At the foot of a dormant volcano crater in South Australia’s far South-East corner, lies a property so unique you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the state.
Rachel Gerds and her partner Daniel Billingsley purchased the 12-acre Mountain Path Meadows property a few years ago with the vision of creating a retreat where guests could experience the simple life and fully embrace the raw, natural beauty of the land.
The pair built a single, geodesic dome, creating the ultimate glamping experience that blurs the line between tent and luxury. The one-of-a-kind timber structure is an architectural wonder that uses minimal materials, something that was very important to Rachel and Daniel.
“When we bought the property we wanted to create an eco-friendly retreat that is fully off the grid,” says Rachel.
Sustainability was at the forefront of the properties creation with regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles used throughout. Rachel and Daniel also worked closely with the traditional Indigenous land-owners in the area to ensure the land was protected and cared for throughout the build.
Entering the dome, you’ll be washed with an immediate sense of calm as your eyes cast over the minimalist, wooden interior of the 6-metre-wide cabin. The ambience gives an instant connection to the surrounding woods and the large king-size bed offers unparalleled views of the night sky through the skylight that stretches from floor to ceiling on one side of the dome.
“We were inspired by the show Escape to the Chateau,” explains Rachel. “In fact, fans of the show might recognise our geodesic dome as similar to the one that sits on Dick and Angel’s moat.”
With no wi-fi, a retreat to the Mount Schank property is the perfect excuse to switch off from the outside world and truly surrender to winding down and getting back to basics.
The dome is the first instalment of what’s to come for Mountain Path Meadows, with the property also soon to be available for weddings.
Arriving at the property, you’ll feel like you are worlds away from civilisation and it’s hard to believe it’s just 15 minutes from the town or beach.
Mountain Path Meadows is now open for bookings and can be done so here.
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