I paid $250 to stay in a plastic tiny house in New Zealand in the middle of winter. I thought I'd freeze, but by morning, I didn't want to leave.

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2024-10-24T19:34:42Z

Insider's writer successful beforehand of nan geodesic dome she spent a nighttime successful during a travel to New Zealand.

Angle down icon An icon successful nan style of an perspective pointing down. Business Insider's writer successful beforehand of nan geodesic dome she stayed successful during a travel to New Zealand. Monica Humphries/Business Insider
  • I visited New Zealand during wintertime and stayed successful a geodesic dome connected nan country's southbound island.
  • I feared I'd walk my nighttime shivering successful nan 430-square-foot mini home.
  • Its luxe amenities and state fireplace convinced maine I ne'er wanted to leave. 

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New Zealand is location to nan astir breathtaking quality I've seen.

When I visited successful June 2022, my attraction was to soak successful each moment. I wanted to research nan country's striking mountains, lush forests, and crystal-clear waters. 

My only interest was that it was wintertime successful New Zealand. As a Floridian, I've ne'er adjusted to nan cold, but I headed to New Zealand anyhow and booked stays successful lodges that seamlessly connected maine to nature. 

One of my favorites was a glamping dome astatine Cross Hill Lodge and Domes successful New Zealand's Otago region, an area successful nan confederate region of nan country's South Island.

The exterior of nan dome.

The exterior of nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I was walking from northeast Queenstown, and during my hourlong drive, I passed snow-covered mountains and icy lakes.

A position of a reservoir adjacent Cross Hill Lodge and Domes.

A position of a reservoir adjacent Cross Hill Lodge and Domes. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I reached Cross Hill, nan apical of a achromatic dome could beryllium seen done trees.

A position of nan apical of nan dome astatine Cross Hill Lodge.

A position of nan apical of nan dome astatine Cross Hill Lodge. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Fear group successful erstwhile I stepped retired of my heated car and into nan frigid air. The integrative exterior of nan domes looked wafer-thin, and I hoped nan heating successful nan domes would suffice. I wanted to clasp nan outdoors but didn't want to walk nan nighttime shivering successful 40-degree Fahrenheit weather.

Between nan gravel paths were gardens afloat of plants.

Between nan gravel paths were gardens afloat of plants. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

But location were nary refunds and nary turning back. I headed to Cross Hill's communal lodge, wherever nan host, Stevie T, greeted me. He showed maine nan lodge, which had couches, a TV, and a fewer desserts that were free for guests.

The Cross Hill Lodge.

The Cross Hill Lodge. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Then, we headed to dome six, which was my mini location for nan night.

The entranceway to dome six astatine Cross Hill.

The entranceway to dome six astatine Cross Hill. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I entered nan dome, each my worries vanished. Thanks to a power pump and state stove, nan abstraction was cozy and warm.

The interior of nan dome.

The interior of nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

There were slippers and robes waiting for maine astatine nan entranceway to nan dome.

At nan entranceway of nan dome, Insider's writer recovered robes and slippers.

At nan entranceway of nan dome, Business Insider's writer recovered robes and slippers. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

To nan correct of nan entranceway was a king-size bed. The furniture faced a wide sheet of clear integrative partially covered by a statement of curtains.

A statement of curtains blocked nan model of nan dome.

A statement of curtains blocked nan model of nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I pulled nan cloth back, and views appeared. The dome overlooked nan property's manicured gardens and mountains successful nan distance. As I looked retired nan window, I felt crisp, acold aerial seeping successful astatine nan dome's base.

The dome had a ample window.

The dome had a ample window. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Stevie T reassured maine that nan dome would beryllium lukewarm for nan night. It was heated, positive location was a state fireplace, a heated mattress, and heated bath floors.

A fireplace was successful 1 area of nan dome.

A fireplace was successful 1 area of nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I moved past nan bedroom, I passed a mini array and a compact kitchen.

A mini array and 2 chairs were stationed adjacent nan kitchen.

A mini array and 2 chairs were stationed adjacent nan kitchen. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The room had everything I'd request for a short stay. There was glassware, dishes, a java machine, and a mini fridge stocked pinch beverage and acold water.

A position of nan antagonistic and descend successful nan kitchen.

A position of nan antagonistic and descend successful nan kitchen. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I passed done nan room and walked toward nan backmost of nan dome. Here, I recovered nan bathroom.

The interior of nan bathroom.

The interior of nan bathroom. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Later, I spotted much of nan dome's luxe details. Everywhere I walked, motion-sensor lights turned on. The bath had a towel warmer, and successful nan kitchen, I recovered a beverage frother.

The dome's bath had a towel warmer.

The dome's bath had a towel warmer. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The amenities, stunning views, and cushy furniture convinced maine I didn't request to time off nan dome — not moreover for dessert. I settled successful and turned connected nan heated mattress.

The king-size furniture successful nan dome.

The king-size furniture successful nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Other visitors arrived astir me. Similar to a camping tent, nan domes weren't very soundproof. I could perceive couples debating what to person for meal and discussing plans for nan adjacent day.

The position done nan dome's window.

The position done nan dome's window. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I knew that they could spot and perceive me, too. With nan privateness curtain unfastened and my lights on, anyone stepping by had a clear position into my dome.

Anyone stepping by could spot wrong nan dome.

Anyone stepping by could spot wrong nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

But moreover pinch constricted privacy, I felt connected to nature. I heard birds chirping and rainfall dripping. I spotted rugged mountains and smelled wood burning from nan lodge.

A position of nan dome illuminated from nan inside.

A position of nan dome illuminated from nan inside. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

After eating nan meal I packed, I crawled into bed. Once nan sun set, my dome was illuminated by nan state fireplace. Then, I realized I was missing 1 of nan dome's main appeals — nan stars.

At night, nan fireplace was nan only ray connected successful nan dome.

At night, nan fireplace was nan only ray connected successful nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I turned disconnected nan remote-controlled fireplace to get a amended view. Through nan clear plastic, I searched for shooting stars and constellations.

A position of stars from nan dome astatine Cross Hill.

A position of stars from nan dome astatine Cross Hill. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

My gazing didn't past long. As chilly aerial seeped into nan tent, I turned nan fireplace backmost connected and fell asleep. With nan mattress heater turned connected high, nan fireplace cranked to its max, and nan dome's thermostat group to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, I was lukewarm each night.

The dome's thermostat.

The dome's thermostat. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The adjacent morning, I woke up to a blazing sunrise.

A position of nan sunrise from nan furniture successful nan dome.

A position of nan sunrise from nan furniture successful nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I crawled retired of my lukewarm furniture and explored nan lodge's gardens. I walked by an outdoor wood-fired basking tub and headed to nan lodge, wherever I dined connected a complimentary meal of eggs and toast.

Between nan gravel paths were gardens afloat of plants.

Between nan gravel paths were gardens afloat of plants. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Full from breakfast, I dragged my feet backmost to nan dome. I didn't person immoderate desire to battalion up my suitcase and leave. As I folded my pajamas from nan erstwhile night, I dreamed of making Cross Hill my home.

The exterior of nan dome.

The exterior of nan dome. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I'm judge immoderate nights were bound to beryllium moreover chillier, but I learned that surviving successful a spot that seamlessly blended indoors pinch outdoors mightiness beryllium a amended fresh for maine than my metropolis life backmost successful nan US.

Insider's writer successful beforehand of nan geodesic dome she spent a nighttime successful during a travel to New Zealand.

Business Insider's writer successful beforehand of nan geodesic dome she stayed successful during a travel to New Zealand. Monica Humphries/Business Insider
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