Ridge Country Retreat
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Ridge Country Retreat
300 Rocky Cutting Road Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3175 New Zealand
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About
#26 of 45 hotels in Tauranga
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Tauranga, look no further than Ridge Country Retreat.
Guest rooms offer a refrigerator, and Ridge Country Retreat makes getting online easy as free wifi is available.
In addition, guests can enjoy a hot tub during their visit.
During your visit, be sure to check out Kaiate Falls (1.2 mi), which is a popular attraction within walking distance of the hotel.
The staff at Ridge Country Retreat looks forward to serving you during your upcoming visit.
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Property amenities
Car park
Free internet
Adult pool
Special diet menus
Hiking
Free airport transportation
Spa
Adults only
Wifi
Hot bath
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Fence around pool
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Manicure
Massage
Pedicure
Salon
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
Umbrella
Private check-in / check-out
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Bathrobes
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Seating area
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Walk-in shower
Iron
Private bathrooms
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Boutique
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English
Location
300 Rocky Cutting Road Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3175 New Zealand
Getting there
299 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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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.
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
We spend 4 nights at the retreat over Christmas this year and had a lovely time. We stayed in one of the villas - they are not cheap - so it's a treat, but it felt that we were getting value for money. The rooms are enormous and the outdoor bathtube with thermal water was gorgeous
Comfy bed, modern, huge spanking clean bathrooms and a good sized fridge. The owner was super nice and invited us to his Xmas eve BBQ, which he'd put on for his neighbours. The only suggestion for improvement I'd make is to put sun umbrellas or something similar on the decks, as the sun was very strong and made it impossible to sit outside when we wanted to.
Comfy bed, modern, huge spanking clean bathrooms and a good sized fridge. The owner was super nice and invited us to his Xmas eve BBQ, which he'd put on for his neighbours. The only suggestion for improvement I'd make is to put sun umbrellas or something similar on the decks, as the sun was very strong and made it impossible to sit outside when we wanted to.
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Date of stay: December 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
My wife and I decided on Ridge Country retreat because we wanted to get away and relax after a big build up to our wedding. Being able to relax, swim, use the gym equipment, go for walks, sit by the fire and do nothing was just what we want. Also being close to Tauranga, Papamoa and Mt Maunganui meant we were not to far from a restaurant or shops either. The other thing we loved was the bush retreat atmosphere which meant we were not close to noise, people or traffic, but when we went on trips we were close to a lot of great things to see, Rotorua, Wairere Water Falls and MataMata for Hobbiton just to name a few, let alone the country side.
Thank you David for making our time so special, it was all we hoped it would be.
We are looking forward to being back for anniversary.
Thank you David for making our time so special, it was all we hoped it would be.
We are looking forward to being back for anniversary.
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Ask for one of the villas which over looks the retreat and the valley you won't be...
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.
Stayed for one night last week after we saw a review on an older getaway program on TV maybe 2 years ago. The entrance and driving in, provided some excitement and mystique. The villas were magnificent, very spacious and excellent styled decor, very clean, loved the villas. We found the tv, separate set top box and sky a bit hard to work out from the instructions. The location and views from the verandah and pool were amazing, glimpses of the sea as well, and the lodge itself very nice, spacious, cozy and warm (don't believe other review that it was cold) with open fire and heaters going. A couple of things which would bring it up to luxury standard would be to have a better quality toilet roll, higher quality toiletries, more work in the yard for the weeds, and its time to refresh the coping tiles around the pool, some of the antique furniture looked out of place. Otherwise this lodge would be 5 star, just the little things count. The manager is a really great guy, maybe not the best fit for a 5 star luxury retreat. A cooked brekky would of been the icing on the cake. Quite pricey. Secluded hideaway, not very far from restaurants. They have glow worms!
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: ask for one with the best view, as ours did not have a view.
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.
