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On Rakiura Stewart Island, at the bottom of New Zealand, PurePods has placed a glass cabin called Tokoeka inside an eco-sanctuary. According to PurePods, the pod is “nestled amongst lush native bush behind a predator-proof fence in an eco-sanctuary, full of birdlife, including kiwi,” on an island that is “part of the southern-most Dark Sky Reserve.” It sleeps two, and almost every wall is glass.
A Glass Room in the Bush
The pod looks out over native bush and down to the bay below. Because the walls and much of the roof are glass, the view is the main feature of the room: you wake up to the sea and fall asleep under the stars. Privacy comes from the location rather than curtains, since the pod sits on its own inside the reserve.
Kiwi Spotting from Bed
PurePods says guests can watch for kiwi right from the pod “thanks to the special red lighting.” Red light is used because it’s less disturbing to nocturnal birds than white light. Tokoeka is the local name for the Stewart Island brown kiwi.
Inside the Pod
PurePods lists a king bed, a hot shower, a flushing toilet, heating, gas hobs and a barbecue, tea and coffee, kitchen essentials, and local reference books. Guests can bring their own food or pre-order a breakfast and dinner hamper made with produce from the Southland region. Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
Getting There
Getting to Tokoeka is part of the trip. PurePods says you start with either a 15-minute flight from Invercargill or a 60-minute ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island. From the town of Oban, it’s about 4 km by foot, bike, or taxi to the entrance of the Mamaku Point Conservation Reserve, then a 380-meter nature walk through the predator-proof fence to the pod.
What It Costs
PurePods’ own site only shows rates inside its booking engine. Tourism New Zealand’s newzealand.com listing gives about NZ$850 to $890 per night from October to April and about NZ$690 per night from May to September, with the food hamper as an optional extra (we could not reload that listing on October 24, 2026, so confirm current rates when you book). PurePods says all prices on its website are in New Zealand dollars.
Before You Book
- Budget for the crossing: the flight or ferry to Stewart Island is a separate cost and should be booked early in summer.
- Pack light: the last stretch is a 380-meter walk on a nature trail.
- Plan your food: Oban has limited shops, so bring supplies or pre-order the hamper.
- Follow the sanctuary rules at the predator-proof fence gates to protect the birds.
Pod Details
- Location: Mamaku Point Conservation Reserve, Rakiura Stewart Island, New Zealand
- Setting: eco-sanctuary behind a predator-proof fence, in a Dark Sky Reserve
- Sleeps: 2 (king bed)
- Facilities: hot shower, flushing toilet, heating, gas hobs and barbecue, local reference books
- Food: optional pre-ordered breakfast and dinner hamper
- Walk-in: 380 meters (5 to 10 minutes) from the reserve entrance
Learn More
Tokoeka PurePod
Website: purepods.com/location/tokoeka
Instagram: @purepods
Photos: PurePods.
Highlights
- Glass cabin for two on Rakiura Stewart Island, New Zealand
- Inside a predator-fenced eco-sanctuary with kiwi
- Red lighting for kiwi spotting from the pod
- Part of the southern-most Dark Sky Reserve
- King bed, hot shower, and flushing toilet
Explore More
- Star Gazer Tiny House with Glass Walls in New Zealand
- MoonPass Lookouts Stargazing Tiny House
- Tiny vacations
Could you sleep in a room with glass walls, or would you miss the curtains?
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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