If you’re a fan of idyllic rural getaways with cozy fires, stylish (and Instagrammable!) digs, and roaming sheep, you need to add a stay at High Country Cabin to your bucket list.
Located just outside the small town of Twizel, this rustic cabin is the perfect place to base yourself while exploring everything the Mackenzie region has to offer — although once you check in, you might never want to leave!
Big thank you to the High Country Cabin team for hosting us. As always, all opinions are honest and based on my own experience!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. When you purchase through links on my site, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you!).
Where is High Country Cabin?
The luxury cabin is located in the heart of the Mackenzie Country on New Zealand’s South Island, about halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown. It’s a quick and scenic 15-minute drive off of the main road.
Situated on 10 acres of rural backcountry land, High Country Cabin is far enough away from civilization to feel secluded but close enough to town to be a convenient escape.
Driving times from:
- Twizel: 15 minutes
- Lake Tekapo: 50 minutes
- Queenstown: 2 hours 40 minutes
Address: Ben Ohau, Canterbury, New Zealand
Twizel
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
Lake Tekapo
Queenstown
Glenorchy
All about High Country Cabin
From the moment you start driving down the Twizel canals to reach the cabin, you’re reminded of the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape. Because the cabin is in the heart of the Southern Alps, the mountain views you get along the way are outstanding.
When you arrive at check-in time, you’ll likely be greeted by the resident merino sheep that graze on the land. The cabin itself is nestled among an open field of golden tussocks, rolling hills, and wide blue sky.
Despite its relatively rural location, High Country Cabin is filled with all of the natural amenities and comforts you could possibly need during your stay. The comfortable beds, spacious kitchen, and log-burning fireplace will make you feel right at home!
The interior
Bedrooms
The master bedroom is on the main floor and features a queen bed with incredibly warm and comfortable linens. The room is simply decorated and doesn’t include any unnecessary frills, making it a chic and understated place to lay your head at night.
Despite the cold and wintry temperatures outside, I found that the bedroom was perfectly toasty at night and in the early morning during my stay. If you need it, there’s also a panel heater that you can plug in for extra warmth.
Upstairs, you’ll find a small loft with a queen bed and a single bed. This loft space is awesome if you’re traveling with another couple or group of friends! You’ll also get a beautiful view of the surrounding farmlands through the loft window.
Bathroom
The modern bathroom is located on the ground floor and features a toilet, a sink, and a fabulous shower. You’ll also find some mini toiletries from Forest & Bird Botanical, an ethical New Zealand-based brand with biodegradable packaging.
Kitchen
Staying somewhere with a full kitchen is one of my top tips for traveling New Zealand on a budget, and High Country Cabin does not disappoint!
You’ll find a mini fridge, a gas stovetop and oven, and all the basic pots, pans, and cooking supplies you’ll need to whip up a good meal. A coffee plunger with Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea bags, and hot chocolate are also provided for all of your tasty beverage needs.
If you’ll be doing some cooking at the cabin, I’d recommend stopping at one of the two supermarkets in Twizel before your stay. Otherwise, there are some great takeaway options in town as well (Mint Folk & Co, MOW Bar, and Fishtail Indian are our favorites).
There’s also a small washing machine located below the kitchen counter.
The exterior
The cabin’s surroundings are pure magic.
One of my favorite features is the herd of merino sheep that lives on the property. These furry little guys will often wander close to the cabin and make you feel like you’re on a real high country station. (Just watch out for bits of sheep poop when you’re walking around, hah.)
Around the front of the building, you’ll find an easy-to-use log splitter to help you break your firewood into smaller pieces of kindling. Inside the cabin, the log-burning fireplace is the main source of heating — thankfully, it’s really easy to get a roaring fire going thanks to the provided fire starters!
Since High Country Cabin is located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, it also makes an unbeatable place for stargazing and astrophotography.
The stars that you’ll see from outside the cabin on a clear night are unreal. I’d recommend bringing along a heavy duty tripod and some touchscreen photography gloves if you want to take photos at night — the wind and cold can be no joke!
Things to do near High Country Cabin
Although the cabin itself is amazing, the real beauty of staying here comes from right being at nature’s doorstep.
The cabin’s central location makes it easy to explore the fantastic National Parks and wilderness areas nearby. Aoraki Mt Cook National Park in particular is a must-visit — the incredible views of New Zealand’s tallest mountain alone are reason enough!
Here are some other awesome outdoorsy things to do near High Country Cabin:
- Hike the Greta Track near Lake Ohau
- Go salmon fishing in the canals
- Cycle part of the Alps 2 Ocean track
- Hike the Pukaki Kettle Hole Track near Lake Pukaki
- Explore the Omarama Clay Cliffs
- Go skiing at Mt Dobson or Roundhill in Tekapo
Final thoughts
Our stay at High Country Cabin was nothing short of spectacular. I truly think that this is one of the best places to stay in New Zealand and a must for anyone road tripping the South Island. (The cabin’s 4.97 rating on Airbnb would agree!)
The stylish interior, gorgeous surroundings, and convenient location can’t be beat. It’s the perfect spot for solo travelers, couples, or a small group of friends to stay near Twizel.
Book your stay at High Country Cabin
A one-night stay at the cabin starts at around $399 NZD. You can book your stay via your preferred platform through the buttons below.
As a side note, keep in mind that the cabin is often completely booked out — if you want to stay, you’ll need to book pretty far in advance!
You’ll also love:
- Tekapo Travel Guide: 14 Can’t-Miss Things To Do Around Lake Tekapo
- The Ultimate Guide to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
- How to Plan the Perfect New Zealand Road Trip
Thanks for reading this High Country Cabin review! Do you have any other favorite accommodation options on the South Island I should check out? Let me know in the comments below!
xoxo Niki
Flights | I start my search on Google Flights, then usually book directly with the airline so I’m protected in case anything goes wrong.
Accommodation | Booking.com is my go-to for booking accommodation. They have an awesome cancellation policy and a super easy-to-use website.
Activities | GetYourGuide is my all-time favorite site to book day tours and activities because their cancellation policy is unmatched. Viator is another great option, especially for multi-day trips and tours.
Luggage | Carry-on only or bust! I use my Fjallraven Kanken backpack on just about every trip I take. I also love Beis for carry-on suitcases, weekender bags, and makeup/toiletry cases.
Photography | I use my iPhone 12 Pro, a Canon G7x Mark ii, and a DJI Mini 2 drone for all of my photos and videos. I also edit my photos in Lightroom.
