The Matchbox

Covid-19 update

Our campsites are open and operating safely at this time.

Please rest assured that if you do book a stay and a move back to a higher Alert Level means we have to close, we will postpone or refund your stay.

Last-Minute March Special

Book a midweek (Sunday - Thursday) stay at The Matchbox during March and pay just $260 per night for up to two people. That's $30 off the standard nightly rate!

Canterbury

The Matchbox is located 15 minutes from Waimate, 3.5 hours from Queenstown, 2 hours from Dunedin and 2 hours and 40 mins from Christchurch. It's just 5 minutes from State Highway 1 - so the perfect place to break your journey between Christchurch and Queenstown.

Small and perfectly formed, just like the wee box it's named after, The Matchbox sits high on the hills at 200m above sea level. The views stretch for miles - from the snow-capped mountains to the West to the rolling farmland of Morven and out to the pacific ocean to the East, and the vast pine forestry to the South.

Inside, beautiful bedlinens, leather seating, hand-crafted copper and timber touches and amazing tiling create a vibe of pure rustic luxury, with no expense spared. The bedroom, kitchen and bathroom are all contained within the same building - with large sliding doors opening out to the view beyond.

During the day, relax on the deck and take in the spectacular views, and the gentle presence of the Wiltshire sheep in the surrounding paddocks - the odd baaaa being the only sound to interrupt the total peace and quiet.

At night, soak in the hot tub and enjoy the lights of Waimate twinkling to the northeast, while the stars in the night sky sparkle from above.

FROM $290 p/n

Sleeps 4
Child Friendly
Winter Escape

A $50 Single Night Surcharge applies on top of the nightly rate when booking a single night. You will need to add this charge during the booking process. The calendar below will specify where one-night bookings are allowed.

Make sure you download or print this handy info sheet with directions and host contact details prior to your journey. You may not have mobile reception at all times.

address

244 Broad Gully Road, Morven 7979

directions

The Matchbox is located 15 minutes from Waimate, 3.5 hours from Queenstown, 2 hours from Dunedin and 2 hours and 40 mins from Christchurch.

Follow the Google Map directions to 244 Broad Gully Road (almost the end of the road) and turn right into the driveway just before the big silver shed. Drive up the drive, go across the bridge, through the trees and just keep driving up past the house until you find the little red building (The Matchbox) right on top of the hill. The drive is roughly 1.5km, so set your odometer to help you.

The key is located in a lockbox on the back of the hardwood box just to the left of the kitchen door. The code for the lockbox will be supplied in a pre-arrival email 5 days prior to your stay.

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 Matchbox

The Matchbox Location

What Time is Check-In and Check-Out?

Check in - between 3pm - 7pm (or later by arrangement)
Check out - by 11am

What are the bed and bedding arrangements?

The Matchbox sleeps up to 2 people in a queen-sized bed. Two trundle beds suitable for children are available.

Full linen, towels and bedding are supplied. The queen bed has a goose topper, feather duvet and is made up with 100% cotton linen.

What are the Kitchen and Cooking Facilities?

The kitchen is within the cabin and has a bench and cupboards with a 2 burner gas hob, extractor fan, and a sink with hot and cold water.

A large copper cylinder chilli bin with cold packs is provided, but it's a good idea to pick up a bag of ice along with your groceries for your stay if you like your beer extra cold!

There is a bar leaner and stools in the cabin for dining.

Some pantry basics are supplied - cooking oil, salt and pepper.

What are the Bathroom Facilities?

There is an ensuite bathroom with gas hot water, a large walk-in shower with drencher and slide shower heads and a vanity with mirror.

There is a flushing toilet connected to an eco-friendly worm-based septic system.

How does the Hot Tub work?

The hot tub is wood-fired, so you'll need to light this when you arrive and stoke it for a couple of hours while it heats through. It's not hard to do, but takes a little bit of skill with lighting fires and patience!

It's important to note that this will not be hot and ready to jump into immediately on arrival.

Is there Power?

There is no mains power. The lighting and appliances run off a 240-volt solar system. There are USB ports for charging devices.

Is there Mobile Phone Reception?

Yes - there is good reception at The Matchbox for mobile phones.

What sort of heating is there?

There is a Sparky wood burner which heats the whole building for cosy winter and shoulder-season glamping.

What is glamping like in winter?

