- Mountain View
The Tranquil Homestead
Hosted by Christopher · Mountain View, Hawaii
4 guests max · 1 bedroom · 1 bed
Best Hipcamps in Hawaii
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Within a 30-minute drive from the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Select a site
Filter by
Lodging
1 site
Instant book
The Tropical Duck
100%
(63)Toilet
Potable water
Showers
Picnic table
Reviews
100% Recommend65 ratings · 63 reviews
We stayed here for two nights with my wife. Even beyond what the reviews and photos show, Christopher & Esther were truly wonderful hosts, and The Tropical Duck is a beautiful place filled with charming animals.
If you’ve found this place, I highly recommend staying here. The cabin had everything we needed, and everything was clean and very comfortable. We also tried the optional duck eggs for the first time—they were very large and delicious.
Feeding the ducks, seeing peacocks up close, and spending time comfortably surrounded by Hawaii’s great nature was an unforgettable experience. Most of all, it made me so happy that my wife said she wished we could have stayed longer and that she wants to come back again.
Next time we visit Hawaii, we’ll definitely return with our family and children.
Thank you so much, Christopher & Esther!
Daigorou A.
2 reviews
We spent a few nights in Chris and Esther’s cute little cabin and truly felt at home. The cabin has everything you need and is beautifully surrounded by nature. Small frogs sing you a lullaby at night, and ducks welcome you in the morning. Our kids especially loved the ducks and peacocks!
We had plenty of privacy, along with great support from Chris and Esther whenever we needed it. An additional advantage of staying here is that it’s an off-grid place, so even during storms, when the public electricity is down, you still have power.
The location is also great — very close to Volcanoes National Park, which made exploring the area easy and convenient.
We had a wonderful stay at Tropical Duck and an amazing experience with the hosts — we would love to come back one day.
J
Justyna W.
3 reviews
We spent a few nights in Chris and Esther’s cute little cabin and truly felt at home. The cabin has everything you need and is beautifully surrounded by nature. Small frogs sing you a lullaby at night, and ducks welcome you in the morning. Our kids especially loved the ducks and peacocks!
We had plenty of privacy, along with great support from Chris and Esther whenever we needed it. An additional advantage of staying here is that it’s an off-grid place, so even during storms, when the public electricity is down, you still have power.
The location is also great — very close to Volcanoes National Park, which made exploring the area easy and convenient.
We had a wonderful stay at Tropical Duck and an amazing experience with the hosts — we would love to come back one day.
J
Justyna W.
3 reviews
We spent a few nights in Chris and Esther’s cute little cabin and truly felt at home. The cabin is clean, has everything you need and is beautifully surrounded by nature. Small frogs sing you a lullaby at night, and ducks welcome you in the morning. Our kids especially loved the ducks and peacocks!
We had plenty of privacy, along with great support from Chris and Esther whenever we needed it. An additional advantage of staying here is that it’s an off-grid place, so even during storms, when the public electricity is down, you still have power.
The location is also great — very close to Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, which made exploring the area easy and convenient.
We had a wonderful stay at Tropical Duck and an amazing experience with the hosts — we would love to come back one day.
J
Justyna W.
3 reviews
Recommends
· March 2026
Christopher and Esther are fantastic hosts. They definitely have the gift of hospitality. Our stay felt very safe and relaxing. The tiny house has everything you would need. It was a tranquil stay. We can't wait to visit again.
J
Jessica C.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2026
Christopher & Esther were such lovely & attentive hosts. They have a thoughtful set-up with everything you could possibly need for a comfortable night's stay, and the cabin feels very private. The view is lovely, surrounded by painted Eucalyptus. They have a small flat area for a tent site nearby which was lovely to stretch on beneath the trees. The ducks and peahens were so entertaining - they truly run the place! To boot this place is close to the Park & some quick food stops. The stars at night were so bright. I would love to stay here again for longer.
Ness M.
6 reviews
Recommends
· February 2026
Christopher And Esther are amazing and kind hosts. Very responsive and their ducks are so friendly and cute!
L
Laura T.
