Glamping it up on Tara Road

Camping was once simply a getaway. An outdoor-sy summer holiday thing where, for many, sand in your sandwiches and ants and mosquitos were, if not par for the course, mostly tolerated in good humour. Nowadays, while most like to be near the sea, surf and night time action, many prefer the solace of peace and quiet in an isolated or bush setting. Mangawhai’s Kauri Tree Hut offers just such a hideaway. While a part of the Canopy Camping group operating NZ-wide Kauri Tree Hut definitely comes under the umbrella of ‘Glamping’ adding glamour which is so much more than a nice tent.

Aucklanders Ryan and Rachel McQuerry have 3 kids 5 and under. Ryan is a landscaper, an interior plant designer and an outdoors fanatic. He loves surfing, hunting and outdoor adventures. Rachel has a marketing background and a very creative eye studying interior design between changing nappies. Both are nuts about the outdoors. A few years ago hoping to find some place to escape Auckland on the weekends they stumbled across this overgrown, almost inaccessible Mangawhai block on Tara Road and realised it was potentially their dream property with beautiful native bush, a gentle stream and proximity to satisfy Ryan's surfing obsession. Using their combined talents Ryan restored the land and the old huts while Rachel has foraged far and wide for the perfect decorative touches to make these huts something just a little special.

Challenging? “Absolutely,” says Ryan, “and a lot of work just getting the property under-control. Then when we decided to restore these historic huts, we took on an even bigger challenge. It took every weekend and holiday of our already busy lives to get this place up to scratch.” The glamping idea came from their own love of camping. “Every Summer Holiday we pick different spots to camp in and have always really loved the simple joys of being outside.” Ryan relates. “The idea with the huts was to keep them rustic on the outside to look like original bush huts, but then deck them out with all the comforts of home to make for an easy and relaxing stay. It is like the ultimate camping experience for people who still like to be comfortable, but want to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature – through outdoor bath and shower, to outdoor cooking and eating and then lounging around in hammocks or swings. “

The couple admit they got lucky due to the existing location of the huts naturally suit the aesthetics of the bush and land. Mature trees give an air of stability and permanence rather than newness with calls from Kiwi and moreporks at night and Woodpigeons and Tui during the day.

“ The greatest appeal is mostly couples trying to get away for a couple of romantic nights. But we have been surprised by mid-week bookings as well as weekends,” says Ryan “ I think due to their proximity to Auckland, a lot of people see it as an easy place to shoot away to for a couple of nights for a special occasion. We’ve stayed there quite a few times over winter ourselves and it still works really well. The huts are insulated and warm with plenty of hot water so actually fit the glamping scene very well. So I think that brave glampers would still enjoy it in the winter.

While The Canopy Camping team do a super good job of promotion, the McQuerry’s are sure as more people stay at the huts that word of mouth will also help a lot.

The couple plan on building a house at the top of the 13 acre plot sometime next year. “That has always been our intention,” they say “but we won’t ever do a B & B sort of gig with these huts. The nicest part of staying in them is being left alone to relax and interact with nature.”

http://www.canopycamping.co.nz/kauri-tree-hut