Fernlea Hotel

The first light through your pod window catches the steam rising from your morning tea, while somewhere across the garden a door clicks softly and the day begins in that particular quiet way small guest houses have.

Fernlea works for couples after a proper bed and breakfast experience or campers wanting to try pod life without giving up a cooked morning plate. The pitch options give you choices — sleep under canvas-and-timber or between proper sheets — and because it's open all year, you can chase those shoulder-season bargains when the crowds have gone home. Dog owners should ask ahead about bringing four-legged friends along.

Facilities aren't detailed in the listings, so ring before you book if you need specifics about what's onsite or nearby. The campfire policy needs checking when you arrive — some sites allow it, others don't, depending on season and conditions. It's the sort of place that straddles two worlds: the comfort of a guest house with the freedom of staying outdoors, depending on which morning mood takes you.