Two more PurePod freestanding glass accommodations are headed for New Zealand’s South Island, offering visitors an upscale experience fully immersed in a natural setting. Located on a 198-acre location on the Banks Peninsula, there are two outposts overlooking the Kaikoura Mountains and one in the hills of the Waipara wine region. The precise coordinates of each pod are kept under wraps until each trip is fully booked.
Entrepreneur Grant Ryan developed the concept, which evolved under chief executive Paul Sapsford into an adventurous yet isolated guest experience. The first PurePod opened in mid-October in 2014, with two new ones expected to be open by December 2017. Further PurePods are also in prospect elsewhere around the South Island.
The transparent glass pods are clad with prefabricated materials including minimal steel and wood, providing unobstructed views and acting as a direct connection to the environment. Solar-powered pods are equipped with LED lighting, underfoot heating, solar showers, rainwater filtration, and natural waste composting. Kitchens come fully equipped, while water and air heaters operate on biodiesel burners. Water is sourced locally and filtered through a worm-based treatment system.
