Nature escape at Maia – cabin accommodation in the Bay of Islands

The Maia cabin in Okaihau, near the Bay of Islands, is an off-grid nature escape offered by Unyoked. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, reconnect with nature, and indulge in life’s simple pleasures, read below about our serene experience during a few rainy days at the Maia cabin.

Disclaimer: my stay at the Maia cabin was offered to me by Unyoked as a field correspondent. However my thoughts below are entirely my own since a blog post was outside the scope of deliverables.

Tucked away on her own private 5-acre meadow, encircled by rolling hills and native bush, the Maia cabin offers a peaceful escape from the world. And while I had hoped for sunny skies during my stay, Northland had different ideas that summer.

It poured for days.

It was a nature escape of the moody kind.

As someone who values slow travel, reconnecting with nature, and falling worship to New Zealand’s beauty, I connect with Unyoked’s commitment to providing a unique, sustainable travel experience. And Maia did not disappoint.

Read below about the Maia cabin and whether it’s the right accommodation for you near the Bay of Islands if you’re looking to reconnect with nature and the authentic Northland lifestyle.

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Rainy Retreat at the Maia cabin – off-grid in Okaihau, Bay of Islands, Northland

Setting of the Maia cabin – Okaihau, Bay of Islands

Maia lives in isolation at the back of a large farm, a scenic thirty-minute drive inland from the Bay of Islands. Shaun and I had just finished a rowdy celebration greeting the new year and were ready to replenish our souls at a quiet nature retreat.

An international brand, Unyoked specialises in delivering high-quality nature experiences to integrate you with the outdoors and lower your cortisol. Their cabins are designed to enhance creativity and optimise sustainability. Given this strong ethos, their brand and mine are a match made in heaven.

Somewhere in Okaihau, we creaked a gate closed behind us and revved along farm tracks, passing free-range horses and baying sheep. Overhead, clouds rolled with heavy bellies. Sub-tropical storms are notorious in the Bay of Islands, and we prayed the rain would hold until we reached our cozy accommodation.

The trek up to the Maia cabin – off-grid and in isolation

It’s worth mentioning the trek up to the Maia cabin is not your average driveway. Pack lightly and bring proper footwear. Because after parking the car deep inside a forest, it was a fifteen-minute upward trek through native bush.

Already, Unyoked fulfilled its first promise of lowering my cortisol. We entered a lush verdant world. A brook murmured through the wood. Tui cawed from the trees and there was the constant hum of insects. Wind flowed through the trees and the air thickened with the threat of rain.

We climbed, the path signposted with arrows. Sweat upon brow, we finally emerged in a meadow. Hills rolled across the landscape, and there sat the Maia cabin, in utter privacy and audience to the idyllic views of inland Northland.

Facilities and layout of the Maia cabin – tiny sustainable living

It must have been divine intervention because as soon as we settled in, the rain came and continued for days. It pattered on the roof and past the large windows that offered sweeping views of a green and gray world beyond.

We had been full of energy, buzzing on the holiday revels, the triumph of surviving another year. But the tranquil environment acted as a sedative. Suddenly we were exhausted. We climbed into the queen bed, fluffed the pillows and nose-dived into a glorious nap.

Later, we explored the curiosities of the tiny space. Unyoked stock each cabin with treats so you are uncovering gems in each compartment. The fridge brimmed with wine and specialty gins. A myriad of teas lined the shelves. The bathroom, sleek and rustic in design, offered shampoo, conditioner, and soaps.

In a cabinet, we found matches and kindling, all the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoor bonfire. But given the gloomy forecast, we turned to the various trinkets that instead facilitated a cozy, indoor experience.

An assortment of books graced the shelf, curated for their themes of nature reverence. A favourite was “Cabin Porn” and I lost myself in stories of cabin projects primed to coexist with nature and offer experiences of solitude and healing.

As evening descended, we cooked a hearty dinner and sipped on hot tea. The lantern shimmered, casting a warm glow throughout the cabin. And we curled up on the bed and chattered until sleep took us again.

Things to do during a rainy retreat at the Maia Cabin – a Bay of Islands accommodation

On day 2, we had re-energised. I snatched the tin of “energizer beans” and spent some time appreciating the rewards of manual labour as I spun a grinder to pulverise coffee beans into a fragrant powder.

Shaun organised breakfast and we sipped on a long black each, coming to an agreement.

It was time to play in the rain.

Unyoked’s promise on creativity

At first, we ran for the shelter of trees. We hiked through the rain-soaked bush, the sound of our footsteps muffled by the rain. The murmuring brook had now become a gurgling stream. It waterfalled through the wood, and we admired the green glint of everything, enchanted by the rich sounds of water rushing and plopping.

Head full of fantasy, I got the bright idea to fetch my largest dress. Then ensued one of the most pleasurable photoshoots of my life. (Though it took great pains to keep our gear dry).

Embracing the rain is a successful outcome of Unyoked’s mission. A brand that promotes creativity designed an experience that facilitated just that. Our art is photography, videography, and storytelling. In this environment, we told the story of a maiden lost in time, content to wander a meadow and pick its flowers.

Thoroughly soaked and shivering, I jumped into a steaming shower, feeling a loftiness in my heart, the high of creation.

For our efforts, Shaun prepared a snack in bed, locally-grown oranges we’d picked up in Kerikeri.

It rained on and on, and we decided to scrap our intended itinerary. The Bay of Islands is rich in natural beauty, history, and adventure. We could have driven to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Or visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, a historical site where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 and laid the foundation of New Zealand. We could’ve taken a boat tour to see dolphins and whales, or taken a leisurely walk to Haruru Falls.

But we did none of that. Our cabin was warm and intimate, and it cast a lulling effect over us. We had no desire to leave.

Instead, we ate, laughed, and savoured the peaceful music of the rain. We were plugged into the most powerful battery, recharging our spirits through this green energy source, a lush breathing earth that expected nothing from us.

A review of our stay at the Maia cabin – accommodation among nature in the Bay of Islands

In conclusion, our stay at Maia was just what we needed. Despite the rain, we found solace in the cabin and surrounding bush. We fell into the joys of the simple things in life, and left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Maia has now made my list of the best nature stays in New Zealand. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a solo retreat, or a chance to reconnect with someone, Maia is a powerful setting for it. And with Unyoked’s commitment to sustainable travel, you can rest knowing your stay is friendly to the environment.

I wish you a beautiful stay. And may the weather do what it pleases.