A straw bale home, a certified passive house and an artist’s residence and museum were among the attractions for the 170 people who went on the inaugural Wakatipu House Tour yesterday. Organised by Shotover Primary School’s fundraising arm, the self-drive tour featured seven homes in and around Queenstown. Wakatipu House Tour participants admire Lee and Jaap van der Geest's straw bale home and garden in Speargrass Flat, near Arrowtown, yesterday. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMSThe seven homes were not only beautiful, but interesting to visit for a variety of reasons, whether it was their architecture, building methods and technology, or gardens, views and artworks inside and out, Ms Hamilton said. Many of the properties’ owners were on hand to chat to the visitors, including Lee van der Geest, who runs art classes in her Speargrass Flat home.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 14, 2021 15:33 UTC