A birthday getaway to New Zealand’s cutest cabin

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All right, it’s happened guys.

I’ve found New Zealand’s cutest cabin. I know, I know, that’s a bold statement. Especially considering New Zealand doesn’t do “cabins” in the way my little American heart wish it did.

Let me introduce you to the High Country Cabin!

New Zealand cabins are called a “bach” short for “bachelor pad,” and are often cobbled together little holiday spots, usually build out of leftover supplies on someone else’s land, usually off the grid, no wifi and with an outdoor toilet. Picture corrugated iron walls and roofs and drafty windows.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bach, but I often yearn for cozy cabins.

I’ve encountered very few wooden spaces and cabins in New Zealand, you know, that smell divine and remind me of my childhood in the Appalachia or my university years in New England. Why? Who knows.

My best guess is that most of New Zealand was deforested by us foreigners over the past century and and now all of the wood here gets sold overseas.

I really wish New Zealand would stop exporting everything great it makes, but I’ll save that rant for another day.

Someone please tell me I’ve got this all wrong.

Don’t forget you can join Airbnb today using my code for $45 off your trip to the High Country Cabin

Well, at least now, I can safely say I’ve found the cute cabin of my dreams and it happens to be in one of my favorite spots of New Zealand – Twizel.

Man I love Twizel. I don’t really know why, if I’m being honest. I just do, I always have.

Only 1.5 hours from Wanaka where I live, Twizel is just on the other side of the Lindis Pass on your way to Mt. Cook and Tekapo. The beginning of the Mackenzie Basin, here the weather is dry and beautiful, with man-made lakes and canals on either side and the twinkling Southern Alps right in front of you.

New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt. Cook is just nearby, but Twizel remains a sleepy little town that tugs at my heart a bit.

Twizel is the perfect place to base yourself for exploring the nearby region and mountains.

The High Country Cabin is just outside of Twizel right at the foot of the mountains and has some of the nicest views and cozy vibes around and some sheep for company in the paddock outside. No wonder it’s hard to get a booking in! Plan ahead.

When I was thinking of nice spots to go for my 31st birthday in May, I knew this would be the perfect spot, especially when one of my best friends came down from Auckland with me.

I love spending time on high country farms and stations in New Zealand, and the year before rung in my 30th birthday further afield in Canterbury at Lake Heron.

Maybe I enjoy spending my birthday with sheep for company. What does that say about me?

Wait, don’t answer that. Oh god. All my friends are animals. Fuck, when did this happen?

I’ve been following High Country Cabin on Instagram for ages, and it’s been on my mind to come out and stay for a long time. After that, I was so excited to finally make it happen in May.

Fulling embracing both my millennial and blogger side, I wholeheartedly book places that I find on Instagram especially when they look as delightful as this spot.

Luckily, it lived up the expectations and was even better in person. So much better in person that we actually didn’t leave the cabin the whole time we were there!

Boom! The marking of a good spot, I reckon!

Tucked away on 10 acres of Ben Ohau outside Twizel, this is as high country as it gets in New Zealand.

Especially when the sheep peek in the window – trust me, endless hours of entertainment. Though, I did feel a twinge of shame or two when we had a lamb roast in the oven for my birthday. Sorry sheepies!

As fall was ending and winter on its way, we cranked the woodburner the whole time we spent there, a bit of an indulgence considering how warm and well-built the cabin is, unlike many New Zealand houses.

The sunrises and sunsets were magical out here, and being in a dark sky reserve, watching the stars was a unforgettable.

Read, write, cook, nap, eat, repeat.

In conclusion, I couldn’t think of a better birthday, and a true mark of being in my 30’s I reckon. I’d rather hang out with one good person and sheep than party or be in a city, or even put on makeup!

The older I get, the more I value good company and unwinding in a beautiful place. I need to make more time for these experiences, what about you?

How do you spend your birthdays these days? Do you love cabins too? Have any favorites to share? Spill!

Don’t forget you can join Airbnb today using my code for $45 off your trip to the High Country Cabin

Many thanks to High Country Cabin for hosting me on my birthday in Twizel – like always I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!