2 reviews
We had an amazing stay at this off-grid homestead and can see why it had such amazing reviews. The hosts, Esther and Christopher were truly lovely - relaxed, down to earth, and made everything feel easy from the moment we arrived. We really appreciated accommodating us when we arrived late.
The setting is something special: tucked into a beautiful rainbow eucalyptus rainforest with giant ferns and native trees, that made mornings feel so peaceful. It felt calm and restorative, with the gentle sounds of nature at night and a sky full of stars. We certainly lucked out being able to enjoy Hawai'i the way it was intended to be enjoyed.
The location is also perfect if you’re visiting Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and being in the laid back local town of Hilo. Being so close made it easy to explore the park and come back to a quiet, tranquil place to unwind. We also loved the homestead touches! The sweet ducks, Jasper, Mable and June (peacocks) were a highlight, and it felt like a genuinely unique, memorable experience.
If you’re looking for a calm, nature-filled stay near the volcano, this place is a gem. We would absolutely come back.
M
Michelle L.
2 reviews
If we could give this stay ten stars we absolutely would—maybe even more. Esther and Christopher were incredibly accommodating and couldn’t be more charming. They are kind, attentive, and you can tell they really love their homestead. The Tropical Duck has everything you need: a comfy bed in a cool bedroom; a modern composting toilet; hot shower, porch with a shade so you can enjoy it rain or shine; and a kitchen that has everything you need—-including a stove and oven. The space is private and peaceful. Great stargazing too.
And the ducks and peafowl! I can’t say enough how cute it was to see them waddle down in the morning. Esther and Christopher give you feed for them and my word they are so cute. Rainbow eucalyptus have been on my bucket list and what a treat to have them right there too! So gorgeous.
If you’re interested in homestead living, this is a great space to give that a try and see how it can be done sustainably and comfortably. Even if you’re not, you’ll have a delightful, peaceful, and comfortable stay. Esther and Christopher are warm and welcoming. Highly, highly recommend this stay.
J
Jennifer H.
4 reviews
Chris and Esther were extremely attentive hosts, they were very communicative and welcoming of questions or needs from us as guests. At the same time they gave us plenty of space so that the place still felt very private. The tiny home/cabin was perfectly comfortable and had everything you need to enjoy a cozy/rainy day ant home and was an inspiring example of how one can live off grid in Hawaii. The property is beautiful with gorgeous eucalyptus trees and the ducks/peacocks were wonderful entertainment. Esther and Chris provide feed for you to give to the birds and I greatly enjoyed watching the ducks waddle their way down the path each morning wagging their tails! The location was close enough to Hilo that it felt very easy to run errands/enjoy the city and is also super quick to the national park if you’re lucky enough to be here during an eruption. We would definitely stay here again!
C
Clare W.
3 reviews
This was such an amazing experience! It felt so private, yet only a 30 minute drive from Hilo and just a short distance to the main entrance of the park. Cozy and the cool evening weather made it feel like camping, but without the hassle of setting everything up. The bed was seriously the most comfortable bed I’ve been in while traveling. Kitchen was great and enough to cook basic meals.
Esther and Christopher were such gracious and attentive hosts. We were able to do laundry and check out some of the highlights of things to do that they recommended. The ducks and peacocks were a treat to see in the mornings and feed.
Great value for the price. As stated in the listing, bring your own drinking water (we picked up a large jug from the store). It was surprisingly cool at night, which was a welcome treat from the heat and humidity during the day as we traveled. Enough cell service but we didn’t use the internet provided. Laundry takes about an hour and 45 minutes on the property, and you’ll arrange a time to use the machines (but they have soap and dryer sheets.)
Amanda P.
6 reviews
We loved every bit of Christopher and Esther’s place! We thought about camping but are so glad we stayed here. The cabin is dialed in, with thoughtful features throughout. The hosts are as thoughtful as any we’ve ever had on Hipcamp or AirBnb. A perfect blend of friendly but giving lots of privacy. It was about 25 minutes to Hawaii Volcanos NP, close enough to make a late dash to see the lava! Highly recommended place to stay.
