I’m a fan of house trucks and after a night at Wacky Stays in Kaikoura I came home and Googled house truck stays in the North Island and found Waitomo Farmstay and Gardens. In late March we booked a night in their big house truck with its rusting Thames Trader cab and higgeldy-piggeldy designed living space on the back.

House truck at Waitomo Farmstay and Gardens

The interior of the house truck is full of honey coloured wood and there’s a good sized kitchen and a couple of couches to sit on. As the truck is now in its final resting place a bedroom extension and little ensuite were added to make it more spacious, leaving the climb up to the bed in the loft for extra guests or kids.

Bedroom (little ensuite not shown)

It’s not a spic and span house truck, more a comfortable and casual place to spend the night and that’s reflected in the price – from $75 for a couple.

House truck kitchen, you may find some complimentary fresh produce from the garden

Waitomo Farmstay and Gardens are owned by the lovely Narita, Brian and their young children who are living their dream on 20 acres. Visitors to New Zealand often comment on how friendly Kiwis are, as I walked away from chatting to Narita it occurred to me that she epitomises the typical friendly and down to earth Kiwi. Narita’s hospitality extends to taking guests on a morning farm tour to meet the animals …

Meet the animals

We were late risers so watched the animals bonding from afar before taking a look at Brian’s collection of old tractors and farm implements.

Vintage Farmall tractor

Waitomo Farmstay is at 22 Waitomo Caves Road, a few kilometres from Waitomo Glowworm Caves.