High Country Cabin is a stylishly decorated cabin in the heart of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. Inspired by the Backcountry huts throughout the area, it provides a rustic country-style experience.
Situated 15 minutes outside of Twizel in the heart of the Mackenzie, it has direct access to all of the natural amenities that the area is world famous for including snow sports, mountaineering, hiking & tramping, mountain-biking, hunting & fishing among many other activities.
**IMPORTANT**WEATHER POLICY
High Country Cabin is in a non urban area. As such the roads to and from town can (not common but possible) become blocked in unusual weather events due to high amounts of snowfall. This is beyond our control. It is the guest's responsibility to keep track of upcoming weather events. In the event that unusually high snowfall is predicted and the guest chooses to relocate elsewhere, High Country Cabin will accept a cancellation and issue a refund on any unused nights if notified before the checkout. A weather forecast from a reputable weather forecasting website must be used as documentation for the cancellation.
**IMPORTANT**LOG BURNER
The main source of heating at the cabin is via traditional log burner. When used properly this a great source of heating. Follow these instructions to start a fire:
Place about 6 pieces of kindling (small bits of timber) in a criss cross pattern across the metal grate inside.
Place a single piece of firewood on top of the kindling
Place a small (about the size of 2 dice) bit of Firelight (provided) under the kindling
Using the provided fireplace matches, light the Firelight. This will burn for some time until your kindling is well lit.
Once the Firelight is lit, close and latch the front door immediately
Pull the air vent lever to OPEN by sliding to the left, until the firewood has caught fire
Once the firewood has caught fire, you can add more firewood in a criss cross pattern
Slide the air vent to the right to allow the fire to burn slowly steadily. Generally it should be almost completely to the right
IMPORTANT FIRE SAFTY TIPS:
-NEVER OPERATE LOG BURNER WITH GLASS DOOR OPEN
-ONLY USE PROVIDED LOG BURNER TOOLS WHEN HANDLING ITEMS INSIDE
-TAKE CARE WHEN OPENING LOG BURNER DOOR, HAVE A LOG BURNER TOOL HANDY TO PUSH BACK ANYTHING THAT MAY BE LEANING AGAINST THE DOOR
-NEVER LEAN OR PLACE ANY OBJECTS ON OR AROUND LOG BURNER
-DO NOT BURN PAPER OR NEWSPAPER IN FIRE, AS THIS CREATES UNNECESSARY ASH. USE PROVIDED FIRELIGHT INSTEAD.
-DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START FIRE USING HALF BURNT LOGS, AS THIS WILL CAUSE SMOKE. USE A FRESH LOG. ONCE FIRE IS ESTABLISHED YOU MAY ADD OLD LOGS BACK IN.
FIREWOOD & KINDLING
High Country Cabin is provided with a supply of pre-chopped firewood and kindling. To those who are not used to using a Log Burner for regular heating, managing this can take some getting used to. We suggest the following:
Always make sure the supply of kindling inside the house is maintained by filling up the indoor kindling basket regularly, wet kindling needs about 24 hours to dry to be useful.
Always make sure the supply of firewood inside the house is maintained by stacking and restocking the indoor firewood piles as you use them. Keeping the firewood you plan on using over the next 24 hours allow the firewood to dry inside the cabin before it's used.
LINEN & SERVICING
High Country Cabin is supplied with hotel-quality linen from a local hotel supplier. This supplier can replace the linen plus provide the cabin with a full clean at additional cost if required.
LPG GAS
LPG Gas powers both the cooktop and the hot water. If either of these stop operating simply follow these directions:
-Notify us that a bottle is out (so we can order a new one straight away)
-Switch all knobs on the cooktop to the OFF position (Water Heater is automatic)
-Go outside and locate the LGP Gas Cylinders
-In Between the cylinders you'll find a central valve which switches between the bottles
-Switch from the bottle is is directed to, to the alternate bottle
-Return inside and continue using
RUBBISH
Due to our rural location, there is no rubbish collection or bins. We ask that rubbish is bagged up securely and left inside the cabin (out of reach of wildlife). If you are able to take with you as you depart, this is also highly appreciated.
Easy Instructions: GPS Maps should get you very close to our driveway, then look out for a blue sign showing our street number.
Detailed instructions: When coming from Twizel, head towards Lake Ohau on Manuka Terrace. After a while the road goes from sealed to gravel (drive carefully), approx 2 kms on you will see the power lines cross from the right side to the left side of the road. We are the (second driveway) long straight driveway on the right that heads towards the mountain. There is a blue council sign saying our street number (available to guests with a confirmed reservation) at the start of the driveway. Turn off Manuka Terrace down the long straight driveway till you reach a farm gate, open and enter gate (please keep closed at all times). The driveway then turns into a gravel track, follow the track to the cabin.
Please keep vehicles to gravel track only, and do not drive elsewhere on property.
