Calm the Waters

Escaping to a modern off-the-grid cabin in a river valley of lush native bush sounds appealing… but also like it’s a fair jaunt from Tauranga. But the new Watercliff eco retreat is just minutes away, nestled in a property in the lower Kaimai Ranges.

The retreat, consisting of four cabins on the banks of the crystal clear Omanawa River, has been five years in the making for Delia and Josh Harris, and although it’s been a massive undertaking for the couple, there are still more plans afoot.‍

A new life

Delia grew up in Tauranga and took ballet lessons from a young age at the Dance Education Centre in Matua. It was the start of what would end up being an illustrious international career. She was accepted into London’s prestigious Royal Ballet School at 15, then went on to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where she danced for 12 years and was principal dancer.

Delia met Josh when he was visiting Birmingham one weekend. A qualified civil engineer, he worked in the project management side of large-scale civil engineering, and was overseeing the build of a $1 billion reservoir. Josh was living a few hours away, so after three years of commuting to see each other, he moved to Birmingham, with a plan to ultimately live in Aotearoa. “Moving back to New Zealand was just a matter of timing,” says Delia, who would end her career as a ballerina to return home. “It sounds weird retiring at 30,” she laughs. “But that’s the reality.”

And while Josh is British, coming to live in the Bay of Plenty wasn’t an altogether foreign proposition. “I grew up in a little town in Cornwall — a beach town, with a Mount vibe.” So the pair gradually put together their vision for a rural retreat and Delia’s Tauranga-based parents, Sally and Tim Mathews, were asked to keep an eye out for a likely property.

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‍‍Building the dream

The beautiful 18ha native bush-filled property was duly found and purchased (with Delia’s parents), and the couple started to plan Watercliff from afar. Plans were drawn up, meetings about designs and logistics were done over Zoom, and council meetings slotted in around holidays in New Zealand.

The project was around three years of planning, plus building an access road that winds downhill for 1.5km, then two years building the cabins in an idyllic spot with local company Way Builders.

Simply put, it was a huge undertaking and the couple throw out some impressive stats: 400 tonnes of hand-poured concrete road, 300 hours on a digger for Josh (no doubt a highlight for their toddler, Lowen). But that back-breaking part is over and the architecturally designed cabins have now had their first guests. 

The cabins are off the grid, in a way you really don’t notice (well, you’ll notice the impressive bank of solar panels upon arrival). The chic bathroom most definitely has a regular toilet and even underfloor heating. There’s a heat pump and a well-equipped kitchenette with a fridge (although you’ll likely cook on the big barbecue) and remote control blinds.

Three of the cabins are designed for couples (one has a bath on the deck), and the fourth has a small room with a king bunk, perfect for a couple of kids. The interiors are all about timber and warm tones, with textures and patterns tastefully woven throughout to create a cushion-strewn, very comfortable vibe.

“We’ve used local products as much as possible,” says Josh. Ever-changing local goodness might include freshly ground Excelso coffee, farm eggs and cold Mount Brewing Co beer. “The artwork is by [Pāpāmoa-based artist] Jasmine Kroeze, the sun loungers are from Tauriko’s Danish Furniture and Tauriko Sawmill supplied exterior cedar cladding,” says Delia.

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At one with nature

The cabins bathe in a sun-soaked situation; you can laze on the deckchairs, play games on the lawn or maybe nap in the heat of the day. But you’ll want to explore the natural surroundings before any of that.

Thousands of plants have been added to the property, including kōwhai, kauri, tōtara, and lots of ferns, such as ponga. Sally and Tim have been instrumental in much of this, and look after the property’s ecology.

“We’ve also added lots of ‘establishment plants’, like mānuka, kānuka and flaxes,” says Josh, explaining this creates a safer environment for more endangered trees, making them less susceptible to pests. The birds will be happy about the additions — Watercliff is home to tūī, kererū, kāhu/hawks and kārearea/falcons, and you might hear ruru/morepork song at night too.

In front of the cabins, a track runs alongside the Omanawa River. Laze in the cooling swimming hole or wander to the small beach where, with some morsels of food (leftovers from the barbecue are ideal) and a little patience, you can tempt eels to feast in the shallows — they even wriggle upstream. 

Late in the day, sit on the deck and watch as the sun’s rays filter through the ferns and trees, before it slips behind the soaring cliffs on the far-side of the river. After dark, a short walk uphill into the bush will reward you with a cluster of glow worms.‍

Plans afoot

Future plans include more cabins (the next one will be fully accessible, disabled friendly), and a range of retreats and intimate events with chefs, artists and musicians. “We’re looking at running a mens’ wellness retreat in 2023, as well as yoga retreats,” says Delia, who is a qualified yoga instructor.

For now, Watercliff offers a tranquil escape that feels far from the city, but is right on our doorstep.‍

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Photography Clare Mossong

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