Painting Retreats

Come and enjoy a week of plein aire painting in the beautiful Akaroa township and surrounding Banks Peninsula with me.
Tuesday 10th – Tuesday 17th March 2026 (Limited to 6 artists), partners welcome
This will fill up fast so book NOW!
Contact me now for more information on future retreat dates.
Info for Amber Emm
Painting Tours
Amber Emm, your guide, who will be accompanied by her husband Tony, has 25 yrs. experience of teaching adults’ painting, in oils, acrylics and watercolour. She is also an international Professional Artist with Gallery representation in 2 Auckland Galleries- Blackdoor gallery and Flagstaff gallery.
We will be staying in A La Villa in the historic heart of the French village of Akaroa. This house has 7 rooms and is two minutes from the seaside plage of what was once known as the New Zealand Riviera. Many restaurants and shops, a boutique cinema, the local museum and the famous Giant’s House are a short walk away.
Accommodation is at A La Villa. A large 7-bedroom house. There are several options of room so it is best to get in quick to book the room you want.( options down in the Price section)
We will pick you up from the Christchurch airport then head out to the peninsula to our gorgeous stay, where we will enjoy a BBQ dinner our first night.
After breakfast each day we will head out to an especially selected locations to paint for approx. 4-5 hrs (painting materials all supplied, acrylic, watercolour, or oils), after which we will head to the nearest restaurant or back to Akaroa for you to get your lunch and browse for the afternoon.
Then we will re-group and all go out for dinner, or you can have dinner where you like, no pressure.
I will supply all the art materials - watercolour, oils or acrylics and teach/ guide you to create 5 lovely paintings to take home.
Please note you need a reasonable level of fitness as you will be standing painting for 4-5 hrs. and walking with backpack to locations, though it should be emphasised that on this trip there will be minimal walking.
A few highlights of our painting week -
- Stunning private gardens with historic cottages opened especially for us.
- Painting opportunities from the jetties and decks of local yacht and boating clubs.
- The Akaroa Lighthouse
- Boatsheds
- A tiny exquisite historic church at the local Marae.
- Secret gardens and ancient sheds.
PRICES:
- King room with ensuite
$4785 inc GST per Artist.
3 available - Partners welcome $2500
- 1 large single room with ensuite on ground floor
$4785 inc GST per Artist.
- 1 small double with shared bathroom $4350 inc GST per Artist.
- 1 small 2 singles with shared bathroom $4350 inc GST per Artist.
Non painting Partners welcome - $1200
Non painting Partners
There are many activities for non-painting partners including a variety of walking tracks, Golf, boat trips, bike and mini mo-ped hire, the cinema, museum, and Giant’s House.
As we only have a 10-seater van which we will be using each day to go to location it might be advisable to hire a car if you want to go and do your own thing
INCLUDES:
- Pick up and drop off from Christchurch Airport
- 7 Nights stay at A La Villa
- All breakfasts
- 2 dinners, arrival night and last night
- 1 Fully catered Lunch at the private home and Gardens of award-winning chef and cooking tour operator in Puglia and Italy, Lyn Baynes
- The use of easel, brushes, paints, backpack, seat
- 6 Canvases or watercolour pad depending on the medium you choose to use.
Please note this
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfares
- 5 Dinners
- 5 Lunches
- Alcohol
Come and enjoy a week of plein aire painting in the beautiful Akaroa township and surrounding Banks Peninsula with me.
Wednesday 14th – Tuesday 21st October 2026 (Limited to 6 artists), partners welcome
This will fill up fast so book NOW!
Contact me now for more information on future retreat dates.
Info for Amber Emm
Painting Tours
Amber Emm, your guide, who will be accompanied by her husband Tony, has 25 yrs. experience of teaching adults’ painting, in oils, acrylics and watercolour. She is also an international Professional Artist with Gallery representation in 2 Auckland Galleries- Blackdoor gallery and Flagstaff gallery.
We will be staying in the stunning colonial-gothic French Bay House in the historic heart of the French village of Akaroa. This house, one of the towns oldest and most photographed is two minutes from the seaside plage of what was once known as the New Zealand Riviera. Many restaurants and shops, a boutique cinema, the local museum and the famous Giant’s House are a short walk away.
There are four stunning bedrooms with ensuites, and a fifth with twin beds and ensuite which can be shared by two artist friends with a commensurate reduction in price; two large living spaces to share and a picture-perfect cottage garden.
We will pick you up from the Christchurch airport then head out to the peninsula to our gorgeous stay, where we will enjoy a BBQ dinner our first night.
After breakfast each day we will head out to an especially selected locations to paint for approx. 4-5 hrs (painting materials all supplied, acrylic, watercolour, or oils), after which we will head to the nearest restaurant or back to Akaroa for you to get your lunch and browse for the afternoon.
Then we will re-group and all go out for dinner, or you can have dinner where you like, no pressure.
I will supply all the art materials - watercolour, oils or acrylics and teach/ guide you to create 5 lovely paintings to take home.
Please note you need a reasonable level of fitness as you will be standing painting for 4-5 hrs. and walking with backpack to locations, though it should be emphasised that on this trip there will be minimal walking.
A few highlights of our painting week -
- Stunning private gardens with historic cottages opened especially for us.
- Painting opportunities from the jetties and decks of local yacht and boating clubs.
- The Akaroa Lighthouse
- Boatsheds
- A tiny exquisite historic church at the local Marae.
- Secret gardens and ancient sheds.
PRICES:
- King room with ensuite
$4785 inc GST per Artist.
4 available - Partners welcome $2500
- Twin share room with ensuite for 2 artists
$4785 inc GST
Non painting Partners welcome - $1200
Non painting Partners
There are many activities for non-painting partners which our host and hostess Timmy and Jackie will assist with, including a variety of walking tracks, boat trips, bike and mini mo-ped hire, the cinema, museum, and Giant’s House.
As we only have an 8-seater van which we will be using each day to go to location it might be advisable to hire a car if you want to go and do your own thing
INCLUDES:
- Pick up and drop off from Christchurch Airport
- 7 Nights stay at French Bay House
- Double room or (one only) shared twin for two artists.
- All breakfasts
- 2 dinners, arrival night and last night
- 1 Fully catered Lunch at the private home and Gardens of award-winning chef and cooking tour operator in Puglia and Italy, Lyn Baynes
- The use of easel, brushes, paints, backpack, seat
- 6 Canvases or watercolour pad depending on the medium you choose to use.
Please note this
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfares
- 5 Dinners
- 5 Lunches
- Alcohol
Location
French Bay House
113 Rue Jolie
Akaroa 7520
South Island
New Zealand
Please feel free to contact me for any details and bookings



