Escape Image
Autumn Midweek Special | Stay 3 Pay 2
The Matchbox badge

The Matchbox

Canterbury


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Image 1 of 19 Image 2 of 19 Image 3 of 19 Image 4 of 19 Image 5 of 19 Image 6 of 19 Image 7 of 19 Image 8 of 19 Image 9 of 19 Image 10 of 19 Image 11 of 19 Image 12 of 19 Image 13 of 19 Image 14 of 19 Image 15 of 19 Image 16 of 19 Image 17 of 19 Image 18 of 19 Image 19 of 19 Image 20 of 19 Image 21 of 19
Eating and Drinking

EATING AND DRINKING

The Matchbox offers catering with farm-to-plate butchery from the farm, offering all the meat you need for your stay. You can find out more under the 'Rates and Extras' button. If you have ordered this option; it will be ready and waiting for you in the hut on arrival.

If you choose self-catering, you will need to bring your own food and cook meals using the 2-burner gas hob provided in your kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans, and utensils that you'll need.

If you want a break from cooking at any stage, award-winning, fine dining restaurant Riverstone Kitchen is just 20 minutes away. Also recommended by your hosts, is the amazing Indian restaurant, FishTail, or The Waimate. Half an hour away is Scotts Brewery in the historic part of Oamaru. While you're in the area, Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli is a must-do for cheese-lovers.

For something slightly more casual, The Studholme Hotel or Makikihi Country Pub are excellent choices for a hearty meal. You'll also find takeaways such as fish and chips and Chinese cuisine in Waimate.

A supermarket for stocking up on supplies can be found at Waimate (15 minutes away) or Oamaru (30 minutes away).

Read More

Things to Do

THINGS TO DO

Relax in the wood-fired cedar hot tub and soak up the views. Enjoy the incredible views across farmland and out to sea. At night, spark up the firepit and enjoy star-gazing in the incredible night sky. There are board games for a bit of old-fashioned friendly competition too!

If you want to get out and about locally, check out Kelsey's Bush behind Waimate. This is the last remnant of native bush in the area. The Whitehorse monument above Waimate has great views, walks and mountain biking. The Wainono Lagoon has a wetland walk with a variety of native wildlife to spot.

Active types might want to ride a part of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail that starts at Mt Cook and ends in Oamaru. You can choose to do sections - and it's kid-friendly too.

If you're keen to explore further afield, you can day trip to Mt Aoraki, Tekapo, and Twizel. Check out the penguin colony in Oamaru, and the fascinating steampunk culture in the historic part of Oamaru. Timaru has Caroline Bay and the Maori Rock Art Gallery which are both worth a visit.

Read More

Your Hosts

YOUR HOSTS

Adam, Karen and their daughter Mya are your hosts at the Matchbox. Named after a tiny house, that Adam and Karen lived in whilst teaching and travelling overseas, the Matchbox was designed to take in the incredible 360-degree views up and down the East Coast and out to the Pacific Ocean. The Matchbox became a year-long project, with Adam and Karen completing much of the building work themselves. Alongside providing accommodation, Adam, Karen and Mya farm fully shedding Wiltshire sheep, and Speckled Park cattle and raising around 250 beef calves each year. Both with educational backgrounds, Adam and Karen are enjoying the huge learning curve that their new direction in farming and look forward to sharing their 'special place' with others.

TESTIMONIALS

“ Such a beautiful location and peaceful place. Would happily stay again. ”

Sarah Tann- 2025-10-21

20 / 20

“ Wonderful place, the view is splendid. Adam is generous and the lamb is delicious. Comfy, cosy and all the comfort needed. ”

Yves Dias- 2026-03-24

1 / 20

“ Amazing place. Lovely hosts. We really enjoyed our stay and everything about The Matchbox. ”

Cara Louise Greengrass- 2026-03-24

2 / 20

“ The Matchbox is in such a beautiful setting with magnificent views, especially the starry night sky. Very comfortable bed and the log burner kept us toasty and warm. ”

Cathy Whitmore- 2026-03-13

3 / 20

“ We had the most amazing stay. The space was beautiful, peaceful, and so thoughtfully done. We especially loved having no curtains and waking up to those incredible views. It felt like the perfect place to switch off and just soak it all in. We didn’t want to leave! ”

Kiritina Glew- 2026-03-07

4 / 20

“ Beautiful wee spot, could sit and look at that view all day!! All the luxuries available while being off-grid. ”

Holly Roulston- 2026-02-16

5 / 20

“ Lovely place and we will surely be back! ”

Kim Tangan- 2026-02-12

6 / 20

“ It was just amazing! The view was breathtaking. Such a cosy place. ”

Samantha Tait- 2026-02-01

7 / 20

“ Absolutely amazing spot to relax and unwind. Loved our experience. ”

Narelle Collie- 2026-01-28

8 / 20

“ This was a beautiful place to stay with great size amenities and an amazing view. ”

Jake Fleming- 2026-01-27

9 / 20

“ The most magical view and setting, which made for a perfect retreat. Make sure to order from the host’s farm butchery. ”

Maree van Royen- 2026-01-12

10 / 20

“ The Matchbox was a perfect getaway! Stunning views! We loved how peaceful it was. The hot tub was lovely to watch the sunset too! ”

Courtney Barnett- 2026-01-08

11 / 20

“ A wondrous spot, gorgeously furnished. We felt relaxed even though we had bad weather. It was so cosy and warm. ”

Sharon Cox- 2026-01-02

12 / 20

“ The Matchbox is a beautiful cabin, perfect mix of rustic charm and luxury. The views and feeling of privacy are also outstanding! ”

Jodi Davidson- 2025-12-10

13 / 20

“ Clean, cosy and comfortable! Lovely views and very relaxing. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. ”

Greta Sefton- 2025-12-04

14 / 20

“ The Matchbox was pure magic. It is a cosy, beautifully crafted escape cocooned in nature. The space strikes that rare balance between rustic charm and thoughtful comfort, giving us everything we needed without losing the simplicity that makes glamping special. Waking up to quiet views, falling asleep under a soft bed, and having those little touches that feel handmade with care, it was an unforgettable slice of New Zealand serenity. ”

Haizuruldin Gimin- 2025-12-04

15 / 20

“ The perfect spot, everything was incredibly clean and well kept. Absolutely idyllic! ”

Elle de Pass- 2025-11-25

16 / 20

“ A beautiful stay in an incredible setting. A very special place to completely relax and switch off from the world! ”

charlotte ahlen- 2025-11-17

17 / 20

“ Stunning location with best views of coast and country. We only stayed the one night but could imagine staying longer and feeling very relaxed. ”

Nicki Keen- 2025-11-10

18 / 20

“ Myself, my husband and our toddler stayed at The Matchbox for one night to break our journey between Queenstown and Christchurch. It was charmingly set out, and had lovely panoramic views. It felt very private and peaceful. We enjoyed the whole experience. ”

Abigail Lane- 2025-10-26

19 / 20

“ Such a beautiful location and peaceful place. Would happily stay again. ”

Sarah Tann- 2025-10-21

20 / 20

“ Wonderful place, the view is splendid. Adam is generous and the lamb is delicious. Comfy, cosy and all the comfort needed. ”

Yves Dias- 2026-03-24

1 / 20

Scenic coastal landscape viewed through a golden tent opening, showing lush green hillside with forest line meeting turquoise ocean waters under clear blue sky

BROWSE OUR COLLECTION

Relax. Unplug. Savour a unique holiday experience. A secret weekend escape.

A family holiday.

Whatever the reason, let nature back in – go glamping!

Find your escape
Mobile