Whiskey Creek Cabin is 1 hour and 45 minutes from Central Auckland, 1 hour from Tauranga and just a 5-minute drive to the town of Waihi and 3-minutes drive to the beautiful Karangahake Gorge.
The cabin is set on a small 'hobby farm' - complete with a handful of sheep, fruit trees and native trees - which attract copious native birds. A pretty stream runs directly in front of the cabin.
The cabin has an enclosed bedroom with a king-size bed at one end and a luxurious enclosed bathroom at the other. A semi-enclosed living and kitchen area is between the two, protected by the weather with large dropdown clear blinds. These fully retract - providing a connection to the natural surroundings beyond.
Whiskey Creek Cabin offers glampers a peaceful retreat from the modern world. Spend your day exploring the walks and cycle trails of the Karangahake Gorge, and in the evening, toast marshmallows over the fire - before a candlelit soak in the deep couples bath... Then drift off to sleep with the sounds of the trickling stream and the call of the morepork... Bliss.
FROM $285 p/n
Whiskey Creek Cabin is 1 hour and 45 minutes from Central Auckland and just a 5-minute drive to the town of Waihi.
To get there, follow the Google Maps directions to 205 Waitekauri Road, Waihi. Detailed arrival instructions will be provided in a pre-arrival email 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 - between 3pm - 8pm (or later by arrangement)
Check-out - is by 11am
The cabin sleeps up to 2 people in a king-sized bed.
Full linen, towels, and bedding are supplied. The sheets are 100% organic Egyptian cotton, and there is a linen duvet cover and a wool duvet inner supplied.
The kitchen is in a semi-outdoor portion of the cabin with dropdown plastic blinds for weather protection. It has a sink with gas hot water, a gas hob top for cooking, and all cooking utensils (pots, pan, knives, forks, spoons, etc) provided.
Cool food storage is via a gas-powered chilly bin.
Some pantry basics are supplied - oil, salt, pepper, plunger coffee (organic) and TiOra Tea.
The cabin has an indoor bathroom with a vanity, a pleasant-to-use composting toilet, and a luxurious 'couples' bath. An outdoor shower is just around the side corner of the cabin. There is instant gas hot water for the bathroom and shower.
There is no mains power to the cabin.
Indoor lighting is supplied via rechargeable lanterns. There are 5 lanterns are provided and will be fully powered for your use. There are two battery-powered standing lights in the bathroom and Amberjack candles for mood-setting and a gorgeous smell.
There are also solar outdoor string lights and solar garden lights.
There is good mobile reception and a battery pack is supplied for charging phones.
The cabin contains a wood burner for cooler weather and a fire pit outside.
Whiskey Creek Cabin 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!
Whiskey Creek has lots of warm bedding, a wood-burner in one hut, and a fire pit. But 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.
Whiskey Creek 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.
Whiskey Creek Cabin has a strict 'no dog' policy (with no exceptions).
There is other accommodation on the same property, but this is set 100m away from the cabin. The hosts' driveway runs past the cabin and you may be aware of the odd car coming and going from time to time.
Whiskey Creek Cabin is only 5 minutes drive from the town of Waihi, but feels well away from the hustle and bustle.
Access to the cabin is via a 200m driveway which is suitable for 2-wheel drive vehicles.
You'll be able to drive up to the cabin and park right beside it and you're welcome to come and go from the property as much as you like.
Whiskey Creek Cabin is set on a lifestyle block, so for the safety of all concerned, it’s very important to follow the safety guidelines and terms that you’ll find in our booking terms and in your Welcome Guide on site. These terms and guidelines include:
Weekends and Peak Season:
There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday nights) and during the peak season (20 Dec - 31 Jan).
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 for Whiskey Creek Cabin.
Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies outlined below for Whiskey Creek.
Weekends and Peak Season:
There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday nights) and during the peak season (20 Dec - 31 Jan).
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 is $285* for up to two people.
Infants under 6 months with their own portacot and bedding are free of charge.
*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.
