Cattle Flat Hut is set on Knockindale Farm, about one hour from Christchurch and 20 minutes from Akaroa on Banks Peninsula.
Small, but perfectly formed, this hut is a tiny house with a serious style. A modern bathroom and kitchen, queen bed and small lounge area are all contained within the hut. Up-to-the-minute decor and thoughtful touches fill the space. A small wood burner creates a cosy atmosphere during winter - with giant double-glazed windows connecting you to the outdoors. In summer, the deck extends the living space... with easy access out to a wood-fired hot tub.
Overlooking Pigeon Bay to the hills of North Canterbury, the view is breathtaking. Enjoy alfresco dining at sunset, and later, watch the changing light on the hills and the water from the warmth of your wood-burning tub.
Whether you're touring the South Island, or just wanting a brief city escape, Cattle Flat Hut is a romantic and luxurious stay, in a beautiful kiwi landscape.
FROM $290
Pigeon Bay Road, Pigeon Bay 7583
Cattle Flat Hut is located at Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula, just over one hour from Christchurch. The Google Maps instructions will get you to Pigeon Bay Road - then follow the written instructions below to find the property.
A 4WD is ideal for driving on the shingle track to the hut but not essential. Most cars will be fine, and you may only have issues if your car is particularly low. If you are finding the track to rough for your car please park up and walk the rest of the track on foot. Please drive slowly and be respectful of livestock. The track is approximately 1.2km.
Note: If you have booked within 5 days and haven't received a pre-arrival email shortly after booking, please email us at [email protected].
The minimum stay for a particular day or date can vary depending on factors such as the day of the week, the time of year and the host's preferences.
The easiest way to check what's available is to use the online calendar for this escape—it’ll show you the current options for your dates.
Please note that the minimum stay rules are set by the host and can’t be adjusted, so we’re not able to make exceptions.
If the stay length doesn’t quite match what you’re after, head to Find Your Escape, enter your check-in date and preferred length of stay, and browse other great options that might be a better fit.
To find out if single nights are available at this escape, check the online calendar and see if your preferred date is available to book.
If this escape isn’t available, head to Find Your Escape, enter your check-in date and length of stay, and browse all one-night options available for that day.
Please note that the minimum stay rules are set by the host and can’t be adjusted, so we’re not able to make exceptions.
The hut sleeps two people in a queen-size bed.
Full linen, towels and bedding are supplied.
There is a small kitchen within the hut that has, a double gas hob provided for cooking, a sink with both hot and cold water and a small fridge.
A BBQ is also provided for alfresco cooking.
All the pots, pans and utensils you'll need for cooking and eating are provided.
Some pantry basics are supplied - salt, pepper, oil, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
The bathroom is also contained within the hut and has a shower and basin with hot water and a flushing toilet.
An outdoor bath is set on the front deck, overlooking the views down to Pigeon Bay. This is filled with hot water from the gas califont and kept heated with a wood fire (during the fire ban season/dry seasonal periods and in high winds, the fire cannot be lit)
Towels are provided.
Cattle Flat Hut is completely off-the-grid, with solar power powering the lighting and only a USB facility for phone charging. Energy for hot water and cooking is supplied via LPG gas bottles.
Please note there is only a USB port for charging so you will need to bring the correct chord to charge your devices.
Yes, there is good mobile phone coverage and devices can be charged in the hut via a USB port.
Please note there is only a USB port for charging so you will need to bring the correct chord to charge your devices.
There is a small wood burner inside the hut for keeping things cosy in cooler weather.
There are no outdoor fires allowed at Cattle Flat Hut.
Cattle Flat Hut is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site.
If you're looking for a safe family-friendly glamping site, select the family icon in the search bar on our 'find your escape' page to easily find them.
Cattle Flat Hut has a 'no dog' policy, and it's not suitable to bring your horse.
If you're looking for animal-friendly glamping, check out some of our other Canopy Camping Escapes sites that welcome dogs or horses - you can select the filter in the search bar to easily find them.
Cattle Flat Hut is located on a large sheep and beef farm in a very private setting. You won't see or hear anyone else during your stay.
