The Pallis: high-end glamping in Cape Palliser

The Pallis is a luxurious glamping accommodation in Cape Palliser. Perched on a hill, it felt like a throne over the big sea, and we enjoyed witnessing the world’s changing colours from its glass walls. Read below for more information on the Pallis, and whether it should be your next glamping getaway if you’re in the Wellington/Wairarapa region.

Where hills rise above the sea, a container house faces the horizon. The cosmos open from Cape Palliser’s rugged coastline, where the sun and moon set, and nightfall greets a crisp dome of stars.

One could praise hospitality experts Mark and Sarah Green for building a container house there, from which to watch the universe. Facing west, its glass walls drink every drop of light, an observatory to the celestial sky.

Never one to miss an opportunity to visit Cape Palliser, I decided I must make acquaintance with the Pallis. It’s not often I fall asleep to the sound of the sea, and I found something particularly enticing about the Pallis’ open deck and hills descending around it.

The Pallis is luxury in every sense of the word, a delectable taste of off-grid New Zealand glamping which makes use of the tranquil Cape Palliser setting. Read more about our stay below, and everything this hidden gem has to offer to weary souls searching for a bit of peace and quiet.

Read also:

• Psychedelic retreat at the Boho Bach – Wellington
• Rustic Charm at Musterer’s Rest – Hawke’s Bay
• 10 Best Small Towns in New Zealand for Slow Travel
• Luxury glamping at Kawakawa Station – Cape Palliser
• Nature escape at the Maia cabin – Bay of Islands

A review of our stay at the Pallis – high-end glamping in Cape Palliser

Design of the Pallis

Along Cape Palliser Road, a gate opened onto rolling pastures. Our trusty car jostled on the farm track, entering a quiet world of grass and chirring insects. The path inclined, taking us above sea level. And there awaited the Pallis, a set of two storage containers elevated into a stylish living space.

The containers are connected by a large sundeck, where we would spend the majority of our time. I noted the two wooden lounge chairs, strategically placed for a breathtaking view.

We made ourselves at home, exploring the construction’s design. After a full day’s sun, heat had collected indoors, which felt delicious in the evening breeze. In the bedroom, a wall-sized window faced the horizon opposite the bed. Bean bag chairs and a large chest full of blankets accompanied the window, everything one might need to cozy up with a book and admire the sweeping views beyond.

The second container holds the kitchen and living room. I meandered through, noticing the rustic details, including a little wood burner. The kitchen lean-to is equipped with basic facilities, clean and charming with running hot water.

The Pallis is entirely off-grid, though I was impressed with its functionality. The solar system generates enough power for charging points and multiple light fixtures at nighttime. At other off-grid cabins, I often had to cook or read to the light of a torch, but the Pallis gave the impression of a fully electric home.

Around the corner was an exposed shower. I have a penchant for showering outdoors, and this was a dream to stand under and listen to nature’s various sounds in utter privacy.

What we got up to at the Pallis

As evening came, it was time to cook dinner. Shaun fired up the gas ring and I perused the welcome guide, which instructed us to enjoy dinner from the two Cape Cod chairs facing the horizon. I thoroughly agreed with this advice.

With a heaping tray of food, we perched on the chairs as instructed. The late sun basted the world in buttery gold, and I munched and chewed, slowly arriving. It’s moments like these, nourishing my body and waking up to my surroundings, that I remember to breathe.

Sunset made a spectacle of the sky, and from our vantage point, we watched it dip into the ocean, emboldening the Kaikoura mountain range across the sea.

The colours of the universe deepened and we figured it was time to make use of the fire.

By the time orange softened to pink and I had tea in hand, a sliver of moon appeared above. It seemed the cosmos weren’t finished, so Shaun and I reposed in our chairs. We tracked the moon as it also descended to the horizon, chasing the path the sun had taken before it.

The fire crackled and popped. I considered my books, which awaited me inside. But I opted for this cosmic demonstration instead, speaking in hushed tones, feeling the tension drain from my body.

The darkening sky signalled day’s end and I looked forward to slipping into cotton sheets. But then the first star dotted the sky, signalled by Shaun’s happy shout. He loves the stars.

I refilled the teapot and fetched woollen blankets from the bedroom chest. Then we wrapped ourselves as the dark dome above became speckled in astral dust.

We sat, transfixed.

“This one’s my new favourite,” I told Shaun.

He agreed.

A review of the Pallis: would we return?

The rest of our time at the Pallis consisted of reading, cooking, and making use of the remote setting by flaunting around naked after a glorious shower. I became a forest creature, speaking to birds and baying at the occasional passing sheep.

We drove to the surrounding beaches, but the Pallis kept drawing us back, its comforts beckoning. The deck is a platform from which to fuse with the universe, and I deeply understood the vision of the hosts when they built this place.

The Pallis is one of our favourite nature stays, and I don’t say this lightly. It was difficult to leave. And we count the days until we can return. Luckily, we’re only around the corner in Wellington city, dreaming of the glistening gem awaiting us over the hill.

Getting to the Pallis – Cape Palliser, Wairarapa

Listed on the Canopy Camping directory, the Pallis is renowned as one of the best luxury glamping accommodations in the Wellington region. It is a scenic two-hour drive from Wellington central.

From Wellington, take Highway 1 over the Remutaka Ranges toward Martinborough and continue on toward Cape Palliser. There is a singular coastal highway – Cape Palliser Road – that takes you straight to the Pallis without fuss.

There are gravel roads to navigate on the farm, so bring an appropriate vehicle to accommodate a few bumps in the road.

Things to do in the area: Cape Palliser and the Wairarapa

Cape Palliser is the westernmost point in the North Island. Swimming can be hazardous at most beaches, but the sunsets are incredible. Spots are plentiful along Cape Palliser road to drink in the rich surroundings.

The region is also home to the North Island’s largest fur seal colony. Meander along the coast and look for lounging seals or for dolphins on the water.

If you’re keen on a hike, we recommend the Pinnacles Track – the Putangirua Pinnacles are another world, an ancient layer of eroded gravel, exposing sedimented towers. And there is of course the Cape Palliser lighthouse up a flight of 253 steps for sweeping views of the rugged coastline.