Secret domes under the stars
Brook Sabin and Radha Engling watch the Milky Way from a bed in the mountains.
This is Wa¯ naka how it should be. Just me, fresh air and the stars. No crowds. No wi-fi. You connect to a network called nature. Password: overdue. I’m in a quiet little corner of Lake Wa¯ naka, tucked away in a star dome. No, this isn’t some Nasa research centre. It’s a luxury off-grid glamping escape, designed for marvelling at the Milky Way.
We met Amy Northcott at the start of a gravel road, just 15-minutes outside Wa¯ naka. Northcott and her husband Mike had a dream to introduce more people to the outdoors – without sacrificing comfort – and Mt Gold Glamping was born. And they’ve nailed it.
That’s the thing about glamping (or glamorous camping), you’re charged $300-$400 a night to go camping, so it needs to be polished.
Sometimes it isn’t. One of our other attempts at glamping ended with us shivering under every layer of bedding we could find, including the floor rug.
In another, we had thousands of mosquitoes gatecrash the party. Another time, the composting toilet overflowed to create a monument to digestion.
Overseas, it’s been even worse. In Cambodia, we were forced to put shoes and bags up against holes in the tent to stop pythons getting in.
So, you can imagine the relief when Northcott led us up into a pine forest on a private farm to a perfectly appointed little camp – complete with an elaborate welcome platter with four types of cheeses, homemade bread, a selection of meats, and handcrafted chocolate.
You know the saying, ‘‘if a tree falls in the forest and no-one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?’’
I have a new twist: ‘‘if a person eats a calorieladen welcome box in a forest, and no-one is around to see it, does it count?’’
If you answered no, you’re a dear friend, and may continue reading.
After devouring our welcome box, we started exploring the camp. The star dome is a masterpiece. Not only is it lovingly appointed, but the bed is positioned under a section of transparent roof so you can watch nature’s greatest light show unfold above you.
On a clear summer’s day, it can get a tad hot inside, so another more ventilated tent for daytime relaxing and reading sits a little deeper in the forest. It’s suspended in the trees, so you just need to climb in, lie down, and let the lake breeze provide the air-conditioning for your afternoon siesta.
You can even bring a few friends. A Lotus Belle tent is tucked away in a corner of the campsite with room for another couple.
Just below the tents is a gas fire, with seating and a hammock. And this is where we decide to spend the evening, watching the snowy peaks turn different shades of peach and crimson as the stars begin to emerge.
At night, there is only one thing left to do, return to the star dome, recline, and watch the galaxy come alive.
Most would watch in awe at its hypnotic beauty and slowly drift to sleep.
But, I have a condition where I seem to ruin every beautiful moment by getting a camera out.