Perfect for a romantic getaway or luxury nature retreat, the Boho Bach is one of the most unique accommodation in Wellington. And I delighted in the psychedelic vibes while staying there. Enjoy the read and be sure to save the Boho Bach on your list of Wellington stays for a unique nature retreat.
Plugged against a cliff, a blue house dangles, commanding views of Wellington harbour and the eastern hills. The tranquil sanctuary has reigned since the 1950s, hidden away on the Miramar peninsula. We met the day I stumbled through its doors on a Wellington spring day, spent and huffing.
After three months overseas, far from my beloved New Zealand, I hungered to reconnect with the land. And browsing a bottomless list of New Zealand nature stays, I chose the bach around the corner… a mere 20-minute drive from our Wellington apartment.
I was drawn by photos of blue timber and colourful ceramic tiles. I imagined lounging in the porcelain tub with wine and bubbles for company. Or soaking in the outdoor bath, watching the birds and harbour beyond.
Lured by its quirkiness, I was ready for this getaway to charm the dickens out of me. And it delivered… in more ways than one.
If you’re looking for unique accommodation poised as a luxury nature retreat in Wellington, enjoy this recounting of our slightly psychedelic experience at the beloved Boho Bach.
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Nature Retreat at the Boho Bach – a unique accommodation in Wellington, New Zealand
A Canopy Escape – Boho Bach, unique accommodation in Wellington
The Boho Bach is listed as one of New Zealand’s luxury Canopy Escapes, reassuring me of its reputation.
A quick drive from the city centre, Boho Bach is a sanctuary among native bush, inhabited by birds, old trees, and open air. Up a short track, it greets its guests with colourful Tibetan flags and a large wooden deck.
Although weatherboard cladding is not uncommon in Wellington, I noted the fresh coat of blue over everything. Despite its old age, the lack of peel or wither suggested this little abode was well looked-after.
I swung the bright teal door open, and my senses became flooded with colour and texture. The small space twinkled with bohemian flair. My eye darted from vibrant pillows to velvet couches, wooden floors accented with colorful rugs, and trinkets lost in time.
A place after my heart, every corner envisioned me in it with book in hand. And I couldn’t wait to test them all.
The bach is lined with old windows, each offering a different view of the nature oasis, including the glorious outdoor bath. I was mesmerised by a row of three candles perched on an old wooden table, keeping watch.
In Wellington spring, the rain began hammering down. I tucked myself inside, clicking on the heat pump and settling in.
History of the Boho Bach, Wellington
In the tiny bedroom, a collection of cartoons lined the shelves. Titled Bogor by Burton Silver, the comics drew us in with illustrations of marijuana plants and magic mushrooms.
Intrigued, we fell down the Google hole and the history of the Boho Bach came together.
Burton Silver is a renowned New Zealand cartoonist, famous for his Bogor comics, among other publications. His family bought the property in 1876, and built the bach in the 1950s. It became the cartoonist’s retreat in the early days of his career. The secluded setting inspired the comic strip of tree-hugging Bogor and his dope-growing hedgehog.
After over 100 years in the Silver family, the bach sold in 2018 and was revitalised by a team of designers with a penchant for maximalism.
The new owners made quick work to transform the humble abode into the Boho Bach, luxury nature retreat and one of the most unique accommodation in Wellington.
My psychedelic experience at the Boho Bach, a unique accommodation and nature retreat in Wellington
I had a goal in booking the Boho Bach for my backyard getaway. To hide from the Wellington wind and rain, wrap my body in blankets, and create.
After a meal and peruse of the quirky space, I brandished my camera and readied my journal. No detail was safe from me, and I fell into a happy haze, clicking and note-taking.
Soothed by the drumming rain on the iron roof, we fell into the harmony of the place. Shaun read the Bogor comics. I examined colorful tiles.
In its old age, the bach slanted toward the kitchen. Walking across felt like going downhill, giving a vague sense of being drunk.
The light shifted as evening approached, and a mood of dark whimsy veiled the bach. The walls and curtains seemed to change colour. Rain plunked on leaves, and birds chirped in the quiet. Beyond, ships ferried across the strait in a ghostly glow.
Surrounded by teal walls, I soaked in the steaming porcelain tub teeming with bubbles, every muscle going lax. Shaun played a saxophone playlist as he flipped through an assortment of strange books. From every angle, we were engaged by ancient lanterns, glinting ornamentation, and a large round mirror reflecting it all back. Outside, the three candles stood sentry in the downpour.
With the Bogo illustrations of marijuana and magic mushrooms in the next room and candlelight casting moving shadows on the walls, my experience of the Boho Bach felt deliciously psychedelic.
As the world blackened into night, we dozed off among decadent fabric, lulled by the hypnotic rain pattering down.
A glowing review
Although storm clouds blanketed the chance of witnessing a sunrise – a feature the Boho Bach is praised for – I was pleased with the moody getaway. The rain erased all guilt that I should be anywhere other than indoors, marinating in every vibe and detail.
After such an experience, I dub the Boho Bach as a most unique accommodation and nature retreat in Wellington.
Getting there – Boho Bach, Karaka Bays, Wellington
The Boho Bach is located in one of Wellington’s most prestigious suburbs, Karaka Bays. It’s a 10-minute drive from the Wellington airport, and a 20-minute drive from the city centre.
There’s plenty of parking on the quiet street. Then it’s a short hike up a nature trail to the Boho Bach. The path is marked by Tibetan prayer flags, opening a gateway to another world, where the birds outnumber the people and the trees arch over your head like guardians.
What to do in the area – Miramar, Seatoun and Karaka Bays
If hiding inside the eclectic bach isn’t enough, there is plenty to do in Karaka Bays and the surrounding area.
A short walk down from the Boho Bach are the pristine sands of Scorching Bay. Go for a swim or grab a coffee and snack at Scorch-O-Rama, a coffee shop with idyllic views.
The Miramar peninsula is also carved with a myriad of scenic walks overlooking a procession of golden bays. Most notable is the Eastern Walkway – one of my favorites – toward Point Dorset.
If you fancy a dinner and a movie, head down to the Roxy Cinema. This art-deco venue is at the heart of Wellington’s film industry, equipped with a theater, café, and restaurant. Miramar is also home to the Weta Cave, one of the world’s most famous studios for churning out the Lord of the Rings and Avatar franchises.
If you’re feeling pekish, strut into Seatoun’s local café Acrimboldi. Or reserve a table at one of the best Greek restaurants in town, Oikos Hellenic Cuisine.