely loved it. Had to work pretty hard to keep warm, but that's part of the adventure haha. Thanks so much. ”

Nate Alley- 2025-06-08

9 / 17

“ Absolutely beautiful place to stay. Very luxurious and well worth staying here. ”

Pam Joseph- 2025-04-18

10 / 17

“ Fantastic get away in a beautiful part of the country. We really enjoyed the pizza oven and hot tub! ”

Matt Wood- 2025-01-10

11 / 17

“ Great off grid spot, perfect place to spend time relaxing and recharging. ”

Daniel & Veronica Pettigrew- 2024-12-11

12 / 17

“ Very nice place to stay. Had a great time and would recommend. ”

Trent McNaughten- 2024-10-22

13 / 17

“ Such a beautiful place to get away from everything and truly relax. Te Waiere and Taharoa are stunning areas and just a quick drive from Auckland. Being able to make our own pizza dough and use the pizza oven was a lovely touch. Can’t recommend it more! ”

Amanda Barakat- 2024-07-15

14 / 17

“ It was a beautiful accommodation! Very private, with amazing vibes and atmosphere. We loved our stay and enjoyed having fires. Definitely a really good thing to do in the colder months, as the cosiness really shines through then! ”

Sebastian Hooker- 2024-05-23

15 / 17

“ Highly recommend. ”

Luke McCallum- 2024-05-10

16 / 17

“ Amazing setting and beautiful accommodation. Loved all the personal touches and interior design elements. A place to truly relax and recharge. ”

- 2024-03-25

17 / 17

“ Exactly what we expected and more! Gorgeous atmosphere and a relaxing space, it’s everything needed. The hosts were accommodating and communicated fast on queries we had. Will love to stay again! ”

Sara Edwards- 2026-03-31

1 / 17

Scenic coastal landscape viewed through a golden tent opening, showing lush green hillside with forest line meeting turquoise ocean waters under clear blue sky

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