December 2023 marked a major milestone for Te Aka — welcoming the first guests and installing the roadside signs that officially made the retreat part of the Nelson Creek landscape.
After years of planning, building and restoring the land, December 2023 marked a turning point.
The first guests arrived.
Until then, Te Aka had been drawings, engineering plans, timber, tools, traplines and long weekends in the bush. Suddenly, it was something else entirely — a place being experienced as intended.
Guests explored the property on foot. Walked the forest tracks. Discovered tunnels. Stretched out in hammocks beneath the canopy. Cooked meals with local produce. Sat on the deck at night listening to birds and breeze through the trees.
The feedback confirmed what Lisa and Dave had hoped for.
“Wow is an understatement.”
“Our stay here was really one of a kind.”
“Up in the trees.”
“If you want to feel like you are at one in your own forest world, this is the place.”
Early reviews spoke of thoughtful design, warmth, comfort and connection to the surrounding bush. Guests commented on the sense of privacy, the quality of the build, and the feeling of being immersed in native forest while still enjoying modern amenities.
For Lisa and Dave, those first reviews meant more than five stars. They signalled that the long hours, careful decisions and commitment to doing things properly had translated into something people genuinely valued.
Te Aka was no longer just a family project.
It was hosting.
It was welcoming.
It was alive with stories beyond their own.
A chance for others to build a relationship with the land here and become a part of the ecosystem.
And that, in many ways, was the real beginning.
Around the same time, the signs went up.
Making sure Te Aka Treehouse Native Forest Retreat was easy to find — and easy to arrive at without stress — mattered. But the day the signage was installed was about more than practicality.
It was momentous.
For Lisa and Dave, it cemented their resolve. They had worked hard to bring this vision to life — from purchasing the land to restoring the forest, building thoughtfully and preparing the retreat for visitors. Seeing the name standing roadside made it real in a new way.
They could now confidently invite others to experience something truly unique in the place they have loved for over 25 years.
When Lisa first moved to Nelson Creek, a dear old local said to her, “Nelson Creek is a mighty great place to live.”
December 2023 was the moment Lisa and Dave began sharing that truth with others.
The ultimate West Coast escape — off-grid, indulgent, unforgettable. Your space to rest, reconnect, and explore untamed wilderness.