The Flying Fox

Access to the Flying Fox is not quite a rope swing. But it’s close. A twoperson cable car transports you across the river to a settlement that – from a distance – looks like a pixie commune, with tiny turrets and chimneys poking up above treetops. Up close, the illusion remains. The site has a cluster of higgledy-piggledy houses with balconies and angled roofs, built from recycled timber, stained glass and demolition detritus. There are 150-year-old walnut trees given by missionaries to Maori who first lived on the site. There is an army tent with a king-sized bed for “glamping”, bush baths warmed by wood fires, and the occasional shy deer peeking out from the bush. Owners

Jane McCall and Kelly Stevens fell for its charms 3 years ago. Guests include cyclists, canoeists, and offpiste travellers. They provide meals for guests in cottages, and self-catering hampers for glampers. The garden is flush with fruit trees and avocados. Kelly says guests love the dark sky at night and the sound of kiwi. “Neighbourhood Watch is checking the jet boat as it goes past,” he says. 3081 River Road.

(06) 927 6809, theflyingfox.co.nz

Jane McCall and Kelly Stevens