So we arrived the gate was not operational and the phone number stuck on the intercom to phone in case of problems was not connected. We were greeted by David who showed to us to an icy cold room. We asked about heating and told it would come on at 6.00pm that would be three hours away. David gave us a heater but it took two hours to heat the room. We then phoned David to tell him the heating in the bathroom was not working- he came to have a look but was not sure how it worked as he said that he only been there for two years. Bathroom had industrial size soap half full. The bed was made up of two single beds pushed together with hard linen and lumpy pillows. In the morning David offered to move us to another room where the heating worked but told us this can only be done at 4.00pm. He was under the impression that we should be very thankful that he did this,and told us he hoped this would suit us,as if we were being difficult.But if truth be told we paid $270 for a room that offered so called luxury with heated bathroom floors .At this price you are entitled to get what is being advertised so of course he should move us.It certainly was no special favor but simple common sense.. Honestly these people have no idea how to run a hotel no attention to detail, don’t waste your money going there. By the way I have stayed in 20 better hotels in the last year for business. Seriously its family run with no idea of service or comfort.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Do not stay in main house its an ice block with inappropriate furniture
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 Relaxing4U, Manager at Ridge Country Retreat
Responded 17 Jul 2014
First of all, we would like to thank you for your helpful review. You have expressed some concerns that we’d like to address and let you know our view on them. The gate communications do have a problem on damp days so it is left open when guests are expected to arrive. It was unfortunate that the wind had pushed them shut by the time you arrived. In future, the gates will be locked open to prevent this problem happening again. The phone number on the gate is my mobile number and is well connected. People using telephone providers other than Telecom experience connection issues in this area. The temperature of the lodge is an important consideration and we are grateful that you have bought it to our attention. Your concern with this issue is completely justified and we have taken steps to ensure that all areas of the lodge will be adequately heated at all times of the day in future. The suite bathroom floor heating was set to come on in the late afternoon, so that by about 6pm it would be warm to walk on. The heating had only just switched on when you notified me that you thought it was not working. As I mentioned to you, I was unsure whether the AUTO function of the heating control was working correctly so I switched it to MANUAL to bypass the timer and switch the heating on full-time. The result of this test would have been apparent later in the evening and definitely in the morning. You stated in the morning that the bathroom heating was still not working. On hearing this and on account of this, I let you know that you would be upgraded. You could not be moved into the villa accommodation until the late afternoon as the occupants were not vacating until 3pm. On inspection of your suite’s bathroom heating control, it was noted that it was inexplicably switched away from the MANUAL setting. Subsequent testing on both MANUAL and AUTO settings established that the heating was working as expected. In response to your concern, the timers in all suites have now been advanced to allow for the extra time required to preheat the floors for maximum comfort. To prove that the bathroom floor heating was working, it was heated prior to your departure. When I mentioned to your wife that the heating was in fact working, she indicated that she was not interested. We host retreats of up to 21 days here, hence the reason for having 500ml liquid soap containers in the bathrooms. The reason they are only half full is that we haven’t had any guests require more than 15ml per shower. We are not sure whether you think it is an issue or merely making an observation. Your complaint that the linen was hard and the pillows were lumpy was investigated. The linen is 800 thread count 100% cotton. If you have been to a lot of hotels, you are probably used to 50/50 Polycotton Percale sheeting, which are not as crisp. We keep four pillows in each room, two firm and two soft. Generally guests can decide on a pillow that suits them. There are also two decorative pillows in each room, which have older pillows inside. There was some lumpiness detected in these, however they are for decoration only and not meant to be used for sleeping. The beds are Commercial/Hospitality Grade Super Kings, which are able to be split into two king singles. They are top quality beds. Many high-end hotels use these beds. We hope you were happy with the villa accommodation you were upgraded to. Considering that you spent one of the two nights of your stay in the villa, it’s a bit strange that it doesn’t get a mention. Your late check-out, which you were not charged for, does not indicate any sufferance there. Once again, thank you for highlighting some areas for improvement. You can rest, assured that future guests at RCR will benefit from your review.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wonderful long stay at Ridge Country Retreat over Christmas 2013 and through the New Year. Warm and generous hospitality from David and Lanette. Magnificent views from our room. We stayed in a studio room and moved to a villa when we decided to extend our stay, both very good. We played golf at 6 different courses close to Ridge Country Retreat, Te Puke golf course, our favourite and we were a 7 minute drive from good beaches. Sports massage from Tracy at The Retreat was very good, she is very professional. Lanette was busy in the garden and was creating some beautiful colourful garden areas with colourful exotic plants. We ate at a number of good restaurants a short drive away in Mt Manganui and Tauranga and even went to see the Hobbit second part newly released and visited Hobbiton an hour away. Memorable holiday, would recommend even for a short visit.
