Ruru Room

Port Charles, Coromandel

High up, on a small point near the Coromandel settlement of Port Charles, is a truly special getaway with spectacular views - known as Ruru Room.

Ruru Room is 3-hours and 45-minutes drive from Auckland City, one hour from Coromandel Town, and 40 minutes from Colville.

The accommodation consists of two small cabins - one is for sleeping, living and cooking, and the other is the bathroom - connected to each other by decking walkways. Both are light, bright, tasteful and simple - with everything you need, and nothing you don't.

There are incredible sea views in every direction, but from your bed, you'll enjoy the sun rising over the sea to the East as the tide gently laps the rocks on the beach below. Gannets, seabirds and rays inhabit the bay - with snapper plentiful off the point.

Walk to the grassy summit to a shaded lookout - or down to the rocky beach where you can swim directly from the steps at high tide - or explore rich and diverse rockpools until you reach the water's edge.

Large and established trees surround the cabin and cover the property - primarily pohutukawa, but also puriri, kowhai, lancewood and many, many Nikau. The air is dense with the bird song of tui, kaka, piwakawaka, riroriro and many others. As the evening descends, you’ll hear the distinctive call of the ruru (morepork).

Ruru Room is a quietly dramatic property - with spectacular and subtle aspects combined to create a uniquely secluded, and peaceful, place to be.

FROM $280 p/n

Sleeps 2

Directions

Make sure you download or print this handy info sheet with directions and host contact details prior to your journey. You may not have mobile reception at all times.

There are occasionally temporary road closures and diversions on the road to Port Charles due to roading maintenance and events. We suggest checking the NZTA road closures website before you leave to help you plan your trip.

Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive to Ruru Room will be on an unsealed gravel road.

Access to Ruru Room, once you arrive, is via a steep gravel driveway. Big vehicles such as vans and caravans, are not recommended. You'll need to drive carefully up the drive and parking is available at the top near the steps to the cabin.

address

1578D Port Charles Road Port Charles 3584

directions

There are two options for getting to Ruru Room in the Coromandel...

1) Get a ferry from Auckland to Coromandel and then a shuttle to the property.

2) Drive. If you choose to drive, detailed instructions follow below.

Ruru Room is 3 hours and 45 minutes drive from Auckland City, one hour from Coromandel Town, and 40 minutes from Colville. Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive will be on an unsealed gravel road. Make sure you stop to buy provisions in Thames or Coromandel. There is a store in Colville, but the selection is limited.

Follow the Google Maps directions to the address.
Once you arrive at the address, you'll see a steep right-of-way at a corrugated iron Kereru and microwave letterbox. Turn on to this right-of-way. You may need to open and close a gate at the top. Continue down the steep right-of-way, driving carefully near the bottom where there is a drainage hump, and past the old wrecked 4WDs… Ruru Rooms entry is the wide metal gate directly ahead of you.
There is a gate lock and a lockbox with keys to Ruru Room - both require codes. We'll send the codes to you 5 days prior to your stay in a pre-arrival email.

Note: If you have booked within 5 days and haven't received a pre-arrival email shortly after booking, please email us at [email protected].

important arrival and parking instructions

Once you've arrived, proceed up the driveway
The drive is steep, so please drive very slowly, letting your vehicle drive gently so as not to rut and disperse the gravel.
At the top, it is best to drive past the flat area on the right and then reverse onto the flat area, that way your boot will be near the steps to the cabin.
When driving out, be careful of the corner back onto the drive, better to do the turn in two sections unless you have a very tight turning circle.

Ruru Room

What time is check-in and check-out?

Check in: 3pm - 7pm (or later by arrangement)
Check out: 11am

What are the bed and bedding arrangements?

Ruru Room is perfect for a couple, sleeping 2 people in a queen-size bed.

Duvet and pillows are 100% down, with a waffle cotton duvet cover. Linen is 1000 thread count, 100% cotton. There are extra blankets available in the antique chest.