The Matchbox is open for winter stays, but bear in mind that you're booking a glamping escape - without the usual luxuries of a home. Glamping is still a form of camping!

The Matchbox has a wood burner, and lots of warm bedding to make your stay cosy and atmospheric. If you book a stay in winter, bring your sense of adventure, brush up on your fire-lighting skills and be prepared for the elements!

Is The Matchbox Child-friendly?

The Matchbox is perfect for a couple, but if you'd like to stay with children, there are two trundle beds available.

Can I Bring My Dog?

The Matchbox has a strict 'no dog' policy (with no exceptions).

How Private and Remote is The Matchbox?

The Matchbox is situated on a private spot on a large farm and has lovely views over farmland to the ocean beyond. You'll see a few other farm buildings in the far distance but otherwise just hills and ocean for miles.

What is the access like and where Do I Park my Car?

You can drive right to the campsite on an all-weather drive suitable for all vehicles. Your vehicle can be parked right beside the building at the back within the fenced-off area. Your vehicle will be safe from stock and secure but please make sure you shut the gate.

Can I have a Campfire?

Yes. The Matchbox has a designated campfire area which is a great place to relax with a glass of wine and a bag of marshmallows at the end of the day. It is dependent on the time of year and conditions though, and at certain times of the year will be unavailable due to higher than normal fire risk. Your hosts will let you know if there is a fire ban in place when you are visiting.

What Do I Need to Bring?

Food and drink
Warm clothing in winter – especially if you want to soak up the evening stars
Toiletries
Insect repellent and sunscreen.

Can I Stay For One Night only?

Weekends and Main Summer Holidays:

There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday night) and during the main summer holiday period (20 Dec - 31 Jan).

Please note that during this period single nights are only allowed where there is a one night gap between bookings. One night gaps between bookings will be made available to book online with a $50 Single Night Surcharge applicable.

Weeknights:

Single nights can be booked during the week (Sunday - Thursday nights) outside the periods specified above with a Single Night Surcharge of $50 applicable.

Public Holiday Weekends:

The minimum booking period for long weekends such as Labour Weekend, Anniversary Weekend, etc is 3 nights. The minimum booking period for Easter is 4 nights. There are sometimes longer minimum stay periods across Christmas and New Year and these will be specified in the online availability calendar.

Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies for The Matchbox.

Minimum Nights

Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies outlined below for The Matchbox.

Weekends and Main Summer Holidays:

There is a minimum stay period of two nights on all weekends (Friday and Saturday night) and during the main summer holiday period (20 Dec - 31 Jan).

Weeknights:

Single nights can be booked during the week (Sunday - Thursday nights) outside the periods specified above with a Single Night Surcharge of $50 applicable.

Public Holiday Weekends:

Rates

All Year Round:

The standard nightly rate is $290 for up to two people.

Extra children are $35 per child (ages 1-16), per night up to a total of four people. Babies under 1 year, with their own bed and bedding, are free.

Single Night Surcharge:

Where single nights are bookable (see Minimum Stay Periods) a Single Night Surcharge of $50 applies. Please apply this during the online booking process.

The Single Night Surcharge applies to all one night stays, even when there is only one night available. By their nature, glamping sites are more remote and time-consuming to service than more standard accommodation types. Therefore, in order to cover the costs and time involved, a Single Night Surcharge is applicable to all one night stays.

Gift Vouchers

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. booking and payments

1.1 A deposit of 10% is required to confirm your booking and secure the property. This will be charged to your credit card at the time of booking. A 2.5% credit card payment surcharge will be applied to this payment.

1.2 On receipt of the deposit, you will receive an email confirming both the payment and your booking details.

1.3 The remaining balance will be due one month in advance of your arrival date. An email reminder will be sent to you 31 days prior to your arrival date, where an outstanding balance remains. The reminder email gives you the option to pay the remaining balance by A2A (Internet Banking) or credit card. If your internet banking payment has not been received within 24 - 48 hours, the remaining balance will automatically be charged to the credit card used at the time of booking. Please note: a 2.5% credit card payment surcharge is applied to all payments made by credit card. Credit Card data is held in a secure and encrypted environment.

1.4 Bookings made within 4 weeks in advance of your arrival date will be charged the full balance at the time of booking (this may be processed in two payments).

1.5 If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.

1.6 Bookings made online within 48 hours of arrival will not be confirmed immediately. Once the campsite has agreed that the booking can be honoured, the guest will be informed by Canopy Camping Escapes and the credit card used for the online booking will be charged the full balance of the stay (note that there is a 2.5% credit card fee).

