High Country Cabin is a stylishly decorated cabin in the heart of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. Inspired by the Backcountry huts throughout the area, it provides a rustic country-style experience.
Situated 15 minutes outside of Twizel in the heart of the Mackenzie, it has direct access to all of the natural amenities that the area is world famous for including snow sports, mountaineering, hiking & tramping, mountain-biking, hunting & fishing among many other activities.
The space
**PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING**
I have 3 similar cabins in the region, please read this to make sure you are booking into the right one:
High Country Cabin - This is situated in a rural neighbourhood with neighbours about 250 metres away on all sides. It is not remote (despite some of our lovely guests using this term). This cabin is a great base to get the feel of being out in the countryside while only being 15 mins from Twizel, and is a great location to explore Aoraki Mount Cook.
The Temple Cabins - There are 2 cabins here, Steeple Peak and North Point. These cabins suit guests looking for a more remote experience, in a very unique setting. These cabins are an hour from any shops or cafes, and suit more adventurous travellers who are ok being a long way from town.
Our 50 square metre cabin is designed to have a small footprint while still being stylish and comfortable. Take in the mountain views from the main windows, as you stay cozy and warm by the log burner.
There are some unique differences about being in our country setting, and we may not be for everyone. We are in a little bit of a wild setting, which can mean snow, heat, bugs, rabbits, sheep, birds. So if you're after a more controlled experience, satellite TV, air-conditioning and a day spa, then we're not that place. However, if what you're after are mountain views, curling up in front of the fire, and an amazing night sky, then you've found your unique experience.
Some more of our unique particulars are:
**IMPORTANT**WEATHER POLICY
High Country Cabin is in a non urban area. As such the roads to and from town can (not common but possible) become blocked in unusual weather events due to high amounts of snowfall. This is beyond our control. It is the guest's responsibility to keep track of upcoming weather events. In the event that unusually high snowfall is predicted and the guest chooses to relocate elsewhere, High Country Cabin will accept a cancellation and issue a refund on any unused nights if notified before the checkout. A weather forecast from a reputable weather forecasting website must be used as documentation for the cancellation.
PEAK SUMMER:
In our peak summer period (December to February) there are occasional days of extreme heat (30 degrees celsius plus). On average there are about 10 of these days during this period. During this time, the cabin can become quite hot during the afternoon. We find that opening the doors and windows creates a great breeze, and we also find it's a great opportunity to have a swim at nearby Lake Ohau.
DETAILS ON SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
-Our cabin features cleverly designed spaces for sleeping, using partial walls for separation and a degree of privacy. However please note that there are no private bedrooms etc. Think of it as a cozy, single room living space.
The sleeping arrangements are:
-1 Queen bed in master bed area
-1 Queen mattress in upstairs loft area
-1 Single mattress in upstairs loft area
-Log Burner is primary source of heating (works wonderfully) and experience lighting and operating will make things easier for you. Alternatively refer to the instructions in the guest book
-**COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE**
We supply quality plunger coffee and a coffee plunger (Can also be used as a pour over if you BYO a device). This coffee is Fair Trade Certified and the packaging is fully biodegradable. These values are important to us, and form the main reason why we stock this coffee.
We also have a pod coffee machine, however due to limitations with what we can get in town, we do not store pods as sourcing ethical and environmentally friendly pods is not possible with any degree of certainty in our local supermarket. Please bring your own pods if you prefer this coffee method. (Any Nestle style pods will work)
-No TV provided
-Refrigerator is an under-counter bar fridge with small ice freezer compartment
-At times livestock (sheep) graze around or near this property. Please close gates as marked
-The driveway and track from the road is unsealed. Please drive slowly and take care especially if you're in a car with a low wheel clearance.
-A note about the "neighbours": We're a small cabin surrounded by fields and other rural homes, close to a conservation park. As such we are surrounded by wildlife all the time. While our cabin is completely vermin proof, sheep, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs, field mice and birds can enter the cabin through open doors. We recommend that you keep the access doors closed especially when leaving the cabin alone for periods of time, and use the windows for airflow, in order to avoid unwanted visits by our sometimes curious neighbours :).
Guest access
High Country Cabin and the surrounding 10 acres are all yours during your stay. Feel free to respectfully wander (on foot) the property, and observe the livestock if you see them grazing. The property boundaries are within the wire fencing and gates. Please do not exit the back (mountain side) gate as beyond this is private property and our neighbours on this side are particularly private.
The livestock are raised for their wool, so are moderately used to human interaction and can be quite curious themselves, often looking inside the cabin windows. Please do not attempt to touch or chase them, rather observe from a distance.
Other things to note
Primary heating is a log burner, follow our instructions for that and other available amenities provided on our website if you're not familiar with how to use one.
-No TV provided, but we don't think you'll miss it :)
-Wifi is available
-At times livestock (sheep) graze around or near this property. Please close gates as marked
-We're not suitable for children or pets due to the log burner, steep stairway to the loft, and livestock that graze around our property
-Please read our weather policy, very occasionally during winter snow can impede or block access. Read our weather policy for terms
-RUBBISH
Due to our location, there is no rubbish collection or bins. We ask that rubbish is bagged up securely and left inside the cabin (out of reach of wildlife). If you are able to take with you as you depart, this is also highly appreciated.