M
Michael K.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2025
We loved our stay at Chris and Esther’s place! It was the perfect location—so close to Volcanoes National Park—and incredibly peaceful. Falling asleep to the sound of frogs at night was a unique experience for me. The space had everything we needed for a comfortable night’s sleep--we wish we’d had more time to stay longer.
I loved that they gave us duck food so we could feed the ducks when we woke up. Their directions were clear, communication was easy, and everything felt welcoming and well thought-out.
A
Angie W.
2 reviews
Lodging was clean, well maintained, and had everything you could really ask for; full kitchen (including stove and oven), hot shower, ceiling fan above the bed, nice little deck out front.
The location is fantastic, it's at the back of the farm so sitting on the deck looking out you have a nice view of the rainbow eucalyptus trees, palm patches, and meadows, and total privacy to enjoy a morning coffee in peace.
Hosts were amazing, very friendly and welcoming.
Oh and there's ducks and peafowl all over who are very friendly and will come up to you for food.
My only issue was that I didn't stay longer.
J
Josh B.
4 reviews
We absolutely loved it!
Great location, private, tropical setting. It is awesome to go to bed with the rainforest sounds in the background.
Wel maintained and clean cottage.
We loved the ducks coming over to say hello in the morning (and that goes double for our 8 year old.)without waking us up.
And if you never had duck eggs before : they are delicious!
Esther and Christopher are great host, friendly, patient and helpful.
S
S. J.
1 year on Hipcamp
It was an enjoyable , very relaxing tiny home! We felt like we’re glamping, enjoyed feeding the ducks and peacocks.
Esther and Christopher are amazing hosts, they’re friendly, they really have aloha spirits and great Stewart’s of the aina.
C
Cms 2.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Truly an amazing place! The ducks were so much fun and we felt so welcomed! The owners made us feel right at home!
C
Conner B.
8 months on Hipcamp
Wow what an amazing place Ester and Christopher have created! We are planning our next trip back already!!! Highly recommend anyone who is curious on off grid living with the essentials still there. Hot water and a wonderful compost toilet! And the Ducks omg so cute!!!! Peacocks and lil baby one too, we really looked forward to the early mornings with the birds!
N
Naomi P.
10 months on Hipcamp
Christopher & Esther’s tranquil retreat was so much fun for my three Keiki. They absolutely loved the whole experience from the off grid experience & compostable toilet to feeding the ducks and exploring. Christopher and Esther were so beyond hospitable. They ensured our comfort and ease in the experience as a whole.
A
Aiko A.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
With kids ·
The Tropical Duck
My partner and I plus our 4yo really enjoyed our stay. It was a welcome shift from the busy city and tourist atmosphere of Oahu - quiet, dark, the sounds of the coquis, the ducks of course (we enjoyed their company and feeding them and the peacock). The proximity to Volcanoes Park was perfect especially given our luck for being there during an eruption! It was so convenient and easy to zip over to the park in no time. Everything was as Christopher and Esther described, and the space was very clean and cozy, and easy to find. On a clear night the stars are amazing.
Michele T.
3 reviews
We absolutely loved our short stay at the Tranquil Homestead! The cabin was in a beautiful location, very clean, and was stocked with everything we could’ve possibly needed for a comfortable stay. Additionally, Christopher & Esther were very welcoming and responsive - they graciously gave us a tour of their land when we first arrived, assisted us with navigation, and provided wonderful recommendations on restaurants/activities during our stay. I would recommend this hipcamp to anyone visiting the Big Island!!
A
Anna S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Our stay at this "Off Grid" cabin was pure magic. The setting is absolutely stunning—tucked among striking Rainbow Eucalyptus trees that make the entire property feel like a hidden tropical dream. The natural beauty here is unreal, and the peaceful atmosphere made it easy to unwind and disconnect.
The cabin itself was spotless, cozy, and perfectly suited for a restful escape. Everything was thoughtfully maintained, and you can tell the hosts care deeply about the space and their guests.
Speaking of the hosts—they were incredible! So warm, friendly, and welcoming. Their hospitality truly made our stay even more special.
