As a young girl, I spent a lot of my childhood at the lake with my family. I know the drill of pitching a tent, lighting a fire and getting cosy with the great outdoors. I’ll admit, we didn’t totally rough it. My family slowly upgraded from tents, to pop up trailers to travel trailers and we also stayed in pre booked and well maintained campgrounds. In that world of mine though- I was camping and I loved it!
Recently Chris and I explored the Waitaki Valley. A part of New Zealand that isn’t exactly the most popular place but has one of the country’s most unique and luxurious accommodation. The best part is is that it’s basically camping, just turned up a notch!
Valley Views Glamping is where simplicity meets luxury bringing you close to nature.
It’s where you can relax and unwind, breathe in fresh air and simply enjoy the moment.
Which in our case is exactly what we did.
Located in the Waitaki Valley at Otiake, just 15 minutes from Kurow, Valley Views Glamping is no doubt a gem of the valley and THE place to stay when you’re exploring the area. Nestled in the hillside of a working beef cattle farm, the views are beautiful, the stay is cozy and you get to go camping! Eco friendly and in style!
The owners, Patrick and Amber Tyrell have put so much love and thought into making Valley Views Glamping what it is. Chris and I got to chatting to Patrick and Amber and if we weren’t headed home that day I feel we could have stayed and talked for hours. They have a passion for connecting with people making a unique and memorable experience for visitors.
The domes
There are 5 domes on the property that are all much larger than they look! With super king sized beds dressed with warm layers (especially for winter) and a clear view of the scenery ahead, you actually won’t want to get out of bed! The domes are simple inside but have just what you need and again, the cabin vibe decor, you know it I was taking notes for my own home!
All domes have a deck around them and two have log burners- the Lone Hill and Te Kohurau to keep you toasty warm! We didn’t have a log burner in ours and besides being a bit fresh in the morning it was just fine! If you do need some extra heat though, there are a bunch of hot water bottles for guests to use. Of course these domes are eco-friendly and do not have electricity in them. So it’s candles for lights (which I loved! Very romantic!) and power banks to use to charge a phone (if you must!)
The Lodge
The beautifully constructed lodge has a kitchen, bathroom and dining areas all working off solar power. The pot belly log burner heats the dining room up perfectly and creates a warm relaxing vibe. I also happen to think it looks super cool! There’s always tea and coffee available and breakfast is laid out in the morning. Cereal, toast, eggs, you name it!
The bookshelf is filled with games and books and because the domes don’t have any lights, there’s a table of headlamps to find your way back to your dome at night!
The Tubs
A short walk in the woods takes you two sets of tubs. Positioned for views of the valley and mountains in the background it is a lovely spot to soak and relax. It was sadly overcast for the night of our stay but I could imagine sitting in the tub on a clear night with the fairy lights glowing, the lanterns flickering and the stars shining, that it would be an extra magical experience.
Along with your stay, you can also book in for a massage, three course meal, take a riding lesson or head out fishing! Pricing is on their website and easy to book through!
What to do the area
Like I said before, the Waitaki Valley isn’t a super popular destination among tourists but has a lot to offer. The Waitaki is home some unique geological features like the Clay Cliffs in Oamarama, the boulders at Moeraki and Elephant rocks near Duntroon. If you have a spare hour and half, the ‘huffy puffy’ walk up Kurow Hill gives you epic views all across the valley and there are plenty of spots to set up for lunch around Lake Benmore.
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