Kawai Purapura Retreat Centre - Albany

Not perfect... but I like not perfect. The place runs on volunteers and the ones we dealt with were lovely. The room's are quaint little boxes, a bit pricey for what you are getting. It's a lovely setting. The pool was nice. Thanks for your hospitality team. Namaste

This is my experience as a volunteer there during one month. The worst experience I’ve ever had in a so called “retreat center”. The facade is beautiful, the background is different. This so called retreat center is nothing else than a business. Apart the fact that they rent some yoga classes there is absolutely nothing related to yoga’s way of living. I don’t even know from where to start to explain how fake is this place to be honest. So I’ll try to sum up -as almost the entire center, the kitchen and cafe are leaded only by volunteers. When I was there (October 2020) none of the “workers” in the kitchen were qualified as cooker. Some plates were really nice to be honest, some not. 0 conditions of safety. Food over kept (ingredients but also the meal offered in the cafe. Sometimes kept up to 4 days on sale before to be thrown away). Cold storage never cleaned when I was there (moisture and doors etc). Big quantity of plastics used because the shopping is mainly done from a small shop. Very little amount of organic or local products. To specify I worked in the kitchen there few times. That’s why I know all those details. I worked in few kitchen. I’ve never seen that before. They should be order to close it and create rules of safety for the workers and for the customers as well. -the volunteer camp is literally unsanitary. -as a volunteer don’t expect to be able to have a place for your own daily practice (meditation or yoga) cause sometimes all the rooms are busy. Or also sometimes you’re doing your practice but you can’t finish it because sometimes booked the room but the schedule hasn’t been done correctly (as many things there). -this place is not at all a free tabacco, alcool or all kind of drugs area. Since many treehouse are rented to casual persons whom has no interest in yoga, meditation etc. And most of the volunteer smoke weed and tabacco all daily. -during my meditation practice in my own room, the person in charge of the room entered thinking that no one was day to show the room to a new comer. (She first knocked and called me but I didn’t answer because I was meditating. They have a spare key so she just entered and obviously got very surprised) -the place was before leaded by a yoga teacher herself but due to some raisons there is nowadays a ceo whom as any ceo is there to make as much as profit as he can. And in this case without caring so much about the volunteers and customers as long as they make money. Or maybe is simply overwhelmed because he doesn’t know what to do in such a mess. I tried to sum up as I can but it’s hard to explain the the things going wrong there. At least if you’re looking for a peaceful place for good meditation or yoga I highly recommend you to check somewhere else.

I do NOT recommend this place. My partner and I stayed there for long-term stay. They did not have a room for long term when we went there. But Manager Nicky said the room is available soon, until then we can use another room. And we agree and paid for 2 weeks in advance. ($295 for 1 week) But after 1 week, general manager Paul called us and said we have to move out asap. We have already paid total 2 weeks. Then my partner went to Nicky and talked with her. Nicky said, she can provide another room, but have to pay more than $700 a week. We do not want to take any other mistake, so we moved out. Room is a bit dusty and smelly.

I was Woofer at Kawai Purapura while on working holiday in NZ for about two months in 2013. I liked it so much that when I found a temporary job nearby, I decided to stay as a short-term resident for another two months. I still dream of going back and hope one day I can. As a Woofer, the volunteer hours were more than fair, with plenty of time off and a great sense of camaraderie with the rest of the crew. Yes, living conditions were a little rustic, but by no means roughing it. As a temporary resident (permanent residents paid less if I remember) and as a guest, the prices were a little expensive, but I can't imagine it is cheap to maintain such a space. I felt that KP tried to make the unique events they held affordable which balanced out overnight prices. My favorite event at KP was their Voices of the Earth Festival, in particular the Maori healing workshops. The grounds of the retreat center were beautiful. The surrounding neighborhood was also very accessible. I enjoyed how laid back everyone was, Woofers and residents alike. There were a lot of insightful, fun, and creative people that, combined with the peace of the environment, made KP one of the fondest memories of my time in NZ.

Yes I would only give kawai purapura one star, it looks peaceful on the outside but don't be fooled, these are some of the most fake people I have ever had the displeasure to meet. Gus and giago are useless at their jobs and also rude abrupt people, they get paid for free up there because they are lazy. FAKE PEOPLE PRETENDING TO BE PEACEFUL AND LOVING, CENTREPOINT TOOK THE HEART WITH THEM AND LEFT FAKE DECEITFUL PEOPLE!! The cabins are dirty and we are still waiting to be refunded by these awful humans. NO HEART OR SOUL AT THIS PLACE, THEY ARE MERELY MONEY GRABBERS. AND I'VE SEEN THE ROOM WITH A DIRT WALL, YUCKY!!!! SHAMEFUL PEOPLE

The teachings and courses they offer there are amazing, however the place itself is poorly managed. There are people who are loud up all night and it disturbs the sleep of dedicated yoga students and practitioners.

I found this place peaceful with kindness, the reception is so good, my room, kitchen and washrooms are clean; i left today though my mind is still there. Before I go there....read some bad reviews in Google and i havnt meet the manager and owners so i dont know about them. Otherwise my experience is great, if you love nature go for it.

I am a resident at the date of this post but will be moving out soon. I wish I had read the reviews here and on Trip Advisor before moving in. The place itself is well located and has a bunch of great people, however, unfortunately there are a few residents who disturb the peace (seemingly with impunity) and act in ways contrary to the claimed values of this place. I have tried unsuccessfully to resolve this with upper-management but was told I should leave.