OUR HUTS
SNOWGRASS
HUT
SIMPLE PLEASURES
This little hut is our architect’s response to this particular place, aware that to build here is a privilege not a right, to be done with lightness and sensitivity for the surrounding landscape.
Pursuit of luxury was not the goal, rather, striking that delicate balance between having enough and having it all.
This is a deliberately simple building for simple pleasures – a fire to light, a meal to prepare, companionship and a book to read. By day, it embraces the big skies and mountains beyond, but as night falls or bad weather approaches it looks inwards, a refuge and shelter from the storm.
HUT DESIGN
Tucked into the hillside, and concealed until you are almost upon it, the striking little dwelling with a steeply raked back wall entices you through its narrow entrance to reveal spectacular panoramic views of the valley and mountain ranges beyond.
Shaped simply for protection from the elements like traditional shelters, the building measures no more than 40 sqm, but doesn’t skimp on comfort or style.
Refined plywood interiors in the cosy open plan living and bedroom area deliver luxury and comfort while a generous porch, protected in all weathers leads to an outdoor bath.
STAYING HERE
Choose your space as the season suggests. In winter, or if the weather grows stormy, light the Roaring Meg log fire in the living room, pull up the chairs and gather around with your chosen book, or share a jigsaw or one of the games.
Dinner can either be on your knees or perhaps, a romantic candle lit dinner at the table with wine and your music playing. The porch provides the opportunity to have lunch outdoors through most of the year or linger there during the long summer evenings. Choose between sunshine or shade and move in and out of the breeze as you need. Settle into the depths of the hot tub as the sun sets on the mountains beyond or keep an eye on your meal as it cooks on the Weber BBQ.
Your bedroom is just a step away from the kitchen and living room area, comfortably furnished with a queen size bed, an Eco panel heater, individual dimmable reading lights, and footlights that come on automatically at night to guide you to the bathroom.
The bed has individual electric blankets, high quality linen and woollen throws. Inbuilt USB chargers are available on either side of the bed as well as a small selection of books – tailored for short reads.
Pull the curtains for maximum cosiness or leave them aside to watch the sun rise over the Old Man Range from one window while from another, it paints the peaks of the Main Divide crimson.
The kitchen is compact and discreetly integrated into the living area. It features a stainless steel bench with a two burner gas hob while food can also be cooked on the top of the adjacent little wood burner or alternatively in the BBQ in the porch outside. An under bench fridge provides limited cool storage but has a small freezer area with an ice cube tray. There is a comprehensive range of all the usual pots and pans, appliances and kitchen utensils that you might need. There is also a Nespresso coffee machine.
Indoors
The bathroom is pleasantly appointed with heated towel rails, quality soaps, shampoos and luxurious towels and hair dryer. Bathrobes and slippers are available in the bathroom for use around the hut There is an excellent high pressure shower with plenty of hot water provided by the gas heated califont system. A flush toilet means you will not have to struggle with the vagaries of composting systems often associated with off grid huts in remote locations
Outdoors
On the deck outside, you will find a Stoked stainless steel hot tub. Great for two tired bodies after a long session mountain biking or hiking while soaking in the view as the sun sets. It takes about ten minutes to fill and an hour or two to leave. Shelves are provided for candles, lamps, bottles and glasses and automatic footlights guide you from the living room
We have curated a great little library and offer a variety of board games and jigsaws. The hut contains a high quality Tivoli radio and audio system which has blue tooth capability to play your music.
There is excellent quality Wi-Fi service, while the cell phone coverage varies with the network provider. The Davis Weather Station gives guests a constant read out of current rainfall, humidity, temperature and windspeed
If you are considering walking or mountain biking there is a large scale Inverary Station aerial photo and farm map on the walls highlighting the various trails to follow.
If you want to explore the wider district, we have a large wall map providing an outstanding oblique (digital raised relief) view of the area from the Canterbury Plains to the Main Divide.
The building is about 40 sq metres with a further 30 sq metres of deck. The walls are built of Formance structurally insulated panels, lined internally with poplar plywood and on the exterior with Shadowclad natural wood panels and battens. Our own timber, milled on the property, has been used extensively in the build – particularly the deck and porch areas.
You will be staying in a high country environment and that means anything can happen. If you don’t pack the right clothing, it probably will!
The hut gets its share of strong winds and sometimes snow in the winter but it has been designed and built with all these things in mind. It is substantially insulated and has covered areas of shade and protection from the wind. If snow does fall, we are equipped to deal with it and the views will be stunning, especially from the hot tub.
At Snowgrass hut, you are surrounded by nature and exposed to all its drama – spectacular sunrises and sunsets, gales, snow, rain and thunderstorms. You won’t just be reading about storms or watching them online, you are going to be a part of them. Watching weather here is a useful question about who is really in charge.