What are the kitchen and cooking facilities?

The kitchen facilities are in the main cabin and include a stainless counter and a sink and hot water. A two-burner gas hob and electric oven are provided for cooking. In the cabinetry under the counter are two under-counter refrigerators. A blender, toasted sandwich maker and toaster are also supplied.

All the pots, pans and utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided.

Some pantry basics are supplied - olive oil, salt and pepper.

What are the bathroom facilities?

The bathroom facilities are in a separate building a few metres from the main cabin and include a hot shower with good pressure, a flushing toilet and a basin and countertop with mirrors.

Water pressure is solid and pump-fed from rain-water tanks but careful usage to conserve water would be appreciated during the summer months.

Towels are provided.

Is there power?

Ruru Room has full mains power, lighting and a variety of outlets to charge devices.

Is there mobile phone reception?

Spark has coverage on the property- at the top tip of the point and along the sea-ward path, the

coverage is good to excellent. On a clear day coverage can be good in the cabin and the outer-
most points of the deck have fair coverage also.

One NZ, sometimes gets erratic and weak coverage on the property- especially at the sea-ward
end. One NZ can sometimes get fair signal at the road junction to Carey rd, some kms back from
Ruru Room, and further back up the hill on the main road towards Coromandel.
We do not know for certain other service providers, although judging by coverage maps,
2Degrees looks okay, Skinny looks poor and Warehouse Mobile looks unclear .

What sort of heating is there?

There are small electric fan heaters available for warming up in cooler weather, and both buildings are fully insulated with wool insulation.

There are extra blankets available in the antique chest by the bed.

Can I have an outdoor fire?

There are no outdoor fires allowed at Ruru Room.

CAN CHILDREN STAY AT Ruru Room?

Ruru Room is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site. The one exception to this rule is for non-mobile babies under 6 months with BYO bedding and portacot. If you are bringing your non-mobile baby, you'll need to mention this in the comments box when you book.

If you're looking for a safe family-friendly glamping site, select the family icon in the search bar on our 'find your escape' page to easily find them.

Can I bring my dog?

Ruru Room has a 'no dog' policy (with no exceptions).

If you're looking for dog-friendly glamping, check out some of our other Canopy Camping Escapes sites that welcome dogs - you can select the 'dog-friendly' filter in the search bar to easily find them.

How private and remote is Ruru Room?

Ruru Room is very private, with only a few faint signs of other habitation from the cabin.

At the back of the property, looking south, you can make out the roof of the closest neighbour below, and catch glimpses of a gravel road and a few partial sites of small bachs.

From the cabin deck, you'll see a handful of small houses far in the distance across the bay, in Port Charles. To the North is the glorious open sea and landscape.

What is the access like and where do I park my car?

Note that the final 30 minutes of your drive to Ruru Room will be on an unsealed gravel road.

Is there parking so I can bring my boat?

Yes. There are plenty of options for storing a boat during your stay at Ruru Room, although none are undercover. The property is secure in that there is a gate with a lock.

There is a flat (although rather weedy) area just inside the gate. There is also a large flat area halfway up the drive and the flat area just behind the cabin is long enough to park both boat and vehicle.

What do I need to bring?

Food and drink - make sure you bring all the food and drink you need for your stay
Warm clothes - it can be chilly in the mornings and at night when stargazing
Shower and bath toiletries.
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Beach towels for taking off the property for swimming

What are the safety considerations?

This is a steep property in areas, and often over-grown, so caution and diligence are advised.
The deck’s outermost corners are a little over a metre and above agapanthus, so caution needs to be taken.
The short walkway between bathroom and cabin is raised and, as yet, foliage has not established at its sides - please be cautious and turn on the outside light at night.
The pathway to the sea is steep in places with steps that are steep. Although robustly constructed, please be mindful as the land on either side is steep and loose. The final steps to the water's edge are a rope ladder down a relatively steep bank, you'll need to take it easy and watch your step.

