The Teeny House at Burts Farm

Our teeny house was built in the early ’60s as a shearers’ quarters – complete with a shower, washing tub, toilet, oven, and one bunk room. Back then, shearing gangs moved from shed to shed, staying on-site in quarters like this. Once cars became more affordable, the gangs started travelling and living at home instead.

Our shearers’ quarters sat unused for 40 years and had become seriously run down. But when tiny homes became all the rage, we saw potential – and that’s when the dream started to become a reality.

The building was made from rough-sawn rimu and clad in corrugated iron. We had to gut the entire interior – stripping walls damaged by water, rot, and general neglect. It was a mess, and our kids thought we were completely mad.

We moved it from the Wool Shed to its current private spot on the farm, balancing it carefully on the back of a truck. And now? We’re so proud of what it’s become.

A fully self-contained, comfortable 7m x 3m living space for two. Off-grid solar powered, with a gas oven and fridge, diesel heating, shower, toilet, stereo for your tunes, Freeview TV, and a BBQ outside for extra cooking.

Available to rent once a month only – the second weekend (Friday and Saturday) – timed to line up with either our Saturday Motorcycle Trail Ride or Sunday Horse Trek.

Grazing for horses is available just a short distance away on the farm.
Flat rate for 2 nights: $500.

There’s plenty to explore nearby too. Head to the Matatā Pub for a hearty pub-style dinner or grab classic Kiwi fish and chips from Auntie’s. If you’re into surfcasting, the Matatā Straights offer some epic spots to throw a line in. Horse riders can make their way to nearby Thornton Beach for a scenic coastal ride. We’re also centrally located between Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne – making it an ideal base to explore the Bay of Plenty.