Plume Villas

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, I almost drove past Plume Villas the first time I visited — it’s tucked away on Sharp Road in a way that feels intentionally discrete, like it doesn’t need to shout about what it offers. But once you turn into the property, you get it immediately. This isn’t trying to be a flashy resort or one of those cookie-cutter boutique places. It’s something quieter and more thoughtful, set among these gorgeous native gardens that actually look like they belong in Matakana’s rolling countryside.

What really struck me was how the villas feel completely private without being isolated. You know that sweet spot where you can hear birds in the morning instead of traffic, but you’re still just a few minutes from the village center? That’s exactly what this is. The rooms themselves — well, they’re more like small luxury apartments really — have this clean, understated elegance that doesn’t feel stuffy. Big windows, natural materials, and honestly some of the most comfortable beds I’ve encountered in New Zealand. The kind of place where you might actually sleep in, which I never do. There’s something about the way they’ve designed everything that makes you want to slow down. Maybe it’s the way the light filters through in the afternoons, or how quiet it gets at night — not dead quiet, but that perfect rural quiet with just enough sound to remind you you’re somewhere special.

The location is pretty brilliant if you know the area. You’re close enough to walk to some of Matakana’s best spots (though let’s be real, you’ll probably drive to the Saturday market because you’ll want to buy more than you can carry), but far enough out that you feel like you’ve escaped properly. The staff seem to actually live locally and know their stuff — they pointed me toward this incredible little pottery studio I never would have found otherwise, and gave me the real story on which wineries are worth the drive versus which ones are just Instagram pretty. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too, none of that overly choreographed welcome routine some places do. Just genuine people who clearly care about the place and want you to enjoy it. I mean, with a 9.3 rating, they’re obviously doing something right, but it never feels like they’re trying too hard to impress you. It’s more like they’ve created this really lovely space and they’re confident enough to let it speak for itself.