While travelling the world teaching for five years, they went out of their way to stay in quirky digs – from camping in a Kenyan game park and sleeping in a Scottish castle to experiencing a traditional hut in Norway and snuggling up in the Swedish IceHotel.
SkyScape, an architecturally designed, glass-roofed accommodation building on a 6000-acre high country station near Twizel, opened in April – and so far, so good.Now, after returning to New Zealand and making a shift to the Mackenzie region, the couple have realized a dream of running their own special retreat.
“We have received the most incredible feedback from guests – they love the expansive views, luxury cedar bath, attention to detail, remoteness and silence,” says Bevan.
“The closest house you can see is 10 kilometres away, you really feel like you are alone in the world.”
Bridget says they wanted to create a unique opportunity for people to “sleep in nature” while experiencing the Southern Hemisphere’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, which at 4300 square kilometres is also the world’s second largest.
Made almost entirely of glass, SkyScape was designed by Ian Perry of iDesign in Oamaru and has expansive views over the golden tussocks of the Mackenzie Basin to the Southern Alps, Two Thumbs Range and Mt John.
“Ian spent time looking at the formations of the mountains on the farm and designed a building that encapsulates the mountainous shapes of the Mackenzie district,” says Bevan.
It is designed to mitigate heat loss and stay cozy and warm amid the extreme conditions of the Mackenzie country, where temperatures can drop to -10 degrees Celsius.The accommodation unit is off-the-grid and powered by solar energy, with gas for the domestic hot water and central heating.
Bridget says the venture fits in well with the couple’s desire to bring up their two young boys on the family farm, which runs 1200 merino ewes and 150 beef cattle.
She and Bevan offer hour-long farm tours and a three-hour 4WD experience to the top of Omahau Hill Station, which reaches an elevation of 1350 metres.
“We see infinite possibilities with this venture and are thrilled to be able to open our private high country station up to visitors so they can see what we do every day.”
How to get to SkyScape
Guests check in at 47 Ben Ohau Rd – nine kilometres southwest of Twizel. From there, Bridget and Bevan take them on a 3km drive to their astral accommodation experience.
Other alternative accommodation
From luxury tree houses to grain silos, Canterbury offers some incredible unique accommodation options.
- Rest up in a humble grain silo converted into innovative and stylish serviced apartments with SiloStay, located in the heart of Little River,
- Stay in a luxury tree hut suite 30-feet above ground in the canopy of a native Manuka grove with Hapuku Lodge and Tree Houses in Kaikoura.
- Sleep in a glass pod surrounded by nature in Kaikoura, Banks Peninsula or Waipara with PurePods.
- Go to jail for a night with The Jailhouse in Christchurch, which once served as a prison and was refurbished and opened as accommodation a decade ago.
- Spend the evening staring at the stars from a ‘wooden tent’ with see-through roofing at Onuku Farm Hostel on Banks Peninsula.
- Try your hand at glamping with Canopy Camping Escapes at Lavericks Bay in Banks Peninsula or Camp Kekerengu in Kaikoura.
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