Holiday near home: you may discover a pigroot paradise
A swag of readers' stories followed, each more horrendous than the last. The column had advised that staying home was the best option but, even so, we all need a bit of a break from time to time.
Air New Zealand, busy fussing about cabin crew uniforms no-one has the slightest interest in, have seen fit to charge fares to Otago travellers which make it cheaper to make a couple of trips to Sydney than a single one to Auckland.
Happily, no-one really wants to go to Auckland so something closer to home will save you money, immigration hassles and the nuisance of sleeping overnight on the floor of the airport when things turn to custard.
From Maniototo there are no doubt pleasant breaks to be had around Otago and Southland, carefully avoiding Queenstown, and seeking something a bit different from the tourist-infested holiday spots of the rich and famous, but little did I imagine I'd discover Paradise on the Pigroot.
Officially SH85 from Ranfurly to Palmerston, the road is one I travel many times and it's a pleasant drive, especially when it becomes a familiar old friend and you've learned to spot the signs of its gold rush days as a major road to the riches of Central Otago.
The road to Macraes joins the Pigroot and it was this turn-off I was advised to take.
"Not far along you'll find a gate. Go through the gate and follow the track. That's where you'll find what you need," was the advice. Already it was high enough to give views of the Razorback Range across Shag Valley and even a glimpse of the sea beyond Puketapu at Palmerston.
Just ahead of me was what might be a musterer's hut. No wonder musterers love their time on the hills. Cosseted by superb scenery on every side and no other human beings doing their "only man is vile" routine.
A drive of a few minutes and I was there. But this was no musterers' hut. It was luxury accommodation standing alone 400m above sea level. Alone, that is, apart from a dozen sheep in the adjoining paddock and they seemed a pretty likeable bunch.
What I had discovered, less than an hour from home, was a tourism venture which gives a taste of the high country with all the comforts of home. In fact, with more comforts than home. A welcoming complimentary block of New Zealand-made chocolate and an outdoor hot tub ready for a plunge just never happens at my home.
I learned that there's more than 200 of these high-country hideaways around the country, including some in Maniototo, a mere 10-minute drive from home.
The paradise on the Macraes road is on the farm of Rob Hewett and Helena Robinson. Rob's family have farmed there for generations and Helena is a doctor plying her skills in Palmerston and Oamaru as well as looking after two youngsters with a third on the way.
About five years ago the couple looked at diversifying and built this luxury accommodation in what some would call the middle of nowhere. In fact, it is really somewhere. Free of traffic, smog, city noise and other people, it must make tourists from, say, Singapore, wonder if they really want to go back home at all.
Solar power, filtered water from a nearby farm dam and Rob's endless supply of firewood for the wood burner and the hot tub means all the bases are covered. Of course, you bring your own food, and guests are reminded that the nearest shops are in Palmerston, 20 minutes away.
The booklet in the hut suggests trips to Moeraki, Oamaru, Waikouaiti and the nearby Stanley's Hotel at Macraes but I suspect once you're in your hilltop eerie you stay put.
Does it work for Rob and Helene? Well, there's no time in the year when it's not busy. An even more luxurious bolt hole has been built just down the road and a third may be in the offing.
Wallowing naked in a hot tub at 400m under a night sky peppered with stars and other attractions could well be your answer to travelling without tears. No agonising over air bookings or ferry cancellations.
Just grab a pleasant companion, a pile of books (no television set besmirches this haven) and you'll be there before you've had time to realise you've left home.
— Jim Sullivan is a Patearoa writer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Air traffic control systems outage will be scrutinised, industry figure says
An air traffic control IT systems outage to the oceanic area affected flights in New Zealand and Australia yesterday, including this Brisbane-bound flight from Wellington, on which passengers were told the Oceania airspace was closed. Photo: Flight Radar An air traffic control systems disruption which affected trans-Tasman flights was highly unusual and will be the subject of a full review, an independent aviation commentator says. The IT systems outage on Saturday night forced some flights into a holding pattern, while others had to divert or were held on the ground. Airways New Zealand said the outage affected its main oceanic area's air traffic control system from 4.30pm Saturday, impacting flights in New Zealand and Australia. Air traffic control operations were switched to a back-up system during the outage, before the main system was restored and normal operations were back up by 5.30pm Saturday. Five flights were held in the air for about 40 minutes during the outage. Three of those were then diverted back to New Zealand and two were able to carry on to their destination. Airways has yet to provide any details about the cause. Aviation commentator Irene King, a former Aviation NZ chief executive, said Airways' management of the Oceanic air traffic control system was typically very robust and the glitch was highly unusual. "They'll be doing a pretty intense investigation as to what went wrong and why. This team are extraordinarily practised, and that's part of the assurance that they provide to the airlines and to the travelling public." King said she was not aware of any cases like this happening before in the airspace managed by Airways. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
19 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Air traffic control fault disrupts multiple trans-Tasman flights
Passengers on NZ271 were told Oceania airspace was closed. Photo: Flight Radar An air traffic control outage has disrupted multiple trans-Tasman flights on Saturday night, with an investigation now underway. Multiple Australia-bound flights were forced into a holding pattern, with some diverted back to New Zealand. Flight Radar showed at least one Air New Zealand flight to Brisbane had looped back and was in a holding pattern above the capital. Airways New Zealand chief executive James Young said the organisation's main oceanic air traffic control system experienced a "disruption", which temporarily impacted air traffic services operating across the Tasman. "New Zealand's oceanic airspace covers a large area across the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. The oceanic air traffic control system is the system Airways uses to manage aircraft flying to and from New Zealand across this airspace. "At 4.30pm, the main oceanic air traffic control system experienced an outage and operations were switched to a back-up system. During this time, flight plans for the Tasman sector were unable to be processed through the system, causing delays. "As a result of this, five flights were held in the air, three of which were diverted back to New Zealand after holding for around 40 minutes, with the remaining two flights proceeding to their destination after holding. Flights were also held on the ground in both Australia and New Zealand during this time, he said." The main system was restored at 5.05pm, and normal operations had resumed by 5.30pm, he said. A full technical review is now underway. "Our main priority is the safety of the travelling public and we apologise to all customers and their passengers who were affected," he said. Air New Zealand has been contacted for comment.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Air traffic control outage disrupts multiple flights, forcing diversions back to New Zealand
Passengers on NZ271 were told Oceania airspace was closed. Photo: Flight Radar An air traffic control outage has disrupted multiple trans-Tasman flights on Saturday night, with an investigation now underway. Multiple Australia-bound flights were forced into a holding pattern, with some diverted back to New Zealand. Flight Radar showed at least one Air New Zealand flight to Brisbane had looped back and was in a holding pattern above the capital. Airways New Zealand chief executive James Young said the organisation's main oceanic air traffic control system experienced a "disruption", which temporarily impacted air traffic services operating across the Tasman. "New Zealand's oceanic airspace covers a large area across the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. The oceanic air traffic control system is the system Airways uses to manage aircraft flying to and from New Zealand across this airspace. "At 4.30pm, the main oceanic air traffic control system experienced an outage and operations were switched to a back-up system. During this time, flight plans for the Tasman sector were unable to be processed through the system, causing delays. "As a result of this, five flights were held in the air, three of which were diverted back to New Zealand after holding for around 40 minutes, with the remaining two flights proceeding to their destination after holding. Flights were also held on the ground in both Australia and New Zealand during this time, he said." The main system was restored at 5.05pm, and normal operations had resumed by 5.30pm, he said. A full technical review is now underway. "Our main priority is the safety of the travelling public and we apologise to all customers and their passengers who were affected," he said. Air New Zealand has been contacted for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
