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I'm a travel reporter who's slept in dozens of places. A tiny house in New Zealand stood out as the most magical.

I slept in a tiny house outside Queenstown, New Zealand, and thought it was unlike any 5-star hotel I've visited.

May 16, 2025 - 21:20

I'm a travel reporter who's slept in dozens of places. A tiny house in New Zealand stood out as the most magical.

The author in the tiny house. — The reporter in the tiny house in New Zealand.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

The exterior of the tiny house at the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

A view of the sunset from the tiny house. — The lake from the retreat.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The view from the tiny house.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

A sign that marks the start of the drive to Glenorchy, New Zealand.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

A view of the road leading to the Glenorchy tiny home.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The main building of the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

Dogs at the tiny house property.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The entrance to the tiny house.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The bed in the tiny home at the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

The interior of the tiny home in Kinloch, New Zealand.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

The interior of the tiny house. — Across from the tiny house's bed was a couch and a living area.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The bathroom in the tiny house.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

A screen drops down for guests. — The projector screen in the tiny house.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

Each tiny house had its own hot tub for guests. — Guests had access to a hot tub as well.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The property's original building.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

The exterior of the tiny house.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

A view of stars in New Zealand.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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

More pups — The two dogs on property.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.

One of the dogs at the Kinloch Wilderness Retreat.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

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.