by Johanna Osborne

Some of the very best times of my life have been spent in near seclusion, enjoying some luxury and pampering with my beloved husband. However, it’s been a while since we’ve done that, as we have had a certain “intruder” into our hedonistic lifestyle (aka my darling 3.5 year old son Milan), and therefore it’s with even greater excitement and longing that I gaze at photos of the hottest new place to escape to- The Sounds Retreat, secretly plotting ways and reasons that necessitate a visit there pronto! And best of all, all 3 of us could go as this one-room hotel is child friendly!

The Sounds Retreat serves stunning views, a first class ambience and unsurpassed service on a silver platter – simply put, The Sounds Retreat is a venue like no other, perfect for a bride and groom who are looking for something very, very special. We love love love this venue, and couldn’t rate Anne and her team highly enough. Come and meet them at the Wellington Wedding Show on the 8th September to find out more about this remarkable destination. But in the meantime, read on and join us on a little daydream…

1. Anne, The Sounds Retreat looks like heaven. How did you come to own/operate such a beautiful venue?

We visited New Zealand many times as we have family here and fell in love with its beauty. By chance we stumbled across this piece of land during one of our trips, and were so captivated by the amazing view we made an offer immediately. Then it took time to find award winning architects, Tennent & Brown, to design and develop The Sounds Retreat. We had worked and travelled throughout the world, had lived in Asia for twenty years and wanted to combine our experiences to offer first class accommodation and service with exclusivity, even for couples with a child who still enjoy luxury without feeling they might disturb other guests.

2. The Sounds Retreat is wonderful – what sort of couple would this venue be ideal for?

A couple who appreciate anonymity, exclusive luxury and who will relish staying in a one room hotel where their needs are totally catered for.

3. In terms of accommodation and ceremony it caters for a small and intimate crowd. Which nearby reception locations do you recommend?

In terms of accommodation we are exclusively available for one couple. We are happy to make arrangements for family and friends at nearby accommodation providers. An intimate wedding ceremony can be anything from 2 to 20 persons, and totally tailored to the clients’ wishes, whether it be a harpist on one of our stunning decks, or a string quartet during a ceremony followed by Champagne and canapés. There are a number of options for reception locations, be collected by boat 2 minutes from The Sounds Retreat, and enjoy a wedding dinner cruising the Queen Charlotte Sound, cruise to a secluded beach for a catered reception or perhaps take a 40 minute drive by chauffeur driven car or coach to one of the fine vineyard restaurants, home of many New Zealand award winning wines.

4. What can you offer in terms of extras/transport/special deals for couples looking for packages?

Regarding intimate weddings, we have a team of professionals available to make that special day a reality. We will do our utmost to try and make those dreams come true, whether it is arriving by seaplane, a helicopter flight over the Marlborough Sounds with a gourmet picnic at a secluded spot, or private wine tasting in your personal cabana.

We hope our guests feel totally pampered and relaxed during their stay, enjoying their complimentary massages, Mini Cooper S Convertible, gymnasium, amongst many decadent touches including an on-site chef to prepare their degustation 4 course dinners. Luxury transfers are available from local airports and ferry terminal, and with the complimentary car, guests can still drive around the Sounds (with the roof down of course!) without bringing their own vehicle.

There are a number of packages on our web site but we are more than happy to tweak the experiences to suit special requests.

5. What other information would you like to share with our readers?
The Marlborough Sounds are such a beautiful corner of New Zealand with many experiences to offer, from active mountain biking, swimming with wild dolphins, diving, fishing, hunting to more sedate treats such as wine tasting, gourmet dining, spa pampering. We are walking distance to the famed Queen Charlotte Track for those guests who may want to walk along the calm waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound under the native forest. We would love to share The Sounds Retreat with couples who wish to celebrate romance, not only for a honeymoon, but also an engagement, vow renewal, anniversary or just to escape!