2. cancellation, date changes and severe weather warnings

2.1 Canopy Camping reserves the right to cancel the booking in the event of exceptional or unforeseen circumstances. This right will only be exercised in good faith and in exceptional circumstances such as:

(a) Extreme weather conditions that mean accessing or staying may pose a safety risk for the guest;

(b) Any alteration to the host property which may pose a safety risk for the guest;

(d) A death in the host families.

Canopy Camping’s liability will be limited to refund of booking cost and under no circumstances shall extend to any other incidental or other costs incurred by the client. In the unlikely event that Canopy Camping must exercise this option it will use its best endeavours to offer either a full refund, or to alter the booking to another date, or site at no additional cost or penalty.

2.2 Your 10% deposit is non-refundable, however it can be transferred to another booking made within a 12 month period, if your stay is cancelled more than 3 weeks prior to your arrival.

2.3 Cancellation or date changes by you within 4-21 days of your arrival date will result in 50% of the total cost of your stay being charged. Cancellation or date changes within 3 days of your arrival date will result in 100% of the total cost of your stay being charged.

2.4 Date changes made more than 21 days prior to your original arrival date are allowed without penalty.

3. safety and hazards

3.1 Campsites are often situated on working farms and there are hazards both natural and man-made. You accept that you enter the property at your own risk to participate in a glamping holiday.

3.2 Participation in activities such as, outdoor baths, climbing trees, walking on the property and any other activity on the property is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.

3.3 Canopy Camping Escapes accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.

4. pets

No pets allowed unless otherwise specified on the website listing. Most campsites are situated on working farms, and therefore are not suitable for visiting pets.

5. GST (standard)

GST of 15% (where applicable) is included in the daily per night cost. A tax reciept will be supplied if requested.

6. conditions of occupancy and conduct

6.1 Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid holiday period only.

6.2 Guests are required to observe the rules and familiarise themselves with the procedures contained in the information folder provided in the accommodation.

6.3 Guests shall take all reasonable and proper care of the property and its furniture, fittings and effects in or on the property and leave them in the same state of repair, condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period.

6.4 Guests are required to inform the owner of any damage or breakage in or around the property promptly so that it can be repaired and replaced for the next guests. Guests are bound to reimburse the owners for replacement or repair.

6.5 Where the property has not been left in the same state of condition, cleanliness and tidiness as at the commencement of the rental period, the guest will be required to pay an additional cleaning cost of $100.

6.6 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property.

6.7 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with Canopy Camping Escapes.

7. authority to sign

The person who completes the Booking Form certifies that: he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date; the signatory is over eighteen years of age; they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy Camping Escapes if they are not a member of the holiday party.

Eating and Drinking

The Matchbox is self-catering. Just bring your own food, and cook meals using the facilities provided in your cabin kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need. Read more about the kitchen facilities under 'Essentials'.

If you want a break from cooking at any stage, award-winning, fine dining restaurant Riverstone Kitchen is just 20 minutes away. Also recommended by your hosts, is the amazing Indian restaurant, Fishtail, or the recently renovated and refurbished Waimate Hotel. For something slightly more casual, The Barn is a hearty and tasty option. You'll also find takeaways such as fish and chips and Chinese in Waimate.

A supermarket for stocking up on supplies can be found at Waimate (15 minutes away) or Oamaru (30 minutes away).
Things to do

Relax in the wood-fired cedar hot tub and soak up the views. Enjoy the incredible views across farmland and out to sea. At night, spark up the firepit and enjoy star-gazing in the incredible night sky. There are board games for a bit of old-fashioned friendly competition too!

If you want to get out and about locally, check out Kelsey's Bush behind Waimate. This is the last remnant of native bush in the area. The Whitehorse monument above Waimate has great views, walks and mountain biking. The Wainono Lagoon has a wetland walk with a variety of native wildlife to spot.

Active types might want to ride a part of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail that starts at Mt Cook and ends in Oamaru. You can choose to do sections - and it's kid-friendly too.