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Date of stay: December 2013Trip 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 Relaxing4U, Manager at Ridge Country Retreat
Responded 20 Jan 2014
Thank you so much for spending that time with us, it was a real pleasure to have you. NYE was the big highlight, with bagpipes played down the valley. It was a perfect way to see off the year. Looking forward to seeing you back in Tauranga hopefully soon. All the best.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Possibly one of the worst places I have ever visited. Has the potential to be 5 star, however the place is so run down and nothing like the photos.
The outside pool is constantly full of bugs as the plants are so overgrown. There are deck chairs but no shade. Umbrella stands are there but no umbrellas??
Wasps and ants over run the decking area to the point you can't enjoy yourself and have to go inside.
There is no ability to control heating or cooling in your own room. There is central heating - when the owner remembers to switch it on and then is very noisy.
Guest laundry is in the owners garage downstairs. Its creepy and you have to get past the owners personal stuff to use the washing machine. Extremely guest-unfriendly. And just weird.
Shower has no door on it so water goes everywhere.
Cleaners are pretty terrible. Do the absolute bare minimum. Dont even vaccuum daily.
The owner has no customer service skills and only cares about money.
Do yourself a favour and dont come here. For the price that you pay for this place its a complete waste of money.
The outside pool is constantly full of bugs as the plants are so overgrown. There are deck chairs but no shade. Umbrella stands are there but no umbrellas??
Wasps and ants over run the decking area to the point you can't enjoy yourself and have to go inside.
There is no ability to control heating or cooling in your own room. There is central heating - when the owner remembers to switch it on and then is very noisy.
Guest laundry is in the owners garage downstairs. Its creepy and you have to get past the owners personal stuff to use the washing machine. Extremely guest-unfriendly. And just weird.
Shower has no door on it so water goes everywhere.
Cleaners are pretty terrible. Do the absolute bare minimum. Dont even vaccuum daily.
The owner has no customer service skills and only cares about money.
Do yourself a favour and dont come here. For the price that you pay for this place its a complete waste of money.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Travelled on business
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 Relaxing4U, Owner at Ridge Country Retreat
Responded 19 Apr 2016
Well, where do I start? It's a shame you have nothing nice to say about RCR. My best response is to direct browsers to previous reviews, in the hope that they can see for themselves that yours is highly prejudiced and stems from a personal problem you and some in your group have with me. Others in your group clearly did not feel the same as you. One kind lady even left the cleaners a nice note and present. As always, we take all feedback on board and strive to improve the experience that our guests have here.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at RCR for our wedding anniversary and had a great time. the food was amazing and we got to relax after dinner in front of the log fire. Great service from the team at RCR. The rooms all have great views.
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Date of stay: April 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 rooms , nice pool, but zero service . Breakfast is cold packed in the room and there is absolutely no service on site ( and you cannot cook either) and the place is remote . So yes the rooms are great, but a minimal service is expected at that level of pricing.
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Date of stay: December 2016
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 Relaxing4U, Manager at Ridge Country Retreat
Responded 30 Dec 2016
Thank you for taking the time to review our property. We provide luxury accommodation in a beautiful forested setting 10-15 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Papamoa. If you reserve the villa accommodation, you have the option of an external geothermal bath. The Online Travel Agency (OTA), that you placed your reservation with, openly states that the closest restaurants are in Papamoa and there exists a service (provided by an independent organisation) to have meals delivered from there if so desired. On the OTA website, it is also stated that the breakfast included in the tariff is a Continental breakfast. So, it should come as no surprise to you that there is no room service on site offering food for late arrivals, and that the breakfast is not cooked. The room descriptions state that there is "tea and coffee making facilities", so actually, you cannot cook on site either. Your review is appreciated very much as it emphasizes just how important it is that guests familiarize themselves with the property and its offerings before they arrive.