We kept a diary while The Villa went up at Encounter Bay — foundations in June 2024, first guests in August 2025. It is not polished. That is rather the point.
At last. The furniture is in, and we're now stocking the kitchen and bedrooms with all the essentials. It's starting to feel like a home — warm, welcoming, and ready to host unforgettable stays. We have completed our first road test, and things are coming together.
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The light and airy Villa is now complete, and work on the garden and outdoor areas is underway. The pool has been set in place, with construction of the surrounding deck about to begin. We now have a sweeping driveway, and our landscaping team are ready to begin.
The Villa is nearly complete. We're in the final stages — furniture is arriving, and The Villa is transforming into a stunning holiday home. The pool installation was slightly delayed by severe weather in Queensland, but we're expecting it shortly.
The boards are down, and the doors and windows are in. The crew from GT are making fantastic progress and the structure is looking more like a house now. The Villa is filled with natural light and the views from every room are stunning. The signature curved ceilings are exactly as we hoped.
October saw another exciting milestone — the roof is on, and The Villa is really coming together. Final choices are being made for paint colours and tiles.
In September we reached another exciting phase as the roof construction started. With the structure now clearly defined, the focus shifts to detailed work, adding more character and substance to the architectural design.
June marked a significant milestone as the foundation for Naiko at the Bluff was laid, forming the base of the luxury villa. Construction crews are making steady progress, and you can see the vision taking shape.
Naiko Retreat
333 Rarkang Road, Deep Creek SA 5204
Under two hours from Adelaide — 114km, the last 6km unsealed
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They are close enough that people do both in a week and far enough apart that they are not the same holiday. The Retreat is at the end of the peninsula with the last six kilometres unsealed. The Villa is ten minutes above Victor Harbor, with a bakery, a pub and a beach in walking distance of the car.
333 Rarkang Road, Deep Creek SA 5204
Under two hours from Adelaide — 114km, the last 6km unsealed
Open in Maps28 Jagger Road, Encounter Bay SA 5211
About 80 minutes from Adelaide
Open in MapsHelivista fly in from Adelaide Airport, and Off Piste 4WD will collect you and stop in McLaren Vale on the way down.
