Manakau PurePod, Kaikōura

The Manakau PurePod is a glass eco-cabin situated in a vast landscape with perfect views of the mighty Seaward Kaikōura Mountain Range (including Mt Manakau). It is only 20 minutes inland from Kaikōura and 2.5 hours north of Christchurch.

Driving into the Manakau PurePod carpark is the start of your unique PurePods adventure as you ford small streams on your way to the secure carpark near the farmhouse.

Bush walk to your PurePod

From the carpark, you walk down a grove of trees and across a farm track. As you enter the bush pathway on your way to the PurePod, you will encounter a grove of kanuka trees. In the summer, as the kanuka flowers, the ever present hum of pollinators hovers overhead.

Kanuka is the endemic form of vegetation on this property as parts of the farm revert back to native bush. The tree is a crucial coloniser of land recovering from deforestation, acting as a nursery plant as other species begin to regrow. Over the past 20 years over 200 acres of this property have been allowed to revert to bush, protecting waterways and hillsides from potential erosion, as well as hosting one of the largest populations of the South Island Robin found anywhere in New Zealand.

Walking out of the bush you will catch just a glimpse of your PurePod as you push on uphill. The walk is around 900 metres or 10-15 minutes. Please note, this PurePod is not suitable for those with mobility challenges due to the walk and the steps up to the PurePod.

Manakau PurePod secluded setting

The PurePod sits on a spur in a paddock with kanuka trees for company and birds singing all day long in the nearby gullies. As you look out from the deck the vastness of the location is overwhelming. Seemingly close enough to touch, the Seaward Kaikōura range dominates the vista. North facing, the PurePod looks straight at Mt Fyffe, snow covered for much of the year, and the mighty Manakau mountain rising to over 2600 metres, the largest peak in the Seaward Kaikōura range.

Things to do

Behind the PurePod, steep sided hills stretching to 500 metres high invite you to explore the marked trails. Take an extra day to explore and grow to understand this rugged, vast landscape. Pack a picnic lunch, fill a bottle of the fresh tap water and spend a few hours of wandering over well-formed farm tracks to see magnificent views of from high above the PurePod.

Of course, if such exploration is not quite what you desire, feel free to stretch out on the deck or in the shade nearby and enjoy a complete absence of people, traffic – even your cellphone will have no signal. Comfortable deck chairs are provided, as is the most comfortable bed we can find.

PurePods luxurious facilities

The PurePod has all the facilities you require including a fabulous shower, flush toilet, crisp linen, cooking and eating equipment including a hob and barbeque, tea coffee and milk; as well as an assortment of games, local reference books, a telescope and a whole lot of nothing to do!

I wanted to express how amazing it was to stay at the PurePod. I couldn’t be any happier picking the Manakau PurePod because the views of the stars at night were stunning and the views of the mountains in the morning were spectacular.

The Manakau PurePod itself was very cozy and wish we had more time to spend another night. Not to mention, the food was also very delicious! Overall, we had a really romantic time there and wanted to thank you for the great experience.
Kento, United States

Dinner & Breakfast Package

You can either bring your own supplies or pre­order a dinner and breakfast food package when you make your reservation. Made from fresh local ingredients the dinner menu includes a scrumptious platter of a local cheese, relishes and crackers with seasonal fruit. Plus the chef’s selection of lamb, beef or chicken (ready for you to cook on either the cooktop or barbecue) accompanied with a fresh seasonal salad and gourmet potatoes and something delightfully sweet to finish. Breakfast is organic muesli with yoghurt, a berry compote and croissants with butter & jam. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available

To include the Dinner & Breakfast Package on your booking, select this option at the time of booking your PurePod stay (or let us know after you’ve made your booking and we can add this to your existing booking).

Check in & out

Check in is from 3pm (but please make sure you arrive in plenty of time to walk to the PurePod before dark). Check out is by 12pm on the day of departure. Once you have confirmed your booking, you will receive instructions on how to find your secret slice of paradise.