If you're keen to go further explore afield, you can day trip to Mt Aoraki, Tekapo, and Twizel. Check out the penguin colony in Oamaru, and the fascinating steampunk culture in the historic part of Oamaru. Timaru has Caroline Bay and the Maori Rock Art gallery which are both worth a visit.
Your Hosts

Adam, Karen and their daughter Mya are your hosts at the Matchbox. Named after a tiny house, that Adam and Karen lived in whilst teaching and travelling overseas, the Matchbox was designed to take in the incredible 360-degree views up and down the East Coast and out to the Pacific Ocean. The Matchbox became a year-long project, with Adam and Karen completing much of the building work themselves. Alongside providing accommodation, Adam, Karen and Mya farm fully shedding Wiltshire sheep, Speckled Park cattle and raise around 250 beef calves each year. Both with education backgrounds, Adam and Karen are enjoying the huge learning curve that their new direction into farming is and look forward to sharing their 'special place' with others.

"
It was a great place to relax and take in the views! We made the most of the hot tub! Great spot.
"
Kristen Stuart - 01 Apr 2021
"
This was the best trip away for our anniversary, I would recommend this to anyone that needs to escape from reality as you really will feel like its just you and the view. We cannot wait to come back!
"
Careena Green - 12 Mar 2021
"
Absolutely loved it, the matchbox has incredible views.
"
Joel Goldthorpe - 10 Mar 2021
"
We stayed at the matchbox for 3 nights. We were incredibly comfortable. The Matchbox has a great feel to it, it's been built beautifully. We woke up to wonderful sunrises and watched the sky turn pink in the evening from the hot tub. It was very hard to leave! Thanks Adam and Karen for a great escape!
"
David Gare - 16 Feb 2021
"
Wow! What an absolutely stunning location - the views are unbelievable, and watching a big thunderstorm from The Matchbox was an experience we won't forget. The Matchbox itself is fabulous - from the smell of the wood used to line it, to the incredibly comfy bed, everything was great. It was a wonderfully relaxing break away, we'll definitely be back, thanks.
"
Kirstie Winter - 02 Feb 2021
"
This was one of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed. A little slice of secluded heaven!!
"
Emily Watkinson - 12 Jan 2021
"
We were gifted a Canopy Escapes voucher for our wedding and for our first anniversary we booked the Matchbox. It was so beautiful! Very cool 'escape' and highly recommend it. Thanks, Josh & Anna.
"
Anna Campbell - 12 Jan 2021
"
It was so lovely to be “off the grid” the sustainable feel of The Matchbox made for a great night away. Perfect way to reset and have some time to reflect.
"
Ben Collis - 30 Dec 2020
"
The place has everything we needed and more. I love the styling! Everything is high-end luxury with a recycled natural vibe. The 360degree and wide open spaces were a gift to my soul.
"
Maja Whitaker - 06 Nov 2020
"
Fantastic spot with lovely views. A great place to relax with a glass of wine and a good book
"
Mark Didham - 05 Nov 2020
"
We really enjoyed staying at The Matchbox. We loved hot tub, fire pit and Sparky wood burner. We did a great BBQ with the fire pit. The hot tub was amazing!! It was like a hot spring or Japanese Onsen. We don't have a nice Onsen in NZ so it was so special for us. Everything was so clean and so cozy. We can't wait to come back next time. I'm sure The Matchbox is the best glamping in NZ.
"
Miyuki Tanaka - 21 Oct 2020
"
The Matchbox was the perfect weekend getaway! Can’t beat waking up to rolling hills with a sunrise over the sea while enjoying a morning coffee!
"
Kate Pryor - 19 Oct 2020
"
This was way better than we expected and had a superb relaxing weekend. We can't recommend the Matchbox highly enough!!! 5 stars!!!
"
David Josland - 05 Oct 2020
"
Peaceful and relaxing, the view the surroundings were amazing. If you want to go somewhere and read, eat, drink and do nothing - then The Matchbox is the place.
"
Glenice Herbert - 24 Sep 2020
"
The view from the Matchbox was lovely and the "hut" was very new and very well designed. It was a really comfortable place to stay. We enjoyed the hot tub and the outside fire pit for cooking bacon and sausages. Great for those who love stoking the fire. We loved how eco friendly the whole set up is, with everything solar powered and worm based toilet system.
"
Patricia Lucas - 23 Sep 2020
"