One of the unexpected joys of our visit was spending time with the Muscovy ducks. They were such a delightful part of the experience—full of personality and charm. We loved watching them waddle around the homestead!
We honestly wish we could have stayed longer. This place is a true gem, and we’re already dreaming of coming back. Highly, highly recommend!
J
Jen C.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
With pets ·
The Tropical Duck
We had such a beautiful and peaceful stay at The Tranquil Duck! The property is serene, charming, and surrounded by nature—truly the perfect escape. We especially loved the rainbow eucalyptus trees right outside the homestead; they added such a magical touch to the surroundings. Christopher and Esther were incredibly sweet and helpful, going above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They were also so flexible and kind in allowing our pups to stay, who had an amazing time exploring the property and soaking in the fresh air. They even took the time to give us an extensive list of recommendations, which made our trip even more enjoyable and stress-free. We’re already looking forward to coming back and would absolutely love to stay here again. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable getaway!
D
Delaney B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
With kids ·
The Tropical Duck
We loved our short stay at the tropical duck cabin. Our hosts were gracious and the cabin was comfortable. Would love to return and stay longer to learn about their off grid living.
Nels L.
2 reviews
My husband and I loved that Esther and Christopher's hospitality made us feel like family. Their property was beautiful! The little cabin we rented was a perfect space for two. The bathroom, adorable and a porch where you could get fresh air and admire the beauty of Hawaii Island was amazing. And then there were their ducks that greeted us in the mornings! It was a short stay but an awesome one! Mahalo Esther and Christopher for your welcoming hospitality!
Roseanna A.
1 year on Hipcamp
Wow we absolutely LOVED our stay at the duck farm!!! Chris and Esther were fantastic hosts and have an awesome property that we were so grateful that they shared with us!! The tiny home that we got to stay in was perfect!! They thought of everything to make it feel like home. The bed was comfortable, shower was hot and spacious, kitchen was perfect to cook and eat in, lanai was absolutely gorgeous and the whole space was very private and close to Volcano National Park!! Also, the ducks are amazing!!! So sweet and fun to interact with and feed. They love the treats Mom and Dad left them as well as our tasty banana peels!! Speaking of bananas and ducks, the bananas and duck eggs that we purchased from Chris and Esther's farm were delicious!! Best eggs we have ever eaten. If you're thinking of staying near the national park or just visiting this beautiful homestead farm stop thinking about it and just do it!! Thank you again for a wonderful stay and memorable trip Hawaii and Tropical Duck Farm!!
P
Perry D.
3 reviews
We had a truly lovely stay at the Tropical Duck – it's a hidden gem tucked away in nature. Every morning, we were greeted by the sight of ducks wandering around the property, which quickly became the highlight of our trip. Our baby absolutely adored feeding them each day – it was such a sweet and peaceful routine.
The hosts were incredibly kind, attentive, and clearly hardworking. Their dedication shows in every detail of the place. A special touch: they gifted our son a little duck, which completely made his day.
We left with full hearts and beautiful memories, and we would absolutely come back. Highly recommended for families or anyone looking for a serene nature escape.
V
Vanessa D.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Esther and Chris were extremely gracious and friendly hosts. The cabin was clean and comfortable. The location was convenient for getting to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Feeding the ducks was a highlight of our trip. They're beautiful birds and they have so much personality!
J
Jimmy T.
1 year on Hipcamp
This place was the absolute best part of our Hawaii trip!
Christopher and Ester were so friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. They made sure our place was super clean and tidy. The fully stocked kitchen with gas was a huge plus, and we had a blast cooking. The only thing we wish we could have done is stayed longer!
Oh, and the ducks! We made 40 new friends during our stay.
M
Mason M.
2 years on Hipcamp
The tranquil duck was a lovely place to call home for the week we visited (2 adults, 2 kids). They had all of the needed amenities and more while having everything very clean. It was very peaceful and Esther and Chris were easy to communicate with and very sweet people. We will definitely get back for a visit!
L
Lee & Ryan K.
4 reviews
Location
Mountain View, Hawaii, Hawaii, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Christopher & Esther C.
Joined in August 2022Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
Campers also viewed...
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.