What It’s Like to Stay in Magical Tiny Home in New Zealand

The tiny house is part of the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat. The property, which is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, has a café, restaurant, two tiny homes, a lodge, a lake house, and basic rooms for travelers.

Source: Kinloch Wilderness Retreat

With accommodations ranging in size and price, I booked one of the tiny houses during a winter special. One night, which included breakfast, cost $195 USD. They typically start at $250 USD a night.

I took the same route and as I moved through the twisting road — sandwiched between Lake Wakatipu and towering mountains — I saw spectacular views. I daydreamed about the vistas I hoped to see from my tiny house.

I navigated through Glenorchy to the tiny hamlet of Kinloch. Soon, the paved road turned into gravel, and a herd of sheep came into view.

Finally, I approached a scattering of buildings. It was my home for the night, the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.

But before anyone could greet me, I was welcomed by the owners’ two dogs.

I followed the dogs into the property’s restaurant, where I found Toni Glover, one of the property’s two owners. She welcomed me to the retreat, checked me in, and ushered me to my tiny home.

We walked from the restaurant to the tiny homes and passed a small garden, where ingredients for my upcoming dinner and breakfast would be sourced.

Then we arrived at two tiny homes. Toni pointed to the first one, which was mine for the night.

The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside was how warm the tiny home felt, looked, and smelled. An air-control system kept it heated, and with nearly every surface covered in stained wood, the room glowed with an earthy smell.

A shelving unit and wooden division created a partition between the entryway and the sleeping area.