Can I stay for one night only?

All Year Round:

Sorry! Ruru Room has a standard minimum stay period of 2 nights with no exceptions.

Public Holiday Weekends:

The minimum booking period for long weekends such as Labour Weekend, Anniversary Weekend, etc is 3 nights. The minimum booking period for Easter is 4 nights. There are sometimes longer minimum stay periods across Christmas and New Year and these will be specified in the online availability calendar.

Minimum Nights

All Year Round:

Ruru Room has a standard minimum stay period of 2 nights with no exceptions.

Public Holiday Weekends:

Rates

All Year Round:

The nightly rate is $280 for up to two people.

Non-mobile infants under 6 months with their own portacot and bedding are free of charge.

Gift Vouchers

Give the gift of glamping! Gift Vouchers are available for use at any of our Canopy Camping Escapes glamping sites. These are provided in electronic format, for you to print out and pop in a greeting card for the lucky recipient. Read more about our gift vouchers, including how to purchase one, here.

3. Guest cancellations and date changes

3.1 Your 10% deposit (or 10% of the value of your stay if you have paid in full) is non-refundable, however it can be transferred to another booking made within 12 months of the date of confirmation of your original booking, if you cancel your stay more than 21 Days prior to your check-in time.

3.2 Cancellation or date changes by you that are between 3 and 21 Days prior to your check-in time will result in 50% of the total cost of your stay being charged. Cancellation or date changes made 3 Days (72 hours) or less prior to your check-in time will result in 100% of the total cost of your stay being charged.

3.3 Date changes made more than 21 Days prior to your check-in time are allowed without forfeit of any amounts paid.

3.4 Force Majeure

You are entitled to a full refund if you need to cancel for the following reasons:

Road closure. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, a road on your route to your accommodation is designated by Waka Kotahi as closed or for essential travel only, and there is no detour, or the detour adds more than two hours to your travel according to the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner.
Metservice RED Weather Warning. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, the Metservice has issued a RED warning/forecast in either your home region or the region of your accommodation, for either the day of your arrival or departure.
Natural disasters in New Zealand. Natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other severe and abnormal natural events causing large scale disruption of essential services and/or transport, specifically impacting your travel to or from your accommodation.

4. Host Cancellations

4.1 Exceptional or unforeseen circumstance

Hosts reserve the right to cancel a booking at any time in the event of exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. This right will only be exercised in good faith and in exceptional circumstances such as:

(a) Any alteration to the property or its surroundings which may pose a safety risk for the guest.

(b) Unexpected damage or destruction at the property.

(d) Our relationship with the Host ends for any other reason.

In the unlikely event a Host cancels under this clause, the guest may elect to receive a full refund or to credit the booking to another available date or Escape. The Host’s liability will be limited to the refund of amounts paid for any part of your stay that is cancelled.

4.2 Cancellation for breach

Hosts may terminate a booking at any time if they, or we, reasonably believe that there is, or has been, a breach of these Booking Conditions by you or any guest or visitor. Where a Host cancels under this clause, all amounts paid are forfeited and, where such termination occurs during the rental period, you and all guests and visitors must immediately leave the property.

5. safety and hazards

5.1 Accommodation is often situated on working farms and there are hazards both natural and man-made. You accept that you, and any guests or visitors, enter the property at your own risk.

5.2 Participation by you and any guests or visitors in activities, such as, outdoor baths, climbing trees, walking on the property and any other activity on the property, is done so at your and their own risk.

5.3 To the extent permitted by law, neither we nor the Host accept any liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury during your stay.

6. pets

No pets are allowed unless otherwise specified on the Website listing. Most accommodation is situated on working farms and therefore are not suitable for visiting pets.

7. GST

GST of 15% (where the accommodation is GST-registered) is included in the daily per night cost. A tax receipt will be supplied by Canopy Camping Escapes if requested.

