Pod cabins at Flat Hills campground
After two years battling with consent forms the Flat Hills Cafe and Tourist Park has introduced small wooden and self-contained cabins.
Located north of Ohingaiti on State Highway 1 between Hunterville and Taihape, the four new pod cabins align with the rustic and natural landscape in the area, says owner Karen Parsons.
The cabins were made in New Zealand. Two pods have two single beds and a queen bed, one pod has a double bed and the last one has disabled access with two single beds.
The disabled room features a toilet and shower with hoisting capabilities.
Each cabin has its own television and fridge. There is a communal barbecue area and free wifi in the cafe.
The new addition follows a series of upgrades to attract families to the tourist park after a new children’s play area has also been developed. It features a bouncy castle and a maze. There is also access to the farmyard where children can feed a pony, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas and alpacas.
‘‘It is pretty much glamping. You’ve got your towels, fridge, tv, wifi - what else do you want?’’ Parsons said.
Parsons said her family bought the Flat Hills Cafe two years ago and wanted to turn it into a ‘‘must-stop’’ location for families.
They opened a camp ground opposite the cafe in January 2015, which has 12 powered sites.
The two sites are a family operation with Karen’s daughter also managing operations in the cafe.
Following the closure of the Taihape camp ground, Parsons and her family saw an opening, she said.
‘‘We’re more of a stopover for one or two nights - it’s not really a holiday. We’re the best location for people going from Wellington to Taupo.
‘‘It works very well for us. But we’re always looking for new features and something new to bring more people through.’’
Parsons and her husband, Kevin, worked at camping grounds in Italy for six years, managing 200 units.
Drawing on their experience, the couple have come up with a five-year plan to redevelop Flat Hills into a premier family stop over, much of which they have achieved in just over two years, Parsons said.
‘‘We want to target families, so we’re always trying to find new things to draw them in.’’