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Bushaven
End TeWaiti Stream Road Urutawa Forest,, Opotiki P O Box 417 New Zealand
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About
#4 of 6 campsites in Opotiki
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Comfortable assorted accommodation and camping set in native bush within the Urutawa Scenic Reserve alongside the pristine TeWaiti stream. A range of accommodation, Love shack, Heron cottage, small batches and a small camp ground, all with full utilities. All have decks and use of BBQ's. Several walking,tramping and mountain biking tracks are very close by including The Motu Trails which is 10 minutes ride off the Pakihi track.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Beach
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Non-smoking hotel
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Hidden Gem
Quaint
Location
End TeWaiti Stream Road Urutawa Forest,, Opotiki P O Box 417 New Zealand
Getting there
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
Have just spent 5 days in this unique and special part of NZ with a family group. The hospitality of John and Virginia goes well beyond the usual and made it easy from the time we requested information about Bushaven and the surrounding area to the time we left. Bushaven sits in unquestionably one of the most beautiful places in NZ. It is one of few places that offers a "lodge" experience at an affordable price. The facilites are great. Bushaven is a stunning place just to relax in beautiful surroundings and wth the sun go up and down in the middle of NZ's stunning bush if you want time out. A "must do" is to walk the dramatic and stunning Te Waiti track which you can access directly from Bushaven where you can walk through possibly the largest Nikau forest in NZ, water falls, a very special place john will direct you to before your head on to the track and stunning views of the river and Motu valley - take your togs and have a swim in the river on the way. Walk from the bottom of the Pakahi track to see more NZ bush and listen to the bird song of an abundance of NZ native birds, or take advice from John John's advice and cycle from the Top of the track and do the Motu Road cycle trail and Dunes trail to have a fabulous mix of scenery, exercise, and NZ bush experience.
All this only a few Km from Bushaven where you return each day to great facilities and the luxury of a swim in the river, hot shower and BBQ on the deck and the welcoming hospitality of its hosts.
And all this only a few Km from Opotiki where you can refuel at the local pub, it fantastic bakery, other food outlets, or stock up from the well stocked supermarket and take back to Bushaven to BBQ with a stunning view.
The tracks are easy tramping and challenging but great to cycle.
All in all ,a fantastic place, easily accessible to take time out.
I am reluctant to recommend this place only because of my fear that, now it is on my list of favourite "go to" places in NZ, once fully discovered by local and overseas tourists, I wont be able to get a booking!
The road to Opotiki is great so I would recommend to any one who is looking for a unique and truly fantastic experience of NZ landscape, bush, flora and fauna ato put it on your "must go" list.
All this only a few Km from Bushaven where you return each day to great facilities and the luxury of a swim in the river, hot shower and BBQ on the deck and the welcoming hospitality of its hosts.
And all this only a few Km from Opotiki where you can refuel at the local pub, it fantastic bakery, other food outlets, or stock up from the well stocked supermarket and take back to Bushaven to BBQ with a stunning view.
The tracks are easy tramping and challenging but great to cycle.
All in all ,a fantastic place, easily accessible to take time out.
I am reluctant to recommend this place only because of my fear that, now it is on my list of favourite "go to" places in NZ, once fully discovered by local and overseas tourists, I wont be able to get a booking!
The road to Opotiki is great so I would recommend to any one who is looking for a unique and truly fantastic experience of NZ landscape, bush, flora and fauna ato put it on your "must go" list.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Contact the Hosts. Their advice is excellent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bushaven1, Owner at Bushaven
Responded 12 Jan 2020
Wow, that so much for your praises. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your Bushaven and Motu Trails experiences. Thanks for coming and we hope to see you again. Best regards John and Virginia.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was such a gem. An amazing location right on the Motu Trail and owner John runs a fantastic shuttle service to the top of the track.
The river running past was fantastic and the whole setting must perfect.
We were a group of 7 and rented the house which was wonderful.
We would recommend,and come back for sure.
The river running past was fantastic and the whole setting must perfect.
We were a group of 7 and rented the house which was wonderful.
We would recommend,and come back for sure.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bushaven is the most amazingly beautiful part of the world. Secluded tranquil except for the resident critters... John and Virginia were definitely the perfect host's. The Love Shack was clean and catered for all our needs.
