By Alastair Paulin, Avenues Magazine Leave the trappings of civilisation behind, relax and drink wine – that's the mantra at Canterbury's latest glass pod in the Waipara Valley. We left the city behind, we left the kids behind, and – as it was midweek – we even left work behind. But it was not enough. We left the car behind and hiked the final half kilometre to the PurePod bach at Greystone...
For those hoping to escape the chaos and construction of Christchurch, Waipara offers ample opportunities for solace. A relatively new wine region, Waipara’s microclimate produces some of New Zealand’s best wine and food. After a particularly busy week, Nick and I were ready to spend quality time doing nothing, and where better than at a PurePod? If you haven’t yet heard of the PurePod concept,...
We haven't even arrived at our Kahutara PurePod and my friend is already marvelling at the silence. "It's just so quiet," she says, as we amble along a dusty path through paddocks and bush to get to our destination. Our home for the night is the Kahutara PurePod, one of two PurePods near Kaikōura. Featuring a glass floor, ceiling and walls, these eco-friendly pods allow guests to get as close to nature...
In need of an off-the-grid getaway? Look no further than PurePods. These tiny and tranquil vacation homes are located in Tourism New Zealand idyllic countryside. Far from ordinary cabins, the beautiful bungalows are raised on stilts and made entirely of glass. This daring design provides picture-perfect panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, the open skies, and even the plants below. Intended as an...
Road tripping around Banks Peninsula is a must-do. Nothing grabs my attention more than a place that's full of character and unique things to see and do. I'm determined to get to know more of my own backyard, here on the South Island, so I decided to spend some time around Banks Peninsula, a place that I have always enjoyed visiting but haven't properly exploredi. I skipped Akaroa, the most...
As our lives become more and more hectic, the idea of taking breaks away from our bustling cities is increasingly appealing. But back-to-basics camping doesn’t appear to everyone, especially if you like your home comforts. Now you can get closer to nature than ever before – without having to build a bivouac. On your next trip, why not book into an upmarket glass PurePod – and gaze through the glass...
Little River PurePod From the mysterious foliage-draped approach (exact location revealed upon booking) to the unplugged, invisible oasis-in-the-wilderness vibe the PurePod emits, this property is a unique destination that will enchant and beguile even the most hardened travel connoisseur. Constructed so unobtrusively into the surrounding 17 acres of natural bush, totara and kahikatea forest that the...
'A completely glass eco-pod immersed in the foothills of the Kaikōura Ranges'. About a year ago, we were fortunate enough to have stumbled upon one of New Zealand's most innovative developments in luxury accommodation, ‘PurePods’. Through a unique fusion of predominantly glass paneling complimented by timber and steel, PurePods allows the outdoors to meet the indoors, revolutionizing a stay into an...
On the walk up a short wilderness trail in a remote little Canterbury town it was clear we had uncovered one of New Zealand's most unique getaway. The look on Emma's face said it all. You know that look when someones expression just beams with disbelief; this was splendid isolation in complete privacy. As we approached our PurePod, we could not believe our next 24 hours would be spent in our own isolated...
The view is everything when you spend a night in a glass house in the bush and getting back to nature. THE SETTING There's a kingsize bed, a bar fridge, a couple of gas hobs and a tiny ensuite inside a glass studio unit, perched high on the hills above Little River. Purepods sits in a patch of native bush, is eco to the max, solar powered and atmospheric in a stripped bare kind of way. The floor is glass,...