River's Edge Retreat is unique accommodation set in the Ruakokoputuna Valley, just out of Wairarapa wine village, Martinborough and right in the centre of the Wairarapa's new Dark Sky Reserve.
River's Edge has two separate luxury tents on the property both positioned in different private spots on the edge of a quiet, tree-lined river that runs through the farm. This listing is for Ruru Tent, the original tent at River's Edge Retreat. The second tent on the property is known as Te Awa Tent.
The front of the tent has a large glass frontage, offering a beautiful riverside view.
With touches of recycled timber, luxurious textiles and an old chandelier, the tent interior has a rustic chic glamping vibe. A king-sized bed, deer hides, large vintage leather sofa and a wood burner stove come together to create a warm, comfortable, relaxing space in the cooler months.
The tent has an ensuite bathroom with piping hot water and flushing toilet. A second doorway leads to a small but functional kitchenette.
River's Edge is the best kind of luxury accommodation. It's the ideal place for those looking to enjoy a weekend escape, celebrate an anniversary, or relax with a post-wedding wind-down. Breathe the country air and immerse yourself in nature. Soak in the outdoor bath overlooking the river and countryside. Enjoy the pleasure of a glass of good Martinborough Pinot while dining al fresco under the stars. Relax in your plush, comfortable king-size bed and let the sound of the river lull you to sleep...Bliss.
FROM $295 p/n
239 Ruakokopatuna Road, Martinborough 5781
River's Edge Ruru Tent is a 1 1/2 hour drive from Wellington and 45 minutes from Masterton in the Wairarapa.
Follow the Google Maps directions to the address, 239 Ruakokoputuna Road. You must then refer to the detailed arrival instructions, which guide you from the road to your tent. The detailed arrival instructions were sent to you in the 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
**If you are arriving in a large motorhome (over 5 metres long) or a motorbike, please advise your host when you receive contact details 5 days prior to your stay**
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].
Check-in: From 3pm (please advise host in advance if you wish to arrive after 7pm)
Check-out: By 10am
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has one large wooden framed luxury tent, sleeping two people in a king-size bed.
Full linen, towels and bedding are supplied. The sheets are 100% Egyptian cotton with a wool duvet.
Extra blankets are provided to keep you warm on cooler nights.
The camp kitchen has a gas ring for cooking and bench space for food preparation. A weber BBQ is also provided. All the pots, pans and utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided. A chilly bin with ice packs is provided for cool food storage. Hot water is supplied by a gas califont.
Some pantry basics are provided - tea, coffee, salt, pepper and cooking oil.
The tent has an ensuite bathroom accessible from inside the tent, with a flushing toilet, basin and shower. Hot water is supplied by a gas califont. There is also an outdoor bath down at the river's edge.
Towels, handwash and bodywash are provided.
Rivers Edge provides an authentic glamping experience and is completely off grid with no electric power source. Lanterns are provided for lighting during your stay.
For guest convenience, we recommend that guests bring their own portable chargers. However, if you need to charge your phones or devices during your stay, please contact your hosts prior to arrival to arrange this (contact details will be sent in the pre-arrival email 5 days prior to your arrival).
Mobile phone reception is available on the property up the hill from the tent.
For guest convenience, we recommend that guests bring their own portable chargers. However, if you need to charge your phones or devices during your stay, please contact your hosts prior to arrival to arrange this (contact details will be sent in the pre-arrival email 5 days prior to your arrival).
There is a wood burner stove inside the tent which provides warmth for the cooler evenings.
Extra blankets are also provided.
No, there are no outdoor fires allowed at Rivers Edge Ruru Tent.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is open for winter stays, but bear in mind that you're booking an off-grid escape - without the usual luxuries of a fully powered home. Glamping is still a form of camping!
River's Edge Retreat has lots of warm bedding, a wood burner in the tent, and lots of other elements to make your stay cosy and atmospheric. If you book a stay in winter, bring your sense of adventure, brush up on your fire-lighting skills, and be prepared for the elements!
