Love Local | Clifton Glamping

Clifton Glamping is mother nature in her finest outfit. Perched on the hills of the Maraetotara River, hosts Tom & Lucia have generously shared it’s rustic glory with just enough glamp to make you never want to leave.

Sometimes you’ve got to swap the desk and its sensibilities for the great outdoors. I’m a firm believer that nature provides the most exciting inspiration and creative direction in my work, so that’s a pretty valid excuse too.

Clifton Glamping was on the to-do list for 2020 as a surprise end of year celebration for my beloved. Positioned on one of NZ’s oldest working family farms, the scenery and reviews had sold me online. As you know, I’m prone to a happy dance, well there were big jigs and heel kicks on arrival.

Life & Leisure magazine recently dubbed this beautiful landscape as ‘rustic-luxe-country-chic’. Fine words for an extraordinary place. There is something comforting about being close to nature, it’s a reminder that bigger things exist. A sort of calm in the wild, fostered by an outdoor fire and a night sky of stars. Native birdsong and a river roar – the perfect tune for naps, reading and reflection.

With my interior design hat on, I couldn’t fault the ambience within the canvas. There are lovely woven textures of sisal and rattan and many composed corners to relax and toast NZ’s best scenery. The vibe is gentle and tranquil, earthy and rustic.

In the visitors’ book were the words, "thanks for sharing your love of the land with us” and we couldn’t agree more. Our checkout was 11am - we drove out at 10:57am.

”Bathe in the sunshine, swim in the river, drink the wild air.”

Thank you CG, we can’t wait to return.

Visit Clifton Glamping’s website to book your next escape.