Access to the hut is via a 1.2km shingle farm track and three gates. You'll park about 100m from the cabin, but your vehicle is within view of the hut and will be safe and secure. You are welcome to come and go from the property as much as you please.
A 4WD is ideal for driving on the shingle track to the hut but is not essential. Most cars will be fine, you may only have issues if your car is particularly low. If you are finding the track too rough for your car, you'll need to park up and walk the rest of the track on foot or contact your host (his contact details will be provided in your pre-stay email). You'll need to drive slowly and be respectful of livestock.
Knockindale is a working sheep and beef farm, so for the safety of all concerned it’s very important to follow the safety guidelines and terms that you’ll find in our booking terms and in your Hut Welcome Guide. These terms and guidelines include:
Peak (1 December - 30 April)
The nightly rate during this period is $310*for up to two people.
Off-Peak (1 May - 30 November)
The nightly rate during this period is $290* for up to two people.
*This rate applies for stays of two nights or more.
Single Night Stays:
Where single-night stays are available on the online booking calendar, a higher nightly rate applies. This is to reflect the additional servicing time/costs that single-night stays incur.
Give the gift of glamping! Gift Vouchers are available for use at any of our Canopy Camping Escapes glamping sites. These are provided in electronic format, for you to print out and pop in a greeting card for the lucky recipient. Read more about our gift vouchers, including how to purchase one, here.
1.1 Canopy Camping Limited (Canopy Camping Escapes, also referred to as we, our and us) has a curated collection of unique nature-based properties throughout New Zealand, independently owned and operated by individual owners of the properties (Hosts).
1.2 By making a booking through our website (here) (Website), you, as the person making the booking, agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (Booking Conditions).
1.3 Canopy Camping Escapes enters into these Booking Conditions as an agent for the Host. That means that you are making an agreement with the Host for the use of its property. Anything Canopy Camping Escapes does (including enforcing any of the Host’s rights), it does so as agent for the Host and is not a party to your agreement with the Host.
1.4 In these terms:
2.1 If you book within 28 Days of your check-in time, full payment via credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) is required at the time of booking. If you book more than 28 Days prior to your check-in time, a deposit of 10% is required to confirm your booking and secure the property. This will be charged to your credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) at the time of booking. A credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payment surcharge of up to 2.5% will be applied to all credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payments.
2.2 Bookings are considered confirmed once you have made your online booking and payment and we have sent an email to the address provided to us which confirms both the payment and your booking details. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us as soon as possible. However, we (as agent for the Host) reserve the right to cancel any booking within 12 Days of the confirmation email where we discover that you, or any of your guests, has previously breached these Booking Conditions in relation to a previous booking. In that case, you will receive an email advising you that the booking has been declined, and the full amount paid by you at the time of booking will be refunded to the credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) you provided during the booking process.
2.3 If you book more than 28 Days prior to your check-in time, the remaining balance of your stay will be due 28 Days prior to your check in time. An email reminder will be sent to you at this time requesting payment for the outstanding balance. The reminder email gives you the option to pay the remaining balance by A2A (Internet Banking) or credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard). If your payment has not been received within 24 hours, the remaining balance will automatically be charged to the credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) used at the time of booking. Please note: a 2.5% credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) payment surcharge is applied to all payments made by credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard). Credit/Debit Card data is held in a secure and encrypted environment.
2.4 If any amount is not paid when due, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.
3.1 Your 10% deposit (or 10% of the value of your stay if you have paid in full) is non-refundable, however it can be transferred to another booking made within 12 months of the date of confirmation of your original booking, if you cancel your stay more than 21 Days prior to your check-in time.
3.2 Cancellation or date changes by you that are between 3 and 21 Days prior to your check-in time will result in 50% of the total cost of your stay being charged. Cancellation or date changes made 3 Days (72 hours) or less prior to your check-in time will result in 100% of the total cost of your stay being charged.
3.3 Date changes made more than 21 Days prior to your check-in time are allowed without forfeit of any amounts paid.
3.4 Force Majeure
You are entitled to a full refund if you need to cancel for the following reasons:
Road closure. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, a road on your route to your accommodation is designated by Waka Kotahi as closed or for essential travel only, and there is no detour, or the detour adds more than two hours to your travel according to the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner.
