From rural England to a wellness business owner in Kumara

Kate is the owner of Greenstone Retreat, a magical wellness retreat located in Kumara on the West Coast of New Zealand. Originally from rural Dorset in southwest England, Kate came to the West Coast on a career break in her mid-twenties and immediately felt at home. After staying in Franz Josef for a few days and missing her bus, Kate knew that she had found her new home.

Kate fell in love with the West Coast and its community, and eventually found the perfect place to call her own, Greenstone Retreat. However, it wasn't until Kate broke her ankle while renovating the retreat that she decided to take the leap and start her own business. Kate realized that she was capable of doing it on her own and wanted to do something that would enhance her well-being and that of the community around her.

Greenstone Retreat started with just one holiday home, an old historic villa built in 1881. Over the years, Kate has renovated the villa, built dormitory rooms that are now family rooms, and transformed bamboo bogs into car parks with power sites. Kate has also created a healing space in the form of an enchanting lolly caravan and a yoga studio that offers massage, osteo therapy, workshops, and retreats.

Kate's goal for Greenstone Retreat is to be a base for the West Coast, where people can stay while they explore the surrounding area. With everything within an hour's radius, visitors can easily go to Arthur's Pass, Punakaiki, and Hokitika Gorge.

The retreat's slogan, "in the middle of everywhere and away from it all," perfectly sums up its location and offerings.

The best part of Greenstone Retreat is its access to water. There's a beautiful beach just seven kilometers away, where visitors can watch the sunset into the ocean. There's also the mighty Taramakau river, just down the road, which is perfect for swimming on a hot day. With so much nature surrounding the retreat, visitors can easily defrazzle, reset, and restore themselves to their full wholeness.

Kate is community-minded and wants to give back more than she takes. She works with a network of like-minded individuals who live self-sufficiently and naturally, growing their own food and enjoying everything the West Coast has to offer.

Everyone is welcome at Greenstone Retreat, and Kate is happy to share her magical, enchanting space with anyone who wants to visit.