John's local knowledge was interesting and shows his genuine love for this part of the world.
We did the Pahiki trail and throughly enjoyed John's shuttle service through the gorge.
The bikes were great and the trail so damn awesome....felt privileged to have been able to do it. ...
John's local knowledge was interesting and shows his genuine love for this part of the world.
We did the Pahiki trail and throughly enjoyed John's shuttle service through the gorge.
The bikes were great and the trail so damn awesome....felt privileged to have been able to do it. ...
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, a big thank you for kindly telling us about the huge, old kahikatea tree on the Te Waiti walk. We came into your office last week, led to you by a local lady, and you were good enough to stop what you were doing and explain how to find the tree. Which we did! It was fabulous! Thank you SO much. We loved the whole area and will be back
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bushaven1, Owner at Bushaven
Responded 28 Jan 2020
Was a pleasure and appreciate your comments.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amazing location deep in the forest over looking the river. Clean and comfortable. The host John is also a legend and helped out so much with the trail. He can sort you out with all the bikes and shuttles. Epic service, will return
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great shuttle service and accommodation nestled in a beautiful location! John was a helpful and thoughtful guide. Pakihi trail once in a lifetime experience, incredible views. Bushaven was a good base to get up to the trail easily.
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Date of stay: May 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We rented the love shack and a lodge for our group of 12. Bushaven shuttled us to the Pakihi track in good quality comfortable vans. The accomodation is backpacker style in very clean comfortable rooms. Second stay, cant wait to make it a third.
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Backcountry lodge for bikers walkers and people who enjoy the outdoors.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bushaven, Owner at Bushaven
Responded 24 Oct 2016
Thanks Phil, see you next time for your next Bushaven experience. John n Virginia
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bush Heaven is a natural place for my family to stay, we stayed there for three nights in the beginning of January this year, one of the walk ways is Te Waiti track, there are lots of moss waterfalls along the trip, we went through the river bed, and passed different types of forests, and across the river. It was great trip. The beauty of this place is that you can see the starts clearly on the sky, watch the Glowworms, swim in the cool river, and also listen to the kiwi singing close your house at night, not many of the places in New Zealand can have all of these wonders (see attached photos for me to make postcard for this area). The Love Shack is a wonderful place to stay. Virginia & John are great Hosts, and gave us lots of information for how to traveling around this areas, also John had helped us to pass safely for the ford, I have told all my friends to choose thi space for holidays, and I myself will come again....
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Depend on how many people, they provided all kinds of accommodations, scudding small family,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bushaven, Manager at Bushaven
Responded 20 Mar 2014
Hi Yanbin, thanks so much for your very kind comments, we look forward to helping you and your friends/family, to again, enjoy our Bushaven experience, regards John and Virginia.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Some people called this place a hidden gem and we could not agree more. The hosts were lovely and full of local knowledge, and the camp site was quiet, clean and had great facilities. We were only supposed to stay one night but loved it so much we added another night. The kids loved it, especially floating down the river. Would definitely go back.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from john maynard, Owner at Bushaven
Responded 7 Jan 2021
Thanks for the kind comments, we are pleased you had a great time. John and Virginia
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I highly recommend Motu Trails Hire & Shuttle. Great service from John; from initial contact (calling me back and coordinating pickup), to the knowledgeable history commentary on the Motu area, to the safety breifing, and to the tip/tricks on a good Pakihi Track MTB experience. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bushaven1, Owner at Bushaven
Responded 5 Feb 2019
Thnaks for taking the time to review us, appreciate
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, Yes we do mountain bike hire at $65 per day, per bike. We also offer a shuttle service. Only hunting dogs with a permit that have been kiwi aversion trained are allowed in the forests, sorry, no pets allowed.
"Campers don't need to bring much as there are great facilities and undercover eating / kitchen area"Read full review
"Heron lodge has seperate living room and bathroom with rooms accessed from the front deck."Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionOpotiki
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Bushaven
What are some of the property amenities at Bushaven?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, free parking, and airport transportation.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Bushaven?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Bushaven have airport transportation?
Yes, Bushaven offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Bushaven accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.