Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the beautiful dog in the picture?

Meet Rodger, our Clumber Spaniel. Sometimes he can be found at French Farm with his brother Ralph, but they stay at the house.

Do guests eat with the hosts?

We are mindful of your privacy while you are at Big Sky, however Smokie D is very happy to chat and provide some local knowledge and BBQ tips over a beer or glass of wine as he prepares your dinner. All food is served in Smokie D’s shack.

If you want a romantic secluded dinner… we will prepare your meal and make ourselves scarce.

Please note there will only ever be four guests (two in each yurt) eating dinner and breakfast in Smokie D’s shack.

Can I just book accommodation?

We don’t currently offer this option. Our passion is to share our beautiful space and Smokie D’s awesome BBQ food with you.

Are there communal spaces?

Smokie D’s Barbeque Shack is a communal area, however with only four guests at any one time on our four acre property there is lots of space for everyone. Each Yurt is private and has its own bathroom and shower.

We are happy for people to wander around Big Sky (apart from the residence) to enjoy the vast views from different areas.

Can we bring our own food and drink?

We are happy for you to bring snacks and what ever you want to drink while you are here, but there are no cooking facilities for guests. Complimentary tea and coffee is available all day.

You are very welcome to BYO wine and beer.

Can we play loud music late into the night?

A big part of the charm of Big Sky is its serenity. While your music is probably awesome, any noise, if it’s too loud and intrusive, will spoil the night time tranquility.

I have a voucher -how do I redeem it?

Please email hello@bigskynz.co.nz and we will let you know availabilty. Please do not book through the website or Air BnB.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you cancel 7 days before check-in, we will refund your whole amount (minus any booking fees if relevant).

If you cancel between 2 and 6 days before your arrival, we will have to reimburse our costs and booking fee and can only refund you $500.00.

In the event of a cancellation within 24 hours of check-in, we will refund $100.00.

If there are cancellations due to COVID, we will provide a full refund minus any booking fees (if any).

What time is breakfast?

We provide a Big Sky breakfast box so you choose when you want to have breakfast.

What time is dinner served?

Because our food is mostly slow cooked on BBQs - timing is important. Dinner is served from 6:00pm. If you are going to be late we can keep dinner warm for you or if this time does not suit you - let us know in advance.

Are children welcome?

Children are welcome, but we only have two yurts, each has a double bed. You would need to book both yurts to accommodate children.

Do you have WIFI?

Due to being in the beautiful countryside we don’t have a broadband cable connection, your own mobile data is accessible.

Are you dog friendly?

While we love dogs, unfortunately you can not bring your fur babies with you. We are located in a rural area surrounded by cows and sheep. While our two dogs spend some time here, they are fenced in our secure home compound.

Do you cater for keto, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free diets etc?

Yes we sure do and very happy to. Just let us know in advance.

What is the check in/out time?

Check in is from 2pm and check out is 11am. If you can let us know when you are arriving that would be great. You are welcome to stay a little longer and relax in Smokie D’s Barbeque Shack, but we need to clean the yurt from 11am.

How do I get to Big Sky?

Head towards Akaroa, you will go past the Hilltop Tavern. At this point the road starts to go downhill. You will see signs to turn right towards Wainui and French Farm - turn right and then after about 15 seconds you turn right onto Moores Road - it’s a sharp right hand turn up the single road. We are at the very end - the road turns to shingle, keep going you will see a vineyard on your left and our property is 111 Moores Road at the end of the road - it’s a cul-de-sac.

If you go past Barrys Bay cheese factory you have missed the turn off and need to turn around.

We are located at the end of a steep country road, but don’t worry Grandma in her Demio can get up the hill no trouble. The road is a narrow country lane. Coming up the road you may see the odd pheasant or a rabbit on your way up. As we are in a country area there are no street lights at night. You may meet another car coming down the road as you drive up and if that’s the case just pull over and let them pass.