AWAY Treehouse & Forest SPA

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what’s wild about AWAY Treehouse & Forest SPA? The moment you turn onto Cowes Bay Road, you’re already leaving civilization behind – and I mean that in the best possible way. This isn’t one of those places that just calls itself a “treehouse” for marketing points. You’re literally sleeping among the canopy, with native New Zealand bush stretching out below your deck like some kind of green ocean.

The location on Arran Bay is honestly perfect if you want to disappear for a while. It’s remote enough that you’ll actually hear silence (well, except for the tui birds at dawn – they’re chatty), but you’re not completely cut off from the world. The spa treatments happen right there in the forest, which sounds gimmicky until you’re lying on a massage table listening to actual bird calls instead of piped-in nature sounds. I stayed during what the locals call the “shoulder season” in March, and the weather was moody but gorgeous – those dramatic clouds rolling over the bay made everything feel cinematic. The staff mentioned summer gets pretty busy with Auckland folks escaping the city, so spring or autumn might be your sweet spot for peace and quiet.

What really got me was the attention to small things that matter when you’re staying somewhere this unique. The treehouse design actually works – proper insulation means you’re cozy even when it’s dripping wet outside (which, let’s be honest, happens a fair bit in this part of New Zealand). There’s underfloor heating, thank god, because walking on cold wood floors in the morning would’ve ruined the whole vibe. The kitchen setup is thoughtful too – they stock local honey and fresh bread, so you can make a decent breakfast while watching the mist lift off the water. Parking is easy enough, though the gravel driveway gets a bit slippery when wet, so take it slow if you’re driving something low to the ground. The 9.7 rating makes sense once you’re there – it’s not trying to be a luxury resort, but everything they do, they do really well. Sure, you might lose cell signal in spots (honestly, feature not a bug), and the nearest proper restaurant is a bit of a drive, but that’s sort of the point. This is where you come to remember what quiet feels like.