Rimu & Rain

There’s a certain kind of grime that accumulates after a day working in the West Coast bush. It’s a mix of peaty earth, sweat, bush debris and insect repellant. A quick splash from a bucket to freshen up for happy hour at the end of the day just doesn’t cut it. In the absence of a shower we wanted total immersion, a way to literally wash the day away before relaxing beside the fire with a cold beer or glass of wine.

We were lucky enough to find this 1980s steel bath at our local salvage yard and bought it cheap for just $50. After some debate we decided it is a calming shade of cheesy lemon which blends in well and pulls together the earthy brown and leafy green tones of the surrounding environment. The bath cleaned up well and fortunately there were only a couple of blemishes in the enamel. We chose to sit it behind the Shut on the edge of the clearing. An out of the way spot that looked towards the bush, the lush foliage of ferns in the foreground and towering Rimu trees overhead.

Mike built a frame for the bath which he constructed in the garage at home and then transported to the land in kitset form to be assembled. He also added a little deck to the side for easy access. The foundation piles were concreted in and we left space under the bath to sit a cast iron two element gas cooker to heat the water. This was a trick we picked up from our neighbour and it would have to make do until we had a more sophisticated hot water set up.

The land slopes down at this site into a swampy area of bush perfect for draining the bath water away. Mike attached a length of pipe to direct the water into the swampy area and we are careful to use biodegradable soap and shampoo to ensure the ecosystem isn’t impacted.

Finally, we have a bath. It is absolute bliss sliding into the warm water at the end of the day. Relaxing back and gazing up at the blue sky framed by Rimu trees towering overhead. The ferns are close enough to touch and the birds, fantails and tom tits, fly playfully amongst the bush. This is another unique experience this beautiful place has to offer. Next, we will stain the timber deck and cladding around the bath. One day we want to upgrade to something a little fancier but for now this works perfectly.