Our Story
Pīhopa Retreat is owned and hosted by Sarah and Sam Mellor
Pīhopa Retreat was born from a love of travel, beautiful places, and the kind of hospitality that makes people feel genuinely cared for.
Before creating Pīhopa, we spent many years travelling extensively – staying in everything from small family-run boutique hotels to some of the world’s most celebrated luxury properties. Along the way, we discovered that the places we remembered most were the ones that made us feel something: warmth, calm, generosity, and a true sense of connection to the place and the people hosting us.
Hospitality was not originally our professional background – but perhaps that became one of our greatest strengths. We approached Pīhopa first and foremost as guests ourselves, thinking deeply about how people want to feel when they travel, what details matter, and how to create an experience that feels effortless, personal, and quietly special.
The People Behind Pīhopa
My husband and I left New Zealand in 2000 for what was supposed to be a two-year OE in London. Those two years became twenty. We had four children within five and a half years – Ariana, Jack, Kian and Tait – and life in London was full and busy and wonderful.
Travel became an absolute passion of mine – we spent those years exploring as much of the world as we could, and somewhere along the way I started keeping notes on our favourite things about the places we stayed. By the time we eventually came home, I had visited 99 countries. But eventually, home called.
The extraordinary sense of privacy just minutes from the city centre. It was unlike anything else we had seen in New Zealand.
Finding Pīhopa
When we finally made the decision to come home, we chose Nelson and spent several years looking for the right property. In 2015, we found Pīhopa and sent friends to look at it first. They came back with a definitive verdict: don’t do it, it needs far too much work. It was too late. We were already sold!
What drew us was impossible to ignore – the historic chapel dating back to 1877, the established gardens shaped over generations by the nine bishops and their families who had lived on the estate, the extraordinary sense of privacy just minutes from the city centre. It was unlike anything else we had seen in New Zealand.
The Journey
We moved in March 2021, returning from London with four children and a great deal of optimism. What greeted us was a house needing significant work and a garden buried under seedlings and ivy. It was quite overwhelming! We began renovations that touched every inch of the property and lasted two and a half years.
The journey to create Pīhopa Retreat was not without its challenges. Transforming a historic property into an intimate luxury retreat required significant restoration, vision, and patience. But throughout the process, we remained focused on creating something that felt authentic to both the property and to ourselves – luxury without pretence.
Pīhopa continues to evolve as we work towards creating one of New Zealand’s most personal and distinctive luxury stays.
Our Vision
We want guests to arrive and feel completely at home. We want them to have everything they could ever think they needed, without having to ask. We want them to feel wanted and genuinely appreciated.
With only six suites, we are able to genuinely host our guests rather than simply accommodate them. Whether it is helping plan a special day in the region, sharing a glass of wine at dusk, or simply noticing the small details that make someone’s stay more comfortable – those thoughtful touches are what people remember most.
Sustainability and connection to community have been central to everything from the beginning. We wanted Pīhopa to have as low an impact as possible on our surroundings, to ensure this special place remains beautiful for the visitors of the future. We were awarded our Qualmark 5-Star and Gold Tier Sustainable Tourism accreditation within six months of opening – which is pretty rare.
Looking Ahead
There is always something on the horizon at Pīhopa. In July 2025 a storm brought down a heritage tree, causing significant damage to the property. We took the rebuild as an opportunity – and our new Wellness Centre, incorporating a massage studio, reformer Pilates, sauna and ice bath, is nearly complete.
We also plant a native tree for every guest who stays with us, and will shortly be planting 3,000 native trees on the property, with a new walking trail and information boards throughout. The suites are receiving fresh paint, new curtains and furnishings this winter, ready for the new season.
At its heart, Pīhopa is simply a reflection of what we love ourselves — beautiful surroundings, meaningful hospitality, and creating experiences people will remember long after they leave.
Ngā mihi
Sarah and the Pīhopa Retreat Team
