ABOUT US
As custodians of this beautiful space we want to welcome you with open arms and invite you
to enjoy this slice of paradise, along with your family and friends.
Katherine & Adam
We are here to share with you our beautiful gardens and provide a dream location for your special day.
Songbird Retreat is a reflection of Katherine’s passion and flair for exterior and interior design. Reforming 4.5 acres of pasture land into a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ that fuse together to create a stunning wedding venue full of charm, tranquillity and natural beauty
OUR STORY
In 2016 Katherine and Adam made the life-changing decision to move their family, including their young daughter Ella-Rose, 2 dogs and 2 cats from a well-established life in Cornwall.
Having previously stumbled across Matakana during their tour of New Zealand they knew that the mix of stunning beaches, amazing rural vistas and exceptionally friendly people was the place they would call home.
Having designed, built and managed several high‑end boutique holiday rental properties in the UK, they wanted to bring their flair for creating luxurious and bespoke venues to New Zealand and when a unique section of undeveloped land appeared on the popular Matakana Coast in 2017, they knew this was their opportunity to create their own slice of paradise.
Immediately identifying the property’s untapped charm and potential, qualified garden and interior designer Katherine set about designing a landscape masterpiece inspired by combining native plants with a more traditional English garden of roses, lavender, arbours, babbling streams, ponds and walkways. With an old potters’ workshop ripe for renovation she set to work transforming this into luxury accommodation with a home-from-home feel.
As friends visited and didn’t want to leave, she realised that something very unique and magical had been created.
Her passion in this project has brought much joy to herself and her family and it is with absolute delight that she opens its doors for others to enjoy and create lifelong memories with family and friends.
OUR LOCATION
Luxurious accommodation and landscapes that are inspired by nature, revive the senses and nourish the soul.
An hour north of Auckland and easily accessible in a prime position along the Matakana Coast sits Songbird Retreat. This is exclusivity at its best, just 10 minutes from the hub of Matakana Village, 2mins from Matheson Bay beach and yet completely private from the outside world.
Extensive landscaped gardens set in a north facing stunning valley surrounded by trees and native bush and only a few minutes from a delightful boardwalk to the turquoise waters of Matheson Bay beach.
This iconic coast and country location is pure New Zealand.
The Matakana Region is well known for its stunning golden beaches, beautiful walks, market leading wineries and restaurants, arts and collectibles, all flocked around the famous Matakana Farmer’s Market.
Matakana centre mixes a cosmopolitan vibe with a boutique village feel, making it the perfect location to explore over a long weekend wedding.
OUR GARDENs
Ever changing gardens and scenery with a choice of ceremony locations means that each couple will have the opportunity to create their own unique wedding day.
Specifically designed for marquee garden weddings with a capacity of 150, Songbird Retreat offers a stunning backdrop of terraced lawns to create intimate or larger open spaces, including the grand lawn, the cocktail terrace, the round lawn and the ceremony terrace.
The landscape is a wedding photographer’s delight as the lily ponds, streams and walkways fuse to offer a variety of gorgeous locations to capture those moments of love and laughter throughout the wedding day.
The gorgeous turquoise waters of Matheson Bay are just a 2min drive or 10mins along a bush, river and waterfall boardwalk where you can capture those stunning beach front photographs.
With beautiful gardens and a stones throw to a sandy beach, Songbird Retreat has everything to create magical memories.
Hand selected plants and trees provide elegance, design and structure with a profusion of white roses, lavender, grasses and native plants.
At the centre of Songbird Retreat is the magnificent bridal walkway, adorned with the scent and timeless beauty of white roses. At 12 metres long, this enchanting feature takes walking down the aisle to a whole new level.
BROCHURE & Pricing
Request your copy of our weddings brochure and pricing now to find about what makes Songbird bespoke garden weddings so special. We look forward to sharing our slice of garden paradise with you on your special day.