≡ Menu

They Built a Tiny House & Skoolie in New Zealand

on December 4, 2023

Mati and Luli moved to New Zealand about seven years ago, where a stay in a cozy treehouse unexpectedly shifted their entire outlook on space, simplicity, and what it means to live well. Realizing they needed far less than they ever imagined, they were inspired to build their own tiny house from the trailer up—using mostly reclaimed materials—and spending just around $18,000 USD to bring it to life.

We had the pleasure of interviewing the couple, and below you’ll find their full story, a tour of their beautiful tiny home, and a look at the school bus they later converted into a charming small apartment. Enjoy!

Don’t miss other incredible stories like this, join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more! 

Their Tiny Home From Reclaimed Materials & Bus Conversion!


We got into tiny living because lived for 5 months in a 5×3 m (16.4 x 9.8 ft) tiny house, which was in the middle of a bush at tree height, and we discovered we did not need much space to live comfortably.

Life is more about experiencing the outside, enjoying the views, and being immersed in nature.

The downsizing and decluttering aspect of going tiny was also attractive for the lifestyle we aim to live.

So we built our tiny house from scratch, even the trailer, using lots of recycled materials and reclaimed wood, doors, and windows.

After building the tiny house, we also converted a school bus into a small apartment (not a motorhome), in which we are living now.

The tiny house took approximately 10 months (while working 40h/week), and the bus took 4 months (almost full time).

We do not live on the road, but we spent a sabbatical year travelling with the bus using savings.

After discovering this alternative way of living, it has absolutely changed our lives for better.

Connecting more with the outdoors, feeling more free economically (due to low rent pay), and being more conscious about our consumption (what and how).

When you live in a small space, you think twice about what goes in.

One of the hardest parts of tiny living was that we did not have a washing machine for a long time and had to do the laundry outside. It was a bummer.

But the most rewarding part of living tiny is that we go to sleep knowing we are not paying 60 % of our salary on rent.

And the outdoors, of course, it is amazing to have a coffee looking at a million dollar views, and with no neighbours!

If you’re thinking about going tiny, do not doubt it and go for it! We are convinced everyone can build their own house, and trust us, doing it will be one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences you will ever have. Ask for help if you do not feel confident in any part of the building process. There is a big community out there ready to help.

Highlights:

  • Mati and Luli realized after a stint of living with a woman in her treehouse, that they didn’t need nearly as much, or as much space, as they thought.
  • That’s when they were inspired to build a tiny house using many reclaimed materials. It took them about 10 months to complete their home and most of the materials were found free or reclaimed.
  • The house is about 21 ft x 8 ft.
  • After living in the tiny house, they wanted a new adventure, and purchased a bus to convert.
  • Working on the bus full-time for four months, they were able to transform it into a beautiful home on wheels.
  • They spent a sabbatical year traveling New Zealand in their bus.

VIDEO: Amazing Ultra Low-Cost Dream Tiny Home!

Learn more

Related stories

You can share this using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks!

If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!

You can also join our Small House Newsletter!

Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!

More Like This: Tiny Houses | Motorhomes | Bus Conversions | DIY | For Sale | Couple Tiny House Living | Tiny House on Wheels| Video Tours | Conversions | Vehicles

See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest Tiny Houses

This post may contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content.

The following two tabs change content below.

Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.
{ 0 comments… add one }

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next post:

Older post:

↑ Back to top ↑


2010-2026 © Tiny House Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer, Usage Policy, Privacy Policy & DMCA Policy.
Submit Content

The content and information here is for entertainment and should not be taken as professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we are not professionals. The owner of this website disclaims all warranties expressed or implied regarding the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the information provided.

Tiny House Talk is the ultimate resource for tiny house enthusiasts. With an extensive library of articles, videos, and interviews featuring expert advice, stories from people who have made the switch to a smaller home, and more – it’s the perfect place to learn everything you need to know about going small! Get all your questions answered and start your tiny house journey today.

Tiny House Talk lets you list tiny homes for sale or rent as a free service but Tiny House Media, LLC, TinyHouseTalk.com, and its contributors do not validate/verify the information we receive for these listings so it is your responsibility to verify the information we provide for you. Please do your due diligence and deal with people in person. Thank you.

TinyHouseTalk.com participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means we may post customized links, provided by retailers, to track referrals to their websites, and we may earn an advertising fee from any purchases made through these links. This program uses cookies to track visits for the purposes of assigning commission on these sales. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read our full disclaimer & policies here.