I Spent a Night in a Tiny House in New Zealand; It Was Magical

2025-05-16T18:22:55Z

The Kinloch Wilderness Retreat sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand.
The retreat has three rentable tiny homes with stunning views of New Zealand scenery.
I spent a night in one of the tiny homes. It was the most magical place I’ve ever slept.

New Zealand is the land of hobbits and wizards, folklore and fairies, and unspoiled nature.

In the summer of 2022, I experienced the country’s whimsical land firsthand.

I spent nights in five-star hotels and tiny homes with porta-potties.

The most magical place I stayed, though, was a tiny house outside Queenstown, New Zealand.

The tiny house in question is part of the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.

Located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the property has a café, restaurant, two tiny homes, a lodge, a lake house, and basic rooms for travelers.

With accommodations ranging in size and price, I booked one of the tiny houses for about $195 a night.

For June 2025, a night in the tiny house costs $386 for two people.

Most travelers come to the retreat from Queenstown, which is about an hour’s drive along the scenic Glenorchy-Queenstown road.

I headed to the lodge and navigated twisting roads, sandwiched between Lake Wakatipu and the mountains.

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

Before any human could greet me, I was welcomed by the owners’ two dogs.

Then, one of Kinloch’s owners welcomed me to the retreat, checked me in, and ushered me to my tiny home.

The first thing I noticed was how warm the tiny home felt, looked, and smelled.

An air-control system kept it heated in the winter, and since nearly every element of the room was built from wood, it glowed with an earthy smell.

In one area of the small space, an enormous, cozy bed with floor-to-ceiling views out onto Lake Wakatipu sat.

At the front of the window was a cushioned bench with hidden storage tucked underneath.

Next to the bed was a living area with enough room for a small L-shaped couch and nesting coffee tables.

Toward the back of the tiny home was the bathroom. While small, it had luxe amenities like a heated towel rack and rainfall showerhead.

A curtain for the front window doubled as my TV screen, and with the push of a button, I could drop it down or raise it up.

The real treat of the tiny house sat outside, where the landscape around me was one of the most spectacular things I’ve seen.

Outside was a hot tub for guests’ use as well.

The original lodge, built in 1868 for nearby timber workers and tourists, still stands on the property.

Owners Toni and John Glover purchased the property in 2000. In 2016, they commissioned two tiny homes, which were inspired by the surrounding views

As I headed back inside, my dinner arrived. It was a large salad with greens from the garden next door, crispy chickpeas, cauliflower, shallots, and dressing.

After dinner, I spent the night admiring stars from the hot tub.

The next morning, I woke up to two pups waiting at my front door.

I had breakfast, packed my bag, and dreaded saying goodbye to this magical place.

I debated what made it so special, and it was clear that it was the thought that went into the entire experience.

From eating garden-sourced greens to having a warm towel after soaking in the hot tub, every detail of my stay was meticulously considered. And that was magical.

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