In an untouched valley of native forest near Sawyers Bay lies the off-grid home of Laurena and Andre Steyn.
The couple are proud owners of a 14ha parcel of land formerly owned by the Dunedin Scouts for more than 50 years.
Mr Steyn said the couple moved to the valley in May 2020, and the first winter was a challenge.
Food was stored outside in a chilly bin as it was cold enough to keep it fresh.
Mr Steyn bought second-hand batteries to connect to the solar panels and devised a plan for more electricity generation by using the stream that ran through the property.
He designed and built a micro hydro power system using an old direct-drive motor from a washing machine.
Water from the stream further up the valley was funnelled through a pipe, increasing the pressure, then the water sprayed out of two nozzles to rotate a type of pelton wheel.
Their location, tucked away in a valley, made for poor cellphone and internet connections, so Mr Steyn designed and built a solar-powered a 4G relay station, which he was able to place on a neighbour’s property to beam down to their home.
It takes a good 15 minutes’ walk through beautiful native forest to reach their home, which is nestled in a peaceful valley like something from a fairy tale.
However, moving belongings into their new home was quite a challenge.
Mr Steyn described the path to the property from Mt Cargill Rd as Baldwin St — "but with clay".
The valley consisted of mostly untouched native forest, as well as a clump of pine trees.
"There are parts of it we still haven’t explored, and we have been here for almost two years," My Steyn said.
The pair were planning to welcome friends and family for Christmas, and they would be carefully monitoring electricity use.
"We arrange our lives around the power that we have."