8. conditions of occupancy and conduct

8.1 Guests have a licence to occupy the Property for the paid holiday period only. You are responsible for ensuring that you and they arrive no earlier than the check-in date, and leave no later than the check-out time, specified on the Website.

8.2 You are required to, and must ensure that all guests and any approved day visitors, observe the rules and procedures in relation to the property:

Specified on the Website.
Contained in the information folder provided at the property.

8.3 You must, and must ensure that all guests and any approved visitors, take all reasonable and proper care of the property and its furniture, fittings and effects and leave them in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period. Where the property has not been left in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period, you will be required to pay an additional cleaning cost of $100 which may be charged to the credit or debit card used at the time of booking.

8.4 You are required to inform Canopy Camping Escapes of any damage or breakage occurring during the rental period in or around the property promptly so that it can be repaired and replaced for the next booking. You must reimburse the Host for the reasonable costs of replacement or repair of any damage caused by you or any guests or visitors and such costs may be charged to the credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) used at the time of booking.

8.5 You must ensure that any access information in relation to a property (including any access codes, location of keys, etc) is kept confidential and not disclosed to any person.

8.6 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the properties.

8.7 The Host may access the property during the rental period to the extent reasonably necessary to undertake repairs or replacement or where we or the Host have reason to believe these Booking Terms are not being complied with.

8.8 The number of guests staying at the Escape overnight must be the same as the number of guests included in the booking. Any day visitors must be approved by the Host prior to your stay. No overnight visitors are permitted.

8.9 You and all guests and any approved day visitors must behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Host, the Property, other guests and neighbouring properties and neighbours, and Canopy Camping Escapes’ staff and representatives.

9. Complaints

If you have any complaints, please contact us promptly at [email protected] with details of the complaint. As the agent of the Hosts we will be the initial contact between you and the Host but may need to put you in direct contact to resolve any issues.

10. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, as agent for the Hosts, we have no liability, to you or any other person, in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise:

for the acts or omissions of the Hosts; or
under or in relation to these Booking Conditions or your stay,

Your rights are against the Host, not Canopy Camping Escapes.

If, for any reason, Canopy Camping Escapes has any liability to you under or in relation to these Booking Terms or your stay, to the extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the 20% of the amount paid by you in relation to the relevant booking.

Any liability the Host has to you under or in relation to these Booking Conditions or your stay is, to the extent permitted by law, limited to refund of amounts paid by you for the relevant booking and shall not extend to any other costs or loss incurred by you or any guest or other person.

11. Gift vouchers

Gift vouchers expire if not redeemed within 2 years of purchase. If a booking paid for using a gift voucher is cancelled, any refund will be by way of a gift voucher with the same expiry date as the original gift voucher. Gift vouchers are not refundable or redeemable for cash and cannot be transferred or on-sold.

12. Law

These Booking Conditions are governed by New Zealand law and the New Zealand courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

13. Changes to booking conditions

We may amend these Booking Conditions at any time. Any changes shall apply to bookings made from the date of such changes. You are responsible for familiarising yourself with these Booking Conditions each time you make a booking.

14. Authority to sign

As the person who completes the Booking Form, you certify that all information provided is true, accurate and correct and that you: are authorised to agree to the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date; are over eighteen years of age; agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property and shall ensure that they (and any approved visitors) comply with these Booking Conditions; and will notify us if you are not present at the property for the rental period.

Eating and Drinking

Ruru Room has all the facilities you need to self-cater. Just bring your own food, and prepare meals in the kitchen space. There is a gas cooktop and electric oven for cooking and you'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.

Dining options are few and far between, but you'll find a cafe at the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat which is occasionally also open for dinners. There are also a couple of cafes in Colville (40 minutes away) and a broader range of options in Coromandel Town (1 hour away).

If you need to pop out for supplies, there is a small store at Colville, but otherwise, you'd be wise to ensure you bring everything you need!
Things to do

Once you arrive at Ruru Room, you won't want to leave, and nor will you need to...

