Situated along the magnificent Maruia River and protected by mountains from the east and west, the Maruia River Retreat is a stunning boutique lodge where guests can relax, reconnect, explore and celebrate. With only 7 luxury villas within a 500-acre nature estate, guests are welcomed with a sense of being far away from the clutter of everyday life, and invited to find shelter at the core of what is truly beautiful and peaceful. “Maruia†(ma-roo-ee-ah) – Maori, adj. meaning “sheltered or shadedâ€. Taking its name from the stunning river valley it is nestled in, the Maruia River Retreat lies at the heart of an extensive natural estate encompassing a pristine native Beech forest, long-established gardens, walking trails and terraced paddocks at the top of New Zealand's breathtaking South Island. The Maruia River Retreat is a convenient 2-hour scenic drive from Nelson.