At the Woodhill Park Research Retreat, each of those meanings hold true.  We began our search for a suitable venue to use as an academic retreat after we discovered that a student attending a course Jens was teaching intended flying to Sydney for a weekend to progress her academic work.  She was going to lock herself into a hotel room, avail herself of room service for sustenance, and spend the weekend writing!  She wanted to withdraw from the telephone, family members, house-hold chores, cats and dogs, etc.  She wanted a sanctuary where she would not be disturbed and where she could write.  Her plight, we found, was commonplace among postgraduate candidates. 

We also knew there was a need for a venue where thesis candidates could learn about research software and be mentored in the science and craft of undertaking research.  We set about establishing such a venue...  After a year of searching out sites, we purchased what is now known as the Woodhill Park Research Retreat.  It remains, as far as we know, the only academic home-stay in New Zealand. (Click here for instructions about getting there.)  The Retreat can accommodate up to twelve people at a time, but typically postgraduate students and academics come by themselves.  Tariffs are very reasonable:  

Although the house is around a hundred years old, the facilities and furnishings are new.  The house has seven bedrooms, three lounges, two kitchens, three toilets, two bathrooms (one with a large claw foot bath) and wide expanses of decking that overlook well established gardens, farmland, wetlands and bush.  A special feature of the Woodhill Park home-stay accommodation is that a number of days can be set aside upon request to offer respite for care-givers, i.e. for those people who are the care-givers of loved ones - not those being cared for. We recognize that quality time-out is essential for those who provide full-time care and for this reason we have made space available for carers to be able to have a brief period of respite at realistic prices. Contact us to find out more about this service.

We have equipped the retreat so that candidates can literally escape to Woodhill Park in order to progress their work.  And whilst they are visiting, we 'feed and water' them and provide academic guidance as needed.  When meals are finished, the candidate can simply leave the dishes and get back to their work.  They can work as late or as early as they wish.  Conversations about thesis work are free over meals or a glass of wine, but one-on-one consultations incur a charge (click here to see the Academic Mentoring page).

Sometimes groups of people visit us but mainly, mature candidates who are involved with higher degrees come to stay.  Some come for the day; others for a weekend or a week and some few people have used the self-contained flat for a number of months.  Pretty well every single person who has visited has returned and universally, they adore the food as well as the tranquillity [1].  But above all, they celebrate that they actually have permission to make progress. 

Notes:

• Sabbatical accommodation is typically reserved in two week blocks;
• By special prearrangement, however, a one week booking can be made for academics and researchers who are in transit or on a tight time-schedule. Email jhansen@woodhillpark.com to book;
• Vegetarian meals are supplied upon request and other dietary needs are also catered for.  Additional charges may be incurred dependent upon the extra cost of supplying special foods;
• Woodhill Park is a smoke free property!  No exceptions! 
• Transport to and from the airport can be prearranged but a levy will apply to defray costs.  (Airport pick-up &/or delivery (one way) $65.00 plus GST.)  Contact us to arrange this;
• If you have alternative requirements, e.g. all meals and use of a room for a day but no overnight accommodation, please contact us to discuss your needs;
• A non-refundable deposit of 20% for accommodation and/or meals is required;
• Although a 20% levy will be made for cancellations made one week prior, no refunds will be given for cancellations on the day; 
• Some people may like to stay on for the next working day in which case, breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea plus facility use will be levied (see final row of table above); 
• We reserve the right to accept or decline bookings. 

[1] To make sure that the sense of tranquillity is preserved, we do not cater for children and neither do we cater for the partner of anyone trying to make progress during what is always an all-too-brief unfettered time-span.