Colonies of grain silos are a common sight on the Canterbury Plains, but at the gateway to Banks Peninsula they have taken on a new life as self-contained accommodation. The tall, silver corrugated iron structures of SiloStay are unmissable as State Highway 75 passes through the Little River township.

SiloStay is a cluster of eight grain silos, each skirted in a spiral staircase and remodelled to include exterior balconies and windows. Inside, everything, including the kitchen sink, has been custom designed for the novel curved walls of the impressive three storey structures.

Dining tables, queen-sized beds and fully fitted out bathrooms sit atop polished macrocarpa floors, and a second spiral staircase leads from the first floor living area to the bedroom, where guests can stargaze through the hand operated peak-ring-cum-skylight.

Set amongst a quintessential Canterbury landscape of rolling hills and stock grazing in tree-lined paddocks, the silo farm is eco-friendly and can easily be reached by car or public transport. Little River Art Gallery and Cafe, located just next door, offer even more to explore in terms of New Zealand art, crafts, food and drink.