Explore the Te Aka property on foot and discover the layers of history woven through the land. This guided walk takes you through regenerating forest and wetland, while uncovering remnants of the area’s gold-mining past, including old tunnels and workings hidden within the bush.

Along the way, you’ll learn about the land’s regeneration, local ecology, and how this landscape has evolved over time. It’s a grounding way to orient yourself — connecting past, present, and place.

Hidden in Golden Gully below the treehouse, the wood-fired sauna and spring-fed natural pool offer a powerful reset.

Designed to resemble a historic miner’s hut, the sauna builds deep, steady heat. Step straight from warmth into the cold, clean spring-fed pool. The contrast of heat and cold stimulates circulation, sharpens focus and leaves you feeling grounded and energised.

Sauna Service — $100

• Sauna lit, warmed and ready
• Towels provided
• Sparkling bubbles for refreshments
• Drop-off in the Jimny to Golden Gully
• Ring or text when ready for pickup

Arrive to heat. Leave when you’re ready.

As the day winds down, the boardwalk becomes a natural place to gather — and it’s a highlight included in your stay.

Wander across the raised timber walkway as light shifts across the wetlands and the forest settles into evening. The platform at the far end opens west toward the Paparoa maunga, offering uninterrupted views as the sun drops behind the ridgeline. It’s a simple ritual — a drink in hand, boots off, watching the sky change colour in real time.

When darkness settles, the experience changes completely.

Nelson Creek has minimal light pollution, which means the night sky is sharp and expansive. On clear evenings, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye, stretching overhead in extraordinary clarity. Constellations appear bright and defined, and satellites drift silently across the sky. When solar activity is strong, the Aurora Australis can occasionally be seen dancing low on the southern horizon.

All of this — the sunset, the boardwalk, the night sky above — is yours to enjoy at your own pace as part of your stay.

For those wanting a deeper understanding of what they’re seeing, privately guided stargazing tours are available as an optional experience in collaboration with Southern Skies Experience. Using professional telescopes and expert interpretation, these guided sessions explore the Southern Cross, visible planets, deep-sky objects, and the stories woven through the southern hemisphere sky.

It’s not just about looking up — it’s about perspective.

• Sunset viewing from the boardwalk platform (included in your stay)
• Minimal light pollution for exceptional self-guided stargazing
• Optional professional guided astronomy experience
• Suitable year-round (weather permitting)

Guided Stargazing Tour — $750 for groups of up to 3

Thanks to ongoing predator control and careful stewardship, the forest is active and alive. Kererū move heavily through the canopy, their wingbeats audible as they cross clearings. Tūī and korimako (bellbirds) carry layered birdsong through the bush, especially in the early morning light. Pīwakawaka (fantails) are regular companions along the tracks, flitting close as you walk.

At times, kārearea — the New Zealand falcon — have been seen weaving through the canopy near the treehouse deck. Fast, precise and unmistakable, their presence is a strong indicator of healthy forest habitat.

Birding here happens naturally — from the deck, along the boardwalk, or walking down to Golden Gully. Dawn and dusk are particularly active times.

The long-term vision is to continue strengthening this ecosystem. With sustained predator control and ongoing restoration, the aim is to see even greater bird presence over time. Perhaps kākā will become more regular visitors. Perhaps, one day, even kiwi may return to the wider valley.

It’s not a guarantee.

It’s a direction.

A working forest growing stronger each year.

Step into the darkness and discover what lies beneath the surface of the land.

This guided experience takes you through historic gold mining tunnels carved in the late 1800s, where damp rock walls, underground streams and shifting light create a completely different world to the forest above.

As your eyes adjust, glow worms begin to appear — small, steady points of bioluminescent light scattered across the ceiling like a mid-day Milky Way. An internal waterfall echoes through the tunnel, and the constant flow of water reminds you that this is living terrain, not a staged attraction.

This is not a boardwalk display or commercial cave system. It is raw, West Coast history and ecology intertwined — gold rush relics now reclaimed by moss, water and glow worms.

The experience includes:

• Guided access through historic tunnels
• Underground stream and waterfall viewing
• Glow worm observation in natural habitat
• Context on the mining history of Nelson Creek
• Safety briefing and equipment where required

Conditions are cool, damp and uneven underfoot — part of what makes it real. Appropriate footwear is essential.

This is one of the most unique experiences on the property and is deeply memorable for those willing to step into the dark.

Inquire for bookings.

The forest around Te Aka is alive with fungi and plant life, especially in the cooler, wetter months. Wander slowly, notice what’s emerging, and learn to recognise the diversity of mushrooms and fungi that thrive here.

This experience is about observation and curiosity — tuning into the smaller, often overlooked details that make this ecosystem so rich.

Creativity is an important part of life at Te Aka.

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From time to time, we offer small-group and private art workshops that invite guests to slow down, get their hands dirty, and explore creative expression in a relaxed, supportive environment. These workshops are designed to be accessible to everyone — no prior experience needed — and are guided by the simple idea that creativity is something we all carry.

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Using natural materials, found objects, and traditional art mediums, workshops are shaped by the season, the landscape, and the energy of the group. They may include drawing, mixed media, or nature-inspired creative practices that encourage curiosity, presence, and play.

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Art workshops at Te Aka aren’t about producing a perfect outcome. They’re about process — tuning in, letting go, and allowing something authentic to emerge. A quiet, grounding counterpoint to busy lives and busy minds.

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Workshops are offered on selected dates or by arrangement.
Please enquire when booking if you’d like to include a creative experience during your stay.

Some of the most meaningful moments at Te Aka happen when nothing is planned at all.

Curl up with a book, watch the light move through the trees, soak in the deep bath overlooking the canopy, or sit quietly and listen to the forest. This is a place to rest deeply, reconnect with yourself or each other, and remember the pleasure of unstructured time.