Metservice RED Weather Warning. If at 1pm on the day before your arrival, the Metservice has issued a RED warning/forecast in either your home region or the region of your accommodation, for either the day of your arrival or departure.
Natural disasters in New Zealand. Natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other severe and abnormal natural events causing large scale disruption of essential services and/or transport, specifically impacting your travel to or from your accommodation.
4.1 Exceptional or unforeseen circumstance
Hosts reserve the right to cancel a booking at any time in the event of exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. This right will only be exercised in good faith and in exceptional circumstances such as:
(a) Any alteration to the property or its surroundings which may pose a safety risk for the guest.
(b) Unexpected damage or destruction at the property.
(c) A death in the Host family.
(d) Our relationship with the Host ends for any other reason.
In the unlikely event a Host cancels under this clause, the guest may elect to receive a full refund or to credit the booking to another available date or Escape. The Host’s liability will be limited to the refund of amounts paid for any part of your stay that is cancelled.
4.2 Cancellation for breach
Hosts may terminate a booking at any time if they, or we, reasonably believe that there is, or has been, a breach of these Booking Conditions by you or any guest or visitor. Where a Host cancels under this clause, all amounts paid are forfeited and, where such termination occurs during the rental period, you and all guests and visitors must immediately leave the property.
5.1 Accommodation is often situated on working farms and there are hazards both natural and man-made. You accept that you, and any guests or visitors, enter the property at your own risk.
5.2 Participation by you and any guests or visitors in activities, such as, outdoor baths, climbing trees, walking on the property and any other activity on the property, is done so at your and their own risk.
5.3 To the extent permitted by law, neither we nor the Host accept any liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury during your stay.
No pets are allowed unless otherwise specified on the Website listing. Most accommodation is situated on working farms and therefore are not suitable for visiting pets.
Hunting or motorcycles are not permitted on the properties.
GST of 15% (where the accommodation is GST-registered) is included in the daily per night cost. A tax receipt will be supplied by Canopy Camping Escapes if requested.
8.1 Guests have a licence to occupy the Property for the paid holiday period only. You are responsible for ensuring that you and they arrive no earlier than the check-in date, and leave no later than the check-out time, specified on the Website.
8.2 You are required to, and must ensure that all guests and any approved day visitors, observe the rules and procedures in relation to the property:
8.3 You must, and must ensure that all guests and any approved visitors, take all reasonable and proper care of the property and its furniture, fittings and effects and leave them in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period. Where the property has not been left in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period, you will be required to pay an additional cleaning cost of $100 which may be charged to the credit or debit card used at the time of booking.
8.4 You are required to inform Canopy Camping Escapes of any damage or breakage occurring during the rental period in or around the property promptly so that it can be repaired and replaced for the next booking. You must reimburse the Host for the reasonable costs of replacement or repair of any damage caused by you or any guests or visitors and such costs may be charged to the credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard) used at the time of booking.
8.5 You must ensure that any access information in relation to a property (including any access codes, location of keys, etc) is kept confidential and not disclosed to any person.
8.6 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the properties.
8.7 The Host may access the property during the rental period to the extent reasonably necessary to undertake repairs or replacement or where we or the Host have reason to believe these Booking Terms are not being complied with.
8.8 The number of guests staying at the Escape overnight must be the same as the number of guests included in the booking. Any day visitors must be approved by the Host prior to your stay. No overnight visitors are permitted.
8.9 You and all guests and any approved day visitors must behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Host, the Property, other guests and neighbouring properties and neighbours, and Canopy Camping Escapes’ staff and representatives.
If you encounter any issues or problems during your stay, you must first contact the Host to try to resolve the issue. The Host should be given the opportunity to address and fix the problem before any further steps are taken.
If you decide to leave the accommodation early due to an issue without first contacting the Host to resolve it, you will not be entitled to compensation. Essentially, if you don’t give the Host a chance to fix the problem, you cannot expect financial reimbursement for leaving early.
If you have a complaint that you'd like to alert Canopy Camping Escapes about after your stay, please contact us promptly at [email protected] with details of the complaint. As an agent, we will be the initial contact between you and the Host but may need to put you in direct contact to resolve any issues.
