Location: Scotts Gap, Otago, New Zealand

If Airbnb had a category for Disarming Charmers, The Hitchin Rail at Scotts Gap, Southland, NZ, would be right in there. How can a sweetly compact, one-room hut with no powerpoint outlets and a ‘chilly bin’ for a fridge be so universally loved by guests from Italy, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Britain, as well as many locals?

Well, there is the cost, which is beyond reasonable for the lush farmland views and priceless solitude. It took us around 3 minutes to unwind from a long drive by sitting on the front deck and watching farmer George train his two young sheepdogs on a faraway hillside. Much better than telly. What really charms are the hosts, Justine and George. They live in the farmhouse 100 metres up the road.

If you’re lucky, like us, you can hitch a ride up to the farm, swinging along in the dog cage on the back of George’s quad bike. Lots of fun, holding on tight, with the young trainee pups running alongside, tongues hanging out the side of their mouths.

Dogs, sheep and deer, oh my!

On arrival at the farm, George gave us a tour, including an enduring shearing shed (still very much in use by his flock) and an all-purpose shed made long ago from timber milled from up the hill. George has many hobbies, including leatherwork – ‘I made this leather dog saddle for Justine so the Jack Russell can ride with her on the horse’ -, rope plaiting, and collecting beautiful antique horse carts in need of restoration. When he asked me what I do in my spare time, all I could think to say was, ‘Reading and travelling.’ Lame, I know.

Justine, the other half of this charming team, is equally interested and engaging. She introduced us to the house dogs and together we all tramped down to meet the resident goat and deer, a funny pair who are best buddies (the deer can jump the fence and escape any time she pleases but never has). Today, for me, joy meant having a surprisingly large, young, doe-eyed red deer sniffing my jacket for signs of treats. She was a beauty.