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site.
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.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent has a 'no dog' policy, and it's not suitable to bring your horse.
If you're looking for animal-friendly glamping, check out some of our other Canopy Camping Escapes sites that welcome dogs or horses - you can select the filter in the search bar to easily find them.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is very private. Tucked well into the property, you'll feel like you're a million miles from anywhere with just the sound of the river, the birds and the occasional sheep baaa.
You can drive your vehicle right up to the tent via a gravel farm track.
You're welcome to come and go from the property as often as you please.
** If you are arriving in a large motorhome (over 5 metres long) or a motorbike, please advise your host when you receive contact details 5 days prior to your stay **
Most of our stays are nature-based with components of outdoor living, and Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is no exception. Because of this, you may be exposed to various creatures and critters that you wouldn't usually find at your average hotel or motel.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is a working sheep and beef farm, with hazards both farm related (ie. machinery and animals) and natural (ie. Ongaonga/stinging nettle). You'll need to exercise caution, as there are specific water hazards, such as troughs and the river in front of the tent. For your own safety please do not touch any farm machinery, and do not enter the woolshed or other buildings on the property.
Weekends and Main Summer Holidays:
There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday night) and during the main summer holiday period (20 December - 28 February).
Please note that during this period single nights are only allowed where there is a one night gap between bookings. One night gaps between bookings will be made available to book online.
Weeknights:
Single nights can be booked during the week (Sunday - Thursday nights) outside the periods specified above.
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.
Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies outlined below for River's Edge Ruru Tent.
Weekends and Main Summer Holidays:
There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday nights) and during the main summer holiday period (20 December - 28 February).
Please note that during this period single nights are only allowed where there is a one night gap between bookings. One night gaps between bookings will be made available to book online.
Weeknights:
Single nights can be booked during the week (Sunday - Thursday nights) outside the periods specified above.
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.
All Year Round:
The nightly rate for weekends (Friday/Saturday) is $330* for up to two people.
The nightly rate for weeknights (Sunday to Thursday is $295* for up to two people.
*This rate applies for stays of two nights or more.
Single Night Stays:
Where single-night stays are available on the online booking calendar, a higher nightly rate applies. This is to reflect the additional servicing time/costs that single-night stays incur.
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.
3.1 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.
4.1 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.
(c) A death in the Host family.
(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.
5.1 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.
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.
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.
8.1 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:
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.
If you encounter any issues or problems during your stay, you must first contact the Host to try to resolve the issue. The Host should be given the opportunity to address and fix the problem before any further steps are taken.
If you decide to leave the accommodation early due to an issue without first contacting the Host to resolve it, you will not be entitled to compensation. Essentially, if you don’t give the Host a chance to fix the problem, you cannot expect financial reimbursement for leaving early.
If you have a complaint that you'd like to alert Canopy Camping Escapes about after your stay, please contact us promptly at [email protected] with details of the complaint. As an agent, we will be the initial contact between you and the Host but may need to put you in direct contact to resolve any issues.
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:
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.
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.
These Booking Conditions are governed by New Zealand law and the New Zealand courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
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.
Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is self-catering. Just bring your own food and drink, and cook meals using the BBQ and gas ring provided in your private camp kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
If you feel like a meal out, check out the fantastic cafes and restaurants in nearby Martinborough as there are plenty to choose from.
The nearest store for stocking up on food and supplies is in Martinborough, a 10-minute drive away.
Rest and rejuvenation are what a stay at Rivers Edge Ruru Tent is all about. Relax at your tent and watch the changing light on the river directly in front of your tent. Watch the mist lift from the valley in the morning. Take a long hot soak in the outdoor bath or lounge in a hammock with a good book. Connect over a board game or a game of cards.