Read, rest and recharge your soul. Hours can be spent relaxing on the cabin deck - watching the light change on the ocean. As night falls, listen to the ruru calling from the trees and even the kiwi calling from the denser bush beyond.

In the morning, head down the path to the sea below for an early morning swim off the rocks. Bring your rod and gear and catch a snapper for lunch! There's a fish bench available behind the bathroom cabin.

If you feel the need to leave the property, a 10-minute walk back up the drive and north along the road brings you to Sandy Bay, a large gentle crescent of golden sand and tepid brine. Along the road to the south is Little Sandy Bay, best visited at high tide, with its rope swing out over the sea. From the right of way, and down a shared path, is the jetty - a good place for fishing and also a great place to park your yacht, or meet your charter boat. A helicopter can land here.

For guided local bushwalks and fishing trips – either land-based fishing or using your own boat – visit Colville Guiding or treat yourself to a horse trek - Colville Horse Treks come recommended by your hosts!
Your Hosts

The owners of Ruru Room are an artist and scientist who are based overseas. For them, Ruru Room represents the perfect synthesis of respite from their busy lives, while offering nourishment for their life pursuits. They say “our place is charged with a resounding and peaceful spirit. With its abundance of unique flora and fauna, this private eyrie is an idyll unlike any we’ve encountered”. The property is a part of the family and they have long-term plans for ecological regeneration.

They have a property manager nearby who will be your point of contact during your stay at Ruru Room if needed.

Testimonials

"
Ruru Room is magnificent. It is truly a gem. The view is absolutely stunning. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. I’m already looking to rebook!
"
- 26 Mar 2024

1 / 12
"
Peaceful and relaxing setting. We felt like we had a complete break from the hustle and bustle of daily life!
"
- 18 Mar 2024

2 / 12
"
Amazing place with the best view!!!
"
- 15 Mar 2024

3 / 12
"
It was very hot in the evenings while we were there and in spite of liberal use of insect repellant the mosquitoes/sandflies were voracious! Insect screens on the kitchen windows would allow some ventilation when these pests drove us inside. The spectacular views were still able to be appreciated from inside, which was great.
"
- 28 Feb 2024

4 / 12
"
A tranquil place, perfect for recharging in stunning scenery. Ruru Room had everything you needed and nothing you didn’t. My husband and I had a wonderful time.
"
- 27 Feb 2024

5 / 12
"
It felt like the perfect escape. So warm and full of beautiful energy.
"
- 22 Nov 2023

6 / 12
"
Ruru Room has an awesome location overlooking Port Charles, a great walk down to the rocks, and everything you need for a relaxing break.
"
- 31 Jul 2023

7 / 12
"
The most peaceful place! It has everything you need, it's very tidy and it's very cosy. Such a lovely place to rest and relax.
"
- 12 Jun 2023

8 / 12
"
Amazing spot to disconnect and relax, very peaceful.
"
- 22 Mar 2023

9 / 12
"
A beautiful bush setting with a stunning view of Port Charles.
"
- 08 Mar 2023

10 / 12
"
Sitting in the Adirondack deck chairs and looking out across Port Charles Harbour was very dreamy and relaxin. Listening to the Ruru at night on the same deck was truly magic.
"
- 02 Feb 2023

11 / 12
"
A beautiful escape that I would absolutely reccomend to anyone. We didn’t want to leave.
"
- 16 Jan 2023

12 / 12

Browse the Collection

Beautiful tents surrounded by nature, quirky cabins with packets of personality and secret hideaways that offer something completely unique... Explore the other places in our collection.

Find your escape

Ruru Room

Ruru Room

Port Charles, Coromandel

Check Availability

Check Availability & Book

Getting There

FAQS

Rates and Extras

Booking Terms

address

directions

important arrival and parking instructions

Ruru Room

Eating and Drinking

Things to do

Your Hosts

Testimonials

Browse the Collection

Searching Escapes