So you’re interested in how we set up our cabins in such unique locations around New Zealand? Well it all starts with us meeting land owners that have expressed an interest in hosting one of our cabins. If the hosts and the land checks out we then get to work planning the set up.

Backing the Repose x Mt Taranaki Farm Stay cabin into place at the end of a steep ridge.

When it comes to the set up we will tow a cabin anywhere in New Zealand. Some sites are easier than others to access, when it came to the Repose x Martinborough Grove Stay we had some fun getting the cabin up the terraces in the olive grove. No site is impossible to get to get to, but sometimes they do require some out of the box thinking to make it work.

Now that we have the cabin where we want it on the site to maximise the views and give privacy its time for us to start levelling it out. When heading to a new site we take a trailer full of everything we need/think we might need for the day. Our cabins are generally set up off the beaten track so we aren’t able to just pop down to the shops and get something if we are missing it, we spend a considerable amount of time planning out everything we may need to meet any eventuation.

Repose x Pouakai Crossing Stay cabin sitting on site

In order to get the cabin level we use 4x4 posts cut down into blocks, we find this provides a stable adjustable platform for us to sit the cabin on as well as being low impact to the site. With the use of an 8 ton bottle jack we move each corner of the cabin up and down until we have the cabin siting exactly how we want it. It’s important to us that while setting up we disturb the site as little as possible, the benefit of our cabins being on trailers is that we are able to move them off site if the circumstances for us or the host changes. In the event of this we want to leave the site exactly how we found it, a lot of care and consideration is taken when setting a cabin up.

Now that the cabin is off its wheels and sitting safely on blocks its time for us to start maximising the space outside the cabin. Whether it be an outdoor bath, a deck, or a hammock, we think it’s important to provide our guests with areas outside the cabin for them to enjoy during their stay.

Repose x Pouakai Crossing Stay blocked up on site

The way we set up the outdoor space is always site specific we like the fact that each site is different and this gives us the opportunity to create different experiences for our guests between our locations. Building a deck is a personal favourite of ours, depending on the site we may build this wrapping around the cabin or off to the side away from the cabin creating a larger outdoor living space for our guests.

Putting posts in the very rocky ground at the Repose x Martinborough Grove Stay

Once the decks are done the next task is connecting the solar and water to the cabin as well as setting up the signage so our guests can find their way to the cabin. For our signs we get our Poppa (George) to hand paint them for us, you may remember him from our Build Diary, he’s always eager to lend a hand and has helped us both a lot over the years with various projects.

Now that the cabin is set up, the outside areas sorted and the signage displayed the last thing to do is to hide the trailer and make the cabin look settled on its site. The material we use to do this depends on the site, we often use fire wood cut into rounds as this suits most locations and really sets the cabin off. However in Martinborough we opted to use river stone, the grove was full of stone and our host Mike actually builds stone walls himself from it so we figured it was a nice way to finish the cabin and match it into the property.

A half built dry stone wall at the Repose x Martinborough Grove Stay

Now that you’ve seen what goes in to setting up one of our cabins how about booking a luxury cabin stay to remember for yourself? Click on a cabin below,

Build Diary: Cabin Set Up