If you want to get out and about, take a tour of the Martinborough vineyards. There is also Lake Ferry and Camp Palliser which make for an epic scenic drive. Stop on the way at The Land Girl cafe in Pirinoa for hot coffee and a bite to eat.
Visit Wairarapa's version of stonehenge near Martinborough, a NZ interpretation of the famous English landmark. Patuna Farm just up the road, has the amazing Patuna Chasm walk - a nature walk and limestone gorge.
Matt and Nicki Thomas are the owners and hosts of Ruru Tent and started their glamping business "Rivers Edge Glamping" in 2015. It is located on Llandrindod Farm, a sheep and beef farm owned by Matt’s father Rex.
Matt grew up at Llandrindod while Nicki grew up in Karaka, rural Auckland. After returning to NZ from their OE adventures, Matt brought Nicki back to the Ruakokoputuna Valley where they have settled with their two young sons, Ben and Henry. Many summers have been spent enjoying the river and natural beauty of the area.
Glamping was seen as the perfect and exciting opportunity to share the natural environment of the farm while providing a unique and luxurious style of accommodation. Having visitor accommodation close to home fits perfectly with the family’s busy lives, with Nicki and the children often working together to prepare the tents for each guest. On top of keeping up with their children’s extra-curricular activities, Matt has his own farming operation and agricultural contracting business, while Nicki is a lawyer.
Both Nicki and Matt think that Martinborough, especially Ruakokoputuna is a pretty special place - and enjoy sharing it with guests.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at River's Edge Ruru Tent. It has a great location and excellent facilities. We will definitely go back for another stay. We loved it!
"David Chambers - 29 Oct 2024
1 / 12
Nestled in a secluded spot surrounded by nature, it felt like our own private oasis. The luxurious tent was beautifully furnished, but the highlight was the outdoor bathtub.
"Leo Gardiner - 30 Sep 2024
2 / 12
Beautiful spot – even in winter! The bath, nestled in the forest on a starry night. Just beautiful. I would go back again any day.
"Blake & Rilla Currie - 03 Sep 2024
3 / 12
A great place to escape to!
"Hamish Dick - 07 Aug 2024
4 / 12
I booked as a surprise for my mum and dad. They had a lovely time and came back very relaxed. Thank you!
"Francelle McPhee - 31 Jul 2024
5 / 12
Awesome location to reconnect with my better half away from everyday life! Great couple of nights away.
"Henry Gooding - 04 Jul 2024
6 / 12
Incredible spot with such an amazing set-up. Hosts made it such a breeze and set everything up perfectly. Had such a lovely weekend. Thank you!
"Lachlan McGuinness - 14 May 2024
7 / 12
Ruru Tent was in a peaceful spot and loved the sound of the river flowing past. There was no internet; this was great to be able to disconnect. It was fantastic to sit by the fire and read a book. A great way to unwind and relax.
"- 24 Apr 2024
8 / 12
We loved our three night stay here. Very peaceful and quiet. The “tent” is awesome and Nicki couldn’t have been more helpful.
"- 09 Apr 2024
9 / 12
Peaceful surroundings, clean and tidy, and not too hard to find.
"- 01 Apr 2024
10 / 12
This was the perfect child-free getaway for my partner and me. We have never felt so relaxed. The location is absolutely amazing. We thought we would make the most of having no kids and eat out lots, but we ended up buying food to cook at the hut as we loved it and wanted to make the most of our time there. The outdoor bath was the big hit, especially after a refreshing swim in the beautiful river below it. To top off this beautiful weekend away, my partner of 7 years proposed, so Ruru Tent will always hold a special place in our hearts.
"- 15 Mar 2024
11 / 12
Stayed at Ruru Tent for a recent weekend, pure bliss. You know you have had a great time when you are sad to leave! Cannot rate this place highly enough. Chuck the kettle on at 5am, walk over to the river, and watch the sun come up. Great facilities, bath in the bush with hot running water. Got to go back at some point.
"- 27 Feb 2024
12 / 12
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.
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