To the extent permitted by law, as agent for the Hosts, we have no liability, to you or any other person, in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise:
Your rights are against the Host, not Canopy Camping Escapes.
If, for any reason, Canopy Camping Escapes has any liability to you under or in relation to these Booking Terms or your stay, to the extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the 20% of the amount paid by you in relation to the relevant booking.
Any liability the Host has to you under or in relation to these Booking Conditions or your stay is, to the extent permitted by law, limited to refund of amounts paid by you for the relevant booking and shall not extend to any other costs or loss incurred by you or any guest or other person.
Gift vouchers expire if not redeemed within 2 years of purchase. If a booking paid for using a gift voucher is cancelled, any refund will be by way of a gift voucher with the same expiry date as the original gift voucher. Gift vouchers are not refundable or redeemable for cash and cannot be transferred or on-sold.
These Booking Conditions are governed by New Zealand law and the New Zealand courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
We may amend these Booking Conditions at any time. Any changes shall apply to bookings made from the date of such changes. You are responsible for familiarising yourself with these Booking Conditions each time you make a booking.
Cattle Flat Hut is self-catering. Just bring your own food and drink, and cook meals using the facilities provided in your kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
If you want a break from cooking at any stage, Akaroa is just a 20-minute drive away, and you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to cafes and restaurants there!
Cattle Flat Hut is all about relaxing and taking a moment to slow down and unwind. Eat, sleep and soak in the tub, while soaking up the views.
If you want to explore the sights, Akaroa is a tourist hotspot and just a 20-minute drive away. You'll find shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy. You'll also find activities such as kayaking and swimming with dolphins.
If you're keen on some exercise, the Pigeon Bay Walkway is handy and features some spectacular views!
David McKellar and his working dogs 'Port', 'Grace', 'Tarn' and 'Fidget' are your hosts at Cattle Flat Hut.
The sheep and beef farm on Banks Peninsula is an old family farm with descendants settling in Pigeon Bay all the way back in the 1840s.
David has lived on the property most of his life other than a brief period in Christchurch for school and sport - and 18 months working in Western Australia prior to coming back to the farm in 2009.
David got the idea to offer glamping style accommodation on the farm from family friends at Lavericks Bay and loved the idea of sharing the peace and quiet and magical sea views with guests.
Cattle Flat Hut is named for the paddock it rests in.
The atmosphere at Cattle Flat Hut was just what we needed. High up, big sky, great view down to Pigeon Bay. Couldn't ask for a cozier vantage point to spend three days reading and eating. The rain and mist only added to the isolation.
"Claudia Herz Jardine - 01 Aug 2025
1 / 8
Gorgeous little hut on a remote sheep farm with spellbinding views. Sunrise to sunset was spectacular. Close enough to Akaroa to visit if you want to get out and about, otherwise just lovely to chill and leave the world behind. I didn’t want to write this review as I don’t want others to know.
"Rebecca Burdett - 22 Jul 2025
2 / 8
Just perfect in every way.
"Stacey May - 23 Mar 2025
3 / 8
Wonderful place to stay for a peaceful relaxing getaway. Views were glorious.
"Caroline Parker - 22 Jan 2025
4 / 8
Cattle Flat Hut was a fantastic spot. Very relaxing and I will definitely book again!
"Alisha Peter - 10 Jan 2025
5 / 8
Cattle Flat Hut offers an amazing opportunity to soak up the tranquility of the Banks Peninsula. We had a wonderful three days of solitude looking at the stunning vista of Pigeon Bay.
"Jayne Huntley - 13 Jan 2025
6 / 8
We really enjoyed our time at Cattle Hut. It was a perfect few days to relax by ourselves and really recharge. Stunning views and super comfy space. Would absolutely come again.
"Holly Cadzow - 09 Jan 2025
7 / 8
It was a wonderful location with amazing facilities. The view was to die for! Such a wonderful place to stay!
"Katie O'Neill - 11 Nov 2024
8 / 8
Beautiful tents surrounded by nature, quirky cabins with packets of personality and secret hideaways that offer something completely unique... Explore the other places in our collection.
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