Whiskey Creek Cabin is self-catering. Just bring your own food, and cook meals using the facilities provided within the cabin. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
If you want a break from cooking at any stage, Falls Retreat (open for lunch and dinner) in the Karangahake Gorge and the Thai Lemon Grass in Waihi come recommended by your hosts!
The closest supermarket is a 6-minute drive away in Waihi.
With board games, magazines, books, and a luxurious 'couples bath' provided - you'll find there is plenty to keep you entertained at the cabin.
If you're keen to get out and about, the Karangahake Gorge is a 3-minute drive away and has many beautiful walks and bike tracks to explore. The Owharoa waterfall in the gorge is just gorgeous and a great visit for an Insta snap! Waihi Beach is a 15-minute drive away.
Your hosts at Whiskey Creek are Holly & Lisa.
Lisa, now retired, spends her days indulging in her passion for horses, but she also lends a helping hand to Holly, who wears many hats. Holly manages everything – from maintaining the lawns to ensuring impeccable cleanliness and handling bookings.
The creation of the cabin just happened, and once it was built, they found Canopy Camping Escapes to manage their bookings! A second lovely accommodation has been built since, called The Cowshed (perfect for families!)
The name 'Whiskey Creek' is a nod to Lisa's dad, a whiskey enthusiast, who playfully insisted on a name that didn't remind him too much of Holly's beloved 'hippie' lifestyle. The name perfectly encapsulates the blend of rustic charm and tranquil beauty that makes their property so special.
We had a lovely relaxing weekend at Whiskey Creek. Birdsong, cute lambs, and peace & quiet. The big bath was lovely and the indoor/outdoor flow of the living and cooking areas meant we felt very connected to the outdoors.
"Steph Oberholzer - 11 Nov 2024
1 / 12
Whiskey Creek was the perfect setting to unwind and reconnect with your partner. Quiet enough to enjoy each other's company, but also close enough to activities if you wanted to leave and do things.
"Courtney Lavis - 11 Nov 2024
2 / 12
Great spot, it was very peaceful and tranquil. Loved every moment!
"Shalini Norman - 12 Oct 2024
3 / 12
Whiskey Creek was a wonderful getaway. It was beautiful to be able to switch off and connect with each other. It was the most relaxed we have been in a while.
"Hazel Burroughs - 08 Oct 2024
4 / 12
A great space for me and my darling. Relaxing and cosy!
"Jordan Fox - 30 Sep 2024
5 / 12
We had the most amazing stay at Whiskey Creek; everything was perfect. It was such a wonderful and peaceful break, and we wouldn’t hesitate to book again.
"Torzie Taylor - 20 Sep 2024
6 / 12
The drive to the cottage is exceptionally pretty, as is the property. It’s woodsy and cosy, and we loved the addition of the hotties and the old-fashioned bath. The closeness to the gorge was great, and the Paddock to Plate evening at the Falls Retreat was indeed a real treat (five minutes from the cottage).
"Eva Anselmi - 07 Aug 2024
7 / 12
Great off-grid lodge cabin with excellent facilities, including an all-weather bath for two. Log fire heating and gas cooking facilities. The double bed was very comfortable and warm. Highly recommend.
"Adrian Padfield - 24 Jul 2024
8 / 12
Lovely spot with the sound of the stream. I loved having the front drop-downs open to give a real sense of living in the outdoors whilst enjoying the luxuries of a bed, bath, and warmth. The hosts are fantastic and have the cabin set up just right for comfort, cooking needs, etc.
"Rachel Ziesler - 24 Jul 2024
9 / 12
Had a lovely weekend at Whiskey Creek, reading by the fire and exploring the walkways around Karangahake Gorge.
"Helena Orr - 10 Jul 2024
10 / 12
Whiskey Creek was an idyllic setting, perfect for a city escape for a few days. The mix of semi and fully enclosed living was a gorgeous way to enjoy the weather and make the most of being off-grid. Would definitely recommend for a relaxing weekend away!
"- 29 Apr 2024
11 / 12
My wife and I really enjoyed our stay here at Whiskey Creek. It was a perfect place for our wedding anniversary. The fire was amazing and cosy. Wished we could have stayed longer!
"- 10 Apr 2024
12 / 12
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