STAY IN OUR ACCOMMODATION – COMING SOON
This will be the view from our new house which is to be built in the coming year or two. The stunning views encompass a large amount of the Kaikoura ranges. If you want an even better view you only need to walk a short way to the Kaikoura lookout where there are 360 degree views of South Bay, Kaikoura township and the sea and mountains.
We are incredibly excited to share our place with you which will have 3 bedrooms available to rent, two of which have ocean views, two bathrooms and a lovely living area with two decks. The decks are the morning deck and the afternoon deck, which will allow for relaxation in the sun or the shade, depending on what you prefer and the time of day!
Our Vision
Flaxton Heights was created from a simple idea: to build a place where people can truly slow down and reconnect with nature. Perched high above the Kaikōura coastline, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic Seaward Kaikōura Range, this retreat is being thoughtfully designed to celebrate everything that makes this region so special. Every decision—from the architecture and natural materials to the native planting and peaceful outdoor spaces—is intended to complement, rather than compete with, the surrounding landscape.
Although Flaxton Heights is still under construction, we’re excited to share the journey as it comes to life. Over time, the property will be transformed with native New Zealand plants to attract local birdlife and create a peaceful environment that blends seamlessly into the hillside. Inside, the accommodation will feature warm timber tones, calming neutral colours, and modern comforts, offering a relaxing base for couples, families, photographers, and nature lovers exploring Kaikōura.
We look forward to welcoming guests in the future, but until then, we invite you to follow the progress and watch Flaxton Heights evolve into a unique retreat where the ocean meets the mountains, and every stay is inspired by the beauty of the natural world.
PLANTING PLANS
Once our house is built we are going to plant a variety of native plants that grow naturally on the Kaikoura Peninsula and in the low-lying forests. We are perched on a hill, so we need plants that will keep the hillside strong with their matting roots. Here is a list of the plants that we are going to put in, plus a gallery of photos of these amazing New Zealand natives. A lot of these plants are favourites with bellbirds which are on the hill around us. If we can attract the bellbirds then we can attract more birdsong, which is a wonderful thing.
Sophora microphylla
Sophora prostrata
Pseudopanax arboreus
Phormium cookianum subsp. cookianum
Phormium tenax
Muehlenbeckia astonii
Coprosma acerosa
Poa Cita
Pachystegia insignis
Pseudopanax crassifolius
BUILDING PLANS
We have plans and 2D renders of parts of our accommodation which we will be sharing shortly. The house has a mezzanine floor to accommodate the hill with very little in the way of earthworks apart from the poles. The focus on the whole house will be the views and access to the amazing walking tracks nearby. The house is basically a pole house set up away from the earth. This concept feels right to us. It will feel like it is perched up in the air a bit.
Our house will be clad in scoria ColorSteel which is a beautiful red, the colour of swamp flax flowers. It is a more brown/brick red so will not be too bright, but will give some interest on the hillside. The roof will be clad in Flax pod ColorSteel. Our roof is slanted to hug the hillside and will capture the all day sun.
INTERIOR CONCEPT
Our house is going to be a Scandinavian/Mid Century Modern style house. The mezzanine floor gives a very 1970s vibe and will have strips of plywood cut for banisters that will run down the back wall and add a feature. We have a high slanting ceiling in the lounge and a very large window, so this will allow people standing on the mezzanine to see the view from higher up. It will create a spacious feeling.
For furnishings we currently have some furniture already – a large oatmeal coloured couch which will face the view, plus two large leather seats to curl up in. We wanted the seating to be luxurious and comfortable.
The kitchen/dining is cosy and all in one and has a built in bench seat with table pushed into it and four Scandinavian style seats. It will be cosy and comfortable and we can imagine a lot of great interactions happening in this room. The kitchen cabinetry is wood look with white cabinets up high. The flooring is paramount oak Finfloor which will tone in and give a lovely warm feel to the house. The walls will be painted in Resene Thorndon Cream – a white which perfectly tones with the flooring.
Bedrooms will have comfortable mattresses and lovely bedding. Two of the bedrooms overlook the sea view and will have at least one seat for relaxation.
Our bathrooms are simple and stylish with skylights – allowing a full sized shower at the back of the room and no worries about windows.
The real joy of this house will be the two decks, a morning deck and an afternoon deck so that you can orientate your outdoor time to the sun, or to the shade if you don’t cope well with sun and heat. The morning deck is smaller and will have a wooden hot tub for relaxation. This will be very private. There will also be a small bistro set where you can drink your morning coffee. The main deck is the afternoon deck which will have a hotplate/BBQ for cooking your meat etc, plus a small gas pizza oven. We are making a wooden bar leaner for this deck so that you can sit around it and enjoy the view above the deck railings.
Our main focus is nature and the view – and we are maximising this. Also warmth – our house will be very warm with thick walls and double glazing, so you should be very comfortable when you stay with us. There will also be a small fire to heat the whole house when it is winter.
BUILD TIMELINE
Build Progress
We’re excited to share the journey as Flaxton Heights comes to life. While timelines may change during the building process, we’ll keep this page updated with each milestone plus you can follow us on Instagram.
✓ Vision & Planning
The dream for Flaxton Heights began with a desire to create a peaceful retreat overlooking the stunning Kaikōura coastline. After many months of planning and design, the concept has taken shape.
✓ Architectural Design Complete
The house has been thoughtfully designed to maximise the spectacular ocean and mountain views while blending naturally into the surrounding landscape.
⏳ August 2026 – Building Consent
Our next major milestone is submitting our building consent application. This is an exciting step towards turning the plans into reality.
⏳ Spring 2026 – Preparing to Build
Once consent has been approved, we’ll begin preparing the site and finalising the details needed before construction begins.
⏳ October–November 2026 (Expected) – Construction Begins
If everything goes to plan, construction is expected to begin during October or November 2026. We’ll be sharing regular updates, photos and videos as the build progresses.
⏳ Construction Updates
Throughout the build we’ll document key milestones, including framing, roofing, interior finishes, landscaping and native planting.
🌿 Native Landscaping
As the house nears completion, the surrounding landscape will be planted with native New Zealand species to encourage birdlife and create a peaceful, natural setting.
🏡 Opening Soon
Once construction is complete, Flaxton Heights will welcome its first guests. We can’t wait to share this special place with you.
DEMPSEY’S TRACK
This track is across the road and down about 20 metres from Flaxton Heights. An enjoyable walk which zig zags you down the hill to the township where there is good coffee and food and seaside walks.
TOM’S TRACK
Tom’s track is a scenic 2.6km walk that offers breathtaking views of the mountains and sea. It begins on Torquay Street and leads up to Scarborough Terrace where it connects with the St Pauls Walkway which takes you down to South Bay. It takes about 40 minutes to complete the walk. It is named after Tom Smith, a local fisherman who was tragically killed in 2003.
KAIKOURA LOOKOUT
Flaxton Heights is 300m or a 5 minute walk to the Kaikoura Lookout which is perched on the top of the hill above Kaikoura. We are excited to share photos taken from this amazing lookout which will become a go to place for our guests who want to experience lovely sunsets and sunrises.