We stayed at the Matchbox Canopy Camping site at the beginning of September 2020. Our stay was extremely therapeutic away from the bright lights of the city nestled in an idyllic location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Matchbox is situated facing the morning sun and provided an incredible off the grid experience with many of the features inside being made of recycled timbers, including the incredible headboard. The refrigerator was made from an old hot-water cylinder! Adam was a fantastic host, very friendly and nothing was a bother. It was a great time of year to go with the beautiful Spring flowers dottering the farm and the sweet sing song of the lambs and calves to keep you company. Not to mention the hot tub which was relaxing. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
"
Amanda Gray - 12 Sep 2020
"
Our stay at The Matchbox was incredibly peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful. The accommodation is gorgeous and full of thoughtful touches. With the hot tub and those views, there’s no reason to go anywhere else!
"
Nick Harrison - 10 Sep 2020
"
The views are absolutely stunning from the Matchbox. Spectacular sunrises make it very worth waking early. The owners were great to deal with and really obliging if you had any questions or needed anything. I highly recommend the Matchbox if you are looking to get away from hustle and bustle. Also recommend The Barn in Waimate for a really good pub meal or The Waimate Tavern for a beer.
"
Nicky Fitzgerald - 10 Sep 2020
"
We had a two night stay at The Matchbox, Waimate. It was amazing, everything you would expect. Fully recommend that people experience this.
"
Cheryl Johnston - 26 Aug 2020
"
The most romantic vacation that we've ever had! Going off-grid gave us time to get back to us as a couple, and allowed us to unwind in a hot bath overlooking the sea.
"
Simon Anderton - 19 Aug 2020
"
The Matchbox is set amongst a stunning landscape. We were fortunate to see some beautiful sunrises and enjoyed being surrounded by nature, with spring lambs only metres away! The hosts were extremely accommodating and we cannot wait to come back again soon.
"
Courtney Giddens - 17 Aug 2020
"
Get lost in the stunning views whilst sitting in the hot tub or on the deck. Perfectly & thoughtfully set up to recharge and unwind.
"
Sarah Calnon - 14 Aug 2020
"
Great escape from Dunedin for us, felt like we could have been overseas! Everything you need, lovely big shower and we particularly enjoyed the outdoor fire to cook on. Would recommend without hesitation!
"
Hamish Todd - 09 Aug 2020
"
The most perfect place to enjoy if you want peace, quiet and a calm relaxing getaway. The place was well set up and organised upon our arrival and every attention to detail taken care off. We will be back if we are ever travelling that part of the country again! Fantastic communication from the hosts too. THANK YOU.
"
Megan Ireton - 30 Jul 2020
"
The Matchbox was perfect for a peaceful and relaxing getaway! The scenery is amazing and the interior is beautifully designed. The best getaway I’ve had in a very long time!
"
Toni Stallard - 22 Jul 2020
"
The Matchbox cottage was delightful. The interiors are extremely well finished and the location is stunning. It's definitely luxury camping at it's best. We won't hesitate to return for another visit.
"
Colette Tinney - 29 Jun 2020
"
Stay local, the perfect winter getaway on our doorstep!
"
Mike Beentjes - 29 Jun 2020
"
We chose The Matchbox because we wanted somewhere to escape from the daily grind, but close to home. Instantly we went into relax and unwind mode because it was exactly like the photos we’d seen of it and the fire was set and ready to light. The views were great and the night sky while soaking in the hot tub was priceless. The perfect spot!
"
Lucy Tremewan - 17 Jun 2020
"
Beautiful location, the views are unreal and it’s the perfect private getaway. Allows you to really disconnect from the rest of the world.
"
Kirstin Andersen - 17 Jun 2020
"
Beautiful and private, would definitely stay here again.
"
- 15 Jun 2020
"
Everything about this place is STUNNING from the views to the furnishings inside. The perfect little getaway with everything you need plus more. We found it so hard to leave this little slice of paradise.
"
Lauren Mccormick - 02 Jun 2020
"
We had a fabulous time staying at The Matchbox. The views were absolutely stunning. The Matchbox itself was super cosy, well designed and still smelt like new timber.
"
Lucy Kaan - 01 Jun 2020
"
The Matchbox is such a beautiful stay. With modern touches, it has such a homely feel to it.
"
Stacey Banfield - 28 May 2020
"
The Matchbox has a luxuriously rustic atmosphere and relaxing vibe. The attention to detail is fantastic and the views are stunning. Thoroughly recommended.
"
Blair Greig - 26 Feb 2020
"
House was amazing with incredible views. So well taken care of and we will be back for sure!
"
Mark Farrugia - 12 Feb 2020

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