Pihopa Retreat — Hotel in Nelson

I’m not even sure where to even start about Pihopa… so here goes nothing. My fiancé and I have been traveling across New Zealand for two weeks on our honeymoon, making stops all along the South Island before heading to the North. Our accommodations were booked by our travel agent, ranging from really nice hotels to below average motels. Admittedly, I did zero research, trusted my agent, and pulled up to each accommodation with zero expectations in place.

And then… we arrived at Pihopa Retreat in Nelson, New Zealand.

From the moment we stepped onto the property, we were blown away. The grounds are absolutely stunning, the amenities are thoughtful and luxurious, and the rooms are next-level beautiful.

But what truly sets Pihopa apart is Sarah, the owner. She is one of the kindest people we’ve ever met — someone who has an insane eye for detail and genuinely cares about your experience. You don’t just feel like a guest here, you feel like you’re being hosted by someone who’s poured their heart into creating something magical.

Every morning we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast that was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented inside the chapel. Sarah had even arranged our dinner reservations in advance, complete with complimentary transportation to and from the restaurant — something we didn’t expect but deeply appreciated. I don’t even want to go into more detail because I don’t want to give away all the special touches to this magical place!

Pihopa Retreat somehow nails that perfect balance between high-end luxury and the warm comfort of home. I honestly felt like a movie star while staying here. If you’re traveling to Nelson and want an unforgettable experience, this is the place to stay. We’ll never forget it — and we’ll...

My husband, my teen daughter and I stayed for 2 nights following a 3 day hike through Abel Tasman. From my first communications with Sarah, I was anticipating a relaxing stay but was blown away once we actually arrived. We have been fortunate to travel and stay in some amazing places but this retreat is really among the top tier. Sarah is helpful, lovely to communicate with, anticipates every little need or desire before you think to ask. I really could go on and on, we have appreciated some of the amenities here in other properties and still others in stays elsewhere but Sarah took all the niceties (and then some) and tied them all up with a neat bow in this beautiful, serene retreat. Quiet, tasteful, sophisticated suites, complimentary local wines, beverages, homemade sweets, taxi service to local restaurants, fresh breakfast, wine/cocktail hour, parting gifts, really too many thoughtful touches to list. Don't think twice, Pihopa is the epitome of...

How many ways are there to say perfect? The owner Sarah has created an environment of quiet elegance and total guest comfort,. She anticipated and then executed on every aspect of what it takes to make each of the spacious suites perfectly comfortable. The grounds are beautiful, The spa and the exercise room are so well done. Breakfast in the former chapel, drinks and homemade canapés each night by the pool are just the right way to start and end each day. We arrived to find that Sarah had booked restaurants so we did not have to scramble to find and reserve. And complimentary cab service for dinner made travel into Nelson stress free. We will urge our New Zealand bound friends to stay at Pihopa and make it a base for touring not only Nelson but the Abel Tasman National park, only an hour away as well as Blenheim. No way anyone will regret...