A Shangri-La oasis under shooting stars

Dunedin’s Alex Hannagan loves to travel and as a travel agent, she likes to seek out the unexpected. Each month she will share one of these experiences with us.

There truly is nothing better than discovering somewhere a little unique to stay in your own backyard, and that’s exactly what I experienced when I stayed at Sky Scape in my own sky bed, located only 10 minutes out of Twizel and just a three-hour drive from Dunedin.

This very distinctive accommodation is located on a 6000-acre sheep and beef farm and snugly positioned at the base of the Ben Ohau Range on Omahau Hill Station. When we arrived, we were given instructions on how to reach our own sky bed, which only took around a five-minute drive on an easy farm track.

On arrival, relaxation instantly started to kick in; we began to absorb the beautiful landscape of the Mackenzie Basin that was going to be ours for the next two nights.

We walked down the steps to our sunken sky bed, which made another great feature as it snuggled right in among the landscape, immersed in tussocks and native bush and creating a feeling of ultimate privacy from the elements.

We stare in awe at how cleverly our sky bed has been crafted, as primarily it has been designed out of glass, so we can really capture the beautiful night sky in all its glory - exciting!

Our sky bed also comprises a kitchenette, a bathroom, tasteful seating inside an outdoor area which is also recessed into the landscape and wait, the best bit - an outdoor 2m-long cedar and stainless-steel bath tub. Water for the tub is sourced close by from a local spring.

As we settle in, we pour some wine and tuck into the evening platter of food that has been prepared for us from local producers piled with yummy cured meats, cheeses, salmon and much more.

I love the fact that there is no TV, as I will not have to listen to the sports news that my husband always seems to have on! I start to fill the outdoor tub to prepare myself for my sunset soak, which captures magnificent sunset views over the valley - just simply stunning!

What we loved about this location is you actually feel you are in a place where the hustle and bustle of your everyday life cannot find you; you are far enough off the beaten track for this to be reality, but have the best of both worlds by being only a short drive from civilisation if needed.

Before I drift off to sleep at night, I stare very contentedly up at the galaxy above me, which is just so astonishingly beautiful, it becomes one of those pinch yourself  "Am I actually experiencing this" moments.

I see some shooting stars travelling fast across the sky, and because the night is so clear I am sure I am seeing the hazy form of stars that forms the Milky Way far away up there in deep, dark twinkling sky.

The Sky Scape sky beds truly are a Shangri-La oasis that is so luckily tucked away in our own backyard.