Tauranga, Bay of Plenty · 26 February – 1 March 2027
A little creative escape.
Right here in New Zealand.
Four days of painting, colour, creativity, great food and wonderful company — a relaxed, intimate retreat in Sue's own back yard.
Next Retreat
26 Feb – 1 Mar 2027
4 days · 3 nights · Spaces limited
Something new is coming — Love My Greece is coming home
You don't have to travel all the way to Greece
to escape, create, connect and have a wonderful few days away.
Love My New Zealand Art Retreats brings the spirit of my Love My Greece retreats home to beautiful Tauranga — my back yard.
Come on your own or bring a friend. You don't need to be an experienced artist. You simply need to love colour, creativity, and the idea of stepping away from everyday life for a few days.
"Come for the painting.
Stay for the experience.
Leave feeling inspired."
Your Creative Escape
For four days, you don't have to organise a thing.
We'll meet at Hotel on Devonport, right in the heart of Tauranga. From there, I'll take care of the creative days, transport to our painting space, lunches, and our special dinners together.
There will be plenty of time to paint, experiment and develop your own work — but also time to relax, wander around downtown Tauranga, enjoy great food and get to know the other people in the group.
It's not about producing a perfect painting. It's about giving yourself permission to play with colour, shapes, layers and ideas — and enjoying the process.
Draft Itinerary · 26 Feb – 1 Mar 2027
Your 4-Day Experience
Each day is thoughtfully planned. Details may be refined closer to the date — any changes will only enhance the experience.
Day 1Arrive & Settle In
Day 1 — Arrive · Meet · Settle In
Welcome to Tauranga
- Arrive in Tauranga and check into Hotel on Devonport, your home for the three nights.
- You can fly into Tauranga Airport or travel to Tauranga by road.
- We'll meet in the afternoon for a relaxed welcome and meet-and-greet, giving everyone a chance to settle in and get to know one another.
- Then we'll head out together for an early dinner at one of my favourite restaurants close to the hotel.
No formalities. Just good food, conversation and the beginning of four wonderful days together. Tonight is about meeting your fellow creatives and settling into your little escape.
Day 2Paint & Explore
Day 2 — Paint · Create · Explore
Into the Studio
- After breakfast at the Local Cafe, we'll jump into our mini van and head to The Incubator at Historic Village — this becomes our creative home for the day.
- Morning painting session: we'll paint together from the morning through until around 1pm, with demonstrations, ideas, colour exploration and plenty of time to work on your own paintings.
- Lunch at Historic Village: as we're there, we'll have lunch together before heading back into the studio.
- Afternoon painting: back to the canvas until approximately 3.30–4.00pm, then we return to the hotel by mini van.
The rest of the afternoon is yours — relax at the hotel, wander downtown Tauranga, browse the shops, grab a coffee, or simply enjoy some time to yourself.
Day 3Create & Celebrate
Day 3 — Create · Finish · Celebrate
Bringing It All Together
- After breakfast, we'll head back to The Incubator at Historic Village. Today is about continuing your work, experimenting further, and bringing your paintings towards completion.
- We'll have another full day of creativity, with plenty of support along the way — no pressure to paint in a particular style.
- This is your opportunity to explore colour, shape, texture and composition, and create something that is uniquely yours.
- We'll finish our painting day around 3.30–4.00pm, return to the hotel, and get ready for our final evening together.
Our Farewell Dinner: we'll head out for a special dinner at another of my favourite Tauranga restaurants — a chance to celebrate what you've created, share stories from the past few days, and enjoy one last wonderful evening together.
Day 4Goodbyes
Day 4 — Breakfast · Goodbyes · Take Your Memories Home
Until Next Time
- We'll enjoy a final breakfast together before saying goodbye.
- You'll leave with your paintings, new ideas, new friendships, and hopefully that wonderful feeling that comes from giving yourself a few days to simply create, relax and enjoy being you.
And perhaps you'll already be thinking... "When's the next one?"
Featured Moments
Days filled with colour,
creativity & connection
This isn't a large art workshop. It's a small, personal creative retreat — time to paint, but also time to talk, laugh, explore Tauranga, enjoy wonderful food and simply slow down.
See Day-by-Day Itinerary ↓
Your Retreat Includes
- 3 nights accommodation at Hotel on Devonport
- Welcome dinner on arrival
- Breakfasts
- Dinners at local restaurants
- Lunch at Historic Village
- Farewell dinner
- Mini van transport to and from the painting venue
- Two full days of painting at The Incubator, Historic Village
- Creative guidance and painting sessions with Sue — award-winning artist
- Time to explore Tauranga
- A small, intimate group experience
- Plenty of colour, creativity, laughter and connection
Where We'll Stay
Hotel on Devonport
Right in the heart of Tauranga, making it easy to enjoy the city when we're not painting.
- Central Tauranga location
- Secure undercover car park for guests
- Limited parking — pre-book recommended
- Easy access from Tauranga Airport (taxi only)
Our Creative Home
The Incubator — Historic Village
For our two main painting days, we'll travel together by mini van to The Incubator at Tauranga's Historic Village — a wonderful environment to get away from the everyday and immerse yourself in your creativity.
- Dedicated space to paint and create
- Room to experiment and learn
- A relaxed, connected group atmosphere
- Full immersion in creativity for the day
Who Is This For?
This retreat is for you if you:
- Love painting and want dedicated time to create
- Would love to explore your creativity in a relaxed environment
- Want to meet other like-minded creative people
- Need a little escape from the everyday
- Enjoy travel, good food and great conversation
- Want to come on your own but don't want to feel alone
- Are an experienced artist — or simply curious about painting
You don't have to be "good at art." You just have to be willing to have a go.
Small groups. Personal attention. Real connection.
The Setting
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Our retreat is based right in the heart of Tauranga, staying at Hotel on Devonport and creating together at The Incubator, Historic Village. Between painting sessions, there's time to wander downtown, browse the shops, grab a coffee, and take in the city at your own pace.
It's a small, intimate group experience — time to paint, but also time to talk, laugh, explore, enjoy wonderful food, and simply slow down.
"I'd love you to join me."
Meet Your Host
Sue MacDougall
Award-Winning New Zealand Artist
For more than 20 years, Sue has created experiences in Greece where people can step away from their normal lives, meet wonderful people, explore creativity and enjoy beautiful food and surroundings.
Now she's brought that same feeling home — to Tauranga, her own back yard.
A Little Bit of Love My Greece
Twenty Years in the Making
Love My New Zealand Art Retreats is about creating a little pocket of time where you can breathe, create, connect and enjoy yourself.
- Step away from normal life
- Meet wonderful people
- Explore creativity
- Enjoy beautiful food & surroundings
Four days. Three nights. Two full creative days. One wonderful little escape.
I'd love you to join me.
Choose Your 2027 Retreat
26 February – 1 March 2027 • 4 days • 3 nights
Spaces are intentionally limited — I keep these retreats small so everyone gets plenty of personal attention.
Twin Share
NZ$2,900 one-off
Payment-plan option — final terms to be confirmed with Sue.
- 3 nights at Hotel on Devonport
- All meals as listed in "What's Included"
- Two full painting days with Sue
Private
NZ$3,350 one-off
Payment-plan option — final terms to be confirmed with Sue.
- 3 nights at Hotel on Devonport (private room)
- All meals as listed in "What's Included"
- Two full painting days with Sue
26 February – 1 March 2027
What if you gave yourself
four days just to create?
Three nights. Two full creative days. One wonderful little escape.
A Glimpse of the Retreat