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The Summer House at Rockwood Station is just one hour and 15 minutes from Christchurch city and 25 minutes from both Darfield and Methven.
The Summer House was designed by hosts, Cheryl and Ben, to be a peaceful retreat... an oasis of calm for busy lives... Somewhere to switch off, unplug and soak up the natural surrounds of their stunning high country farm.
The accommodation consists of one large room with the bedroom and kitchen in one area and a separate lounging area. Large glass sliding doors open from the lounge on to the surrounding deck. A bathroom, with a luxurious, deep bathtub is accessed from the deck outside.
An outdoor fire-place and beautifully landscaped sitting area sits right next to the Rockwood Stream that runs immediately in front of the Summer House. You can hear the gentle flow of the water over the rocks as you sip your cool drink in the summer heat, or hot chocolate in the winter months.
The bird-life surrounding the summer house is incredible. Bellbirds, wood-pigeons, fantails and kingfishers are regular visitors. The bushwalk on the property takes you through 100 acres of native bush, and the beautiful woodland garden of the nearby, historical Rockwood homestead is a delight to explore
In the summer, enjoy a dip in the swimming holes up and down the river... In the winter, cosy up and tuck yourself away for a few days - maybe even enjoying some snowfall while you're there!
FROM $335 p/n
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.
254 Darts Rd, Windwhistle 7572
Rockwood Station is set just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. The Google Maps directions to get there are accurate.
Check-in: between 4pm - 7pm (or later by arrangement)
Check-out: by 10am
The summer house has one king size bed sleeping a couple. Top quality linen and bedding is supplied.
The summer house has full kitchen facilities, with running hot water, dishwasher and a small fridge.
There are an electric oven and cooktop provided for cooking plus a Nespresso machine for coffee. Outside, there is a bbq, fire and fire-pit.
The summer house bathroom facilities include a luxurious bath, basin and vanity and flushing toilet. The bathroom is accessed from the deck - so you will be exposed to the weather when popping in and out toilet etc.
Please note that the summer house doesn't have a shower.
Yes! The summer house is connected to mains power.
Mobile phone reception is very limited at the summer house.
A wood-burner keeps the summer house cosy and atmospheric in the winter months. An electric heater is also provided for a quick warm up when it's needed.
Rockwood Station is open for winter stays, but bear in mind that you're booking a back-country escape - without the usual luxuries of a hotel or home. Glamping is still a form of camping!
Rockwood Station has lots of warm bedding, an electric blanket, a wood-burner, and lots of other elements 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!
Rockwood Station is not suitable for children and is a strictly adults-only site. The one exception to this rule is for non-mobile babies under 6 months with BYO bedding and portacot. If you are bringing your non-mobile baby, you'll need to mention this in the comments box when you book.
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.
Rockwood Station is strictly 'no dog' accommodation (with no exceptions), but horses are welcome. There is a paddock just below the Rockwood Homestead where they can be housed during your stay.
The Summer House is set in a quiet secluded area on the edge of the beautiful 100 acre bush area of Rockwood Station, about 200 metres from the Rockwood Homestead. It is not visible from the Homestead and very private.
You can drive your car right up to the summer house and park nearby for easy coming and going.
In winter, or when the weather is particularly wet (or snowy) for a car, you may need to park at the homestead gate and walk the 200 metres to the Summer House. Alternatively, if it's accessible via four wheel drive, your host Ben, can drive you there.
Most of our stays are nature-based with components of outdoor living, and the Summerhouse at Rockwood Station is no exception. Because of this, you may be exposed to various creatures and critters that you wouldn't usually find at your average hotel or motel.
Yes. Rockwood Station has a designated outdoor fire 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.
Rockwood Station is a large sheep station. There are specific water hazards, such as the stream, and natural hazards found in the bush, such as sandflies and wasps. Care needs to be taken on the bush tracks as the ground is uneven and steep in parts. For your own safety please do not touch any machinery, or other buildings or sheds on the property.
All Year Round:
There is a standard minimum stay period of 2 nights.
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.
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 Rockwood Station - The Summerhouse.
Our minimum night policies are strictly adhered to. Please note that there are no exceptions to the policies outlined below for Rockwood Station - The Summerhouse.
All Year Round:
There is a standard minimum stay period of 2 nights.
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.
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.
All year round:
$335 per night for two people.
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.
Give the gift of glamping! Gift Vouchers can be used at any of our Canopy Camping Escapes glamping sites, including Rockwood Station. 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.
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;
(c) Unexpected damage or destruction of the site;
(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 (or 10% of the value of your stay) is non-refundable, however it can be transferred to another booking made within a 12 month period, if your stay is cancelled more than 21 days 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.
3.1 Accommodation is 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.
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.
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.
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.
Rockwood Station is self-catering. Just bring your own food and cook meals using the BBQ and facilities provided in the summer house kitchen. You'll find a Nespresso machine and all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.
If you want a break from cooking at any stage, the towns of Darfield or Methven are just 25 minutes away. Both the Dubliner in Methven and the Ski Time in Methven, come highly recommended!
The summer house at Rockwood Station is designed to immerse you in the surrounding nature - to completely relax and destress. If you do feel like getting active though, there's plenty to do.
On the property, explore the 100 acre bush, and the stunning country garden. There's a good road network on the farm too. Rockwood Stream, which runs past the summer house has some swimming holes which are a great place to cool off in the hot Canterbury summer.
In winter, hit the slopes! Mt Hutt is just 50 minutes from Rockwood Station.
If you're a keen walker, there is plenty of great walking in the nearby Lake Coleridge area, with numerous tracks and walkways to choose from.
Rakaia Gorge has a jet boat company, Alpine Jet Thrills operating jet rides up the Rakaia Gorge about a 15-minute drive from Rockwood Station. There's a Riding School for keen horse riders just over the Rakaia Gorge Bridge and if clay bird shooting takes your fancy, Newzengland offers clay bird shooting and archery.
If you have ever wanted to try hot air ballooning, there are two operators in the area, Hot Air Adventures and Ballooning Canterbury.
For a relaxing afternoon, the More for You Beauty Salon on the Main Street in Darfield offers massage and beauty therapy.
For the golfers - bring your clubs and visit the Hororata Golf Course in Glentunnel.
Ben is a 5th generation farmer in the Windwhistle area. His great, great grandfather Henry Phillips settled at Rockwood in 1851 after a living in Phillipstown, Christchurch.
Cheryl, originally from Scotland, came to New Zealand in December 2003. She was introduced to Ben through a Scottish friend. In 2004, Cheryl came back to Rockwood to visit - and has been here ever since!
Ben and Cheryl married, and live in the homestead at Rockwood Station with their daughter, Emma. Over their time together at Rockwood, they've reinstated the bush walk through the 100 acres of native bush on the property, and embarked on a major bush care and regeneration project with the removal of wild sycamores from the property.
Cheryl has a keen interest in property and interior decoration, and over a couple of years, transformed the old working man’s hut into the wilderness retreat which is now the Summer House.
Rockwood Station has a fascinating family history, and a beautiful homestead and old English garden. Ben and Cheryl have found immense satisfaction in restoring it to it's former glory, and regenerating the stunning native bush surrounds. Sharing this with guests is something they love!
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