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My first impression driving into Ridge Country Retreat for our yoga retreat was excellent. The landscaping and gardens were beautiful and looked well cared for. It felt a little bit special and my anticipation started to grow. We arrived close to 5pm as the sun was setting and were greeted by David. I wouldn't call him a smooth operator but he was friendly and polite nevertheless. Walking into the lodge's big lounge was lovely with big glass doors looking out to the deck, wonderful gardens, geothermal pool and stunning country view. The lodge had a lovely rustic feel to it. There was a large open fire in the lounge which would have given a great cosy impression if it had been lit before we arrived. We were a little surprised we were unable to swim in the geothermal pool on the first evening as it was being filled and would be ready for the next day. First impression of our suite in the lodge was good as it was a lovely large relaxing room framed by a magnificent view. I did immediately notice the view would have looked so much better if the glass doors had been cleaned. The bathroom was impressive, 5 star, very large with a jacuzzi right next to the window looking out at the view which was one of our highlights. Soaking in the jacuzzi, opening the window, turning the lights out, looking up at the stars and lights of Tauranga in the distance was incredible. The sheets were comfortable but the bed had a little bit of 'roll in'. The room was warm enough when we arrived, having been heated by an oil heater. We turned it off the first night when we went to sleep but it became too cold so kept it on the following night and during the day to keep the coolness out of the room. It was a pleasure to sit by an open fire in the lounge before dinner at 7.30pm which was catered by an excellent chef, 'James'. Fresh, delicious vegetarian meals, including gluten and dairy free options. Yoga started at 7am. Our instructor 'Tanya' was fantastic! Framed behind her through the large doors we enjoyed seeing the sun rise over the gully as we focused on our yoga. Every one of the 5 yoga sessions were different and varied and our instructor caring, calm, helpful and very knowledgeable. Following most yoga sessions we moved into the dining room to enjoy our wonderful meals which seemed to flow nicely and everyone had worked up an appetite. One suggestion would be to have a slightly later yoga session, e.g. 4.30pm on the second day followed by an earlier meal straight after yoga as the time between lunch and dinner at 7pm seemed a little long. There were massages and other The stunning view of the hills and gully while swimming in the geothermal pool were incredible. Even though the pool was warm, it wasn't quite hot enough to sit stationary for long but it felt great to be swimming in a non chlorinated pool. The soak in the hot outside spa afterwards was relaxing. On the last day we drove to an adjacent road, Reid Road for a 20 minute farm walk along to the top of the Papamoa Hills walk starting from Summerhills trails. This is one of the most stunning views overlooking Te Puke, the beach at Papamoa, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga. We came away from the Yoga Retreat buzzing. Our overall experience was excellent. Highlights were soaking in the jacuzzi looking out onto the most relaxing, stunning country views, the revitalising yoga sessions and the delicious healthy meals! We came away from Ridge Country Retreat feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, we would definitely recommend this yoga retreat!
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Pohutakawa room had stunning country views and a jacuzzi with a view in the bathroom.
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 thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at the retreat and felt so rejuvenated afterwards.
The teenagers loved the pool and spa and we had fun exploring the gorgeous gardens and grounds. The rain didn't get in the way of any activities.
The villas were amazing! Loads of space and lots of special treats like fluffy robes and high quality cotton sheets to make us feel like royalty.
The teenagers loved the pool and spa and we had fun exploring the gorgeous gardens and grounds. The rain didn't get in the way of any activities.
The villas were amazing! Loads of space and lots of special treats like fluffy robes and high quality cotton sheets to make us feel like royalty.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip 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.
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"Pohutakawa room had stunning country views and a jacuzzi with a view in the bathroom."Read full review
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LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionTauranga
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ridge Country Retreat
Which popular attractions are close to Ridge Country Retreat?
Nearby attractions include Papamoa Beach (6.3 km), Kaiate Falls (1.9 km), and The Cave Papamoa (7.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Ridge Country Retreat?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a spa, a hot tub, and free internet access.
Which room amenities are available at Ridge Country Retreat?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and a seating area.
Is parking available at Ridge Country Retreat?
Yes, a parking garage is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Ridge Country Retreat?
Conveniently located restaurants include Lantern, The Freeport with Cleaver & Co, and Izakai Bar and Eatery.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Ridge Country Retreat?
Yes, guests have access to a heated pool during their stay.
Does Ridge Country Retreat have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Ridge Country Retreat offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Ridge Country Retreat have airport transportation?
Yes, Ridge Country Retreat offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to Ridge Country Retreat?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Elms | Te Papa (10.0 km), Gate Pa Memorial Reserve (9.4 km), and Brain-Watkins House Museum, Est. 1881 (9.4 km).