Checking In | The Telephone Exchange
Photography By Tanya Kerr
Take a trip just north of Taupo and you’ll find yourself immersed in beautiful rural landscapes. Venture further beyond the dairy farms and you might just stumbled upon an old 1950’s telephone exchange. We sent Tanya & Ollie on a road trip to discover this hidden cabin among the Eucalyptus.
The cabin was originally a 1950's Telephone Exchange building, rescued and restored to become a charming off-grid glamping retreat. Emily & Dylan, owners of the farm, had initially planned to turn it into a family room, but after staying at a glamping retreat themselves, the idea was born.
The cabin was originally located on the farms neighbouring property, Emily & Dylan spied this derelict 1950s telephone exchange ~ “and we pinched it,” Emily laughs. Emily and Dylan spent a couple of years renovating the exchange to match the original building, chipping away at it night after night, while their children were asleep.
“It was an awesome project to work on together”
Dylan’s expertise in building and Emily’s in interior design favoured them, as they turned something once old and unused, into the sublime off-grid cabin that it is today.
The facilities at The Telephone Exchange are made up of a romantic and spacious bedroom and a kitchen and bathroom. Just beyond the cabin, you’ll find an outdoor bath with idyllic views of the valley surrounding.
The weekend Tanya & Ollie were here, New Zealand was on the receiving end of one of its biggest storm’s of the year. While the outdoor activities didn’t seem as inviting, it gave way to a cozy and intimate stay. What better place to watch a storm roll in than next to a fire with your loved one. Rugged up and not going anywhere with haste, Tanya & Ollie played cards and drank wine by the indoor fire. Bliss.
The cabin has proven to be a successful venture. It opened two years ago, and Emily has been astounded at its popularity, especially this year.
“We love having people stay on farm; we are very social people and are always up for a chinwag,”
Emily and Dylan are also passionate about supporting mental health in the farming sector, donating 10% of their profits from The Telephone Exchange to mental health charity Farm Strong.
