How to Choose a Yurt Company in Australia: 11 Questions to Ask

Most yurt websites look alike. Nice photos, a few sizes, a quote form. The differences show up when you start asking specific questions, and a good supplier is happy to answer every one of them. These are the questions our own clients ask us before they buy.

Can you see real builds before you buy?

You should be able to. Ask for a display model you can visit, or client videos filmed on real properties.

Standing inside a yurt tells you things a photo can't: how the light falls, how tall the walls feel, how the door swings and how the space sounds when it rains. If a visit isn't practical, client videos are the next best thing. Look for owners on their own land, talking about the build in their own words, rather than polished renders.

For us, that means a growing community of clients across Australia and New Zealand who are happy to show you their yurts, in person, on a video call or over the phone. You can also watch our client video playlist. Some of our clients host guests on Airbnb or run eco retreats, so in some cases you can book a night in one before you decide.

Is the price clear, and what does it include?

A good yurt company publishes prices for every size and lists exactly what's in the kit. You shouldn't have to book a call to find out whether a price includes GST, shipping, insulation or a door.

Then ask what isn't included. The deck or platform, site works, fit-out and the last leg from the port to your property are usually extra, and that's normal. The thing to avoid is finding out after you've paid a deposit.

Our prices are on each product page in AUD excluding GST. The ORON starts from $14,350 for a 5m, and the kit includes the timber frame, a durable matte outer cover in your choice of five natural colours, 10mm wool felt insulation, a hemp-cotton liner, a 10mm thick acrylic skylight, one hardwood door and one full-height opening window. Geo Domes start from $14,490. Shipping to your nearest major port is included; your deck and final delivery are separate. For full setup budgets, see ORON yurt prices and how much a yurt costs.

What is the frame made of?

Ask for the exact material, and expect a straight answer. The frame is the part you keep longest, so it deserves the hardest questions.

Timber, steel and aluminium all have a place in yurts and domes. What matters is that the company can tell you what you're getting, how the wall and roof ring take the load, and how long the frame should last with normal care.

The ORON has a handmade, full-timber frame that is 60% heavier than our Standard Yurt frame. Our Geo Domes use a hot-dip galvanised steel frame. With proper maintenance, the frame, doors and windows can last 15+ years. Our what is a yurt made of guide goes through every part.

What is the cover like, and what does a replacement cost?

Ask what the cover is made of, how it's finished, how long it lasts and what a replacement costs. The cover takes the sun and rain every day, so it's the part that wears out first.

If a company sells more than one range, the cover can differ between them, so ask range by range. Ask how long it lasts in Australian sun and what a new one costs delivered. That number matters more than most buyers expect.

Here is ours, so you have something to compare against. Our outer covers are durable coated PVC with a matte finish, waterproof and UV resistant, in five colours inspired by the natural landscape. For the spec sheet, ORON and Geo Dome covers are 900 GSM and our Standard Yurt cover is 850 GSM. Expect roughly 7 years from a good outer cover before it needs replacing, and budget from around $3,000 delivered for a new one, with the size of your yurt or dome setting the final figure.

How will it handle wind on your site?

A good company talks you through anchoring and siting for your property. How well a yurt or dome handles wind comes down to a solid deck, proper anchoring and where it sits on your land.

A round shape spreads wind load evenly, which is why yurts and domes do so well in exposed places. Tell your supplier how exposed your site is and ask how they'd anchor it.

We go through anchoring for your site with you before you order. On a solid deck with proper anchoring, our yurts and domes are built to handle winds of around 120 km/h. However, they aren't designed for cyclone regions and don't have official wind ratings (they are sold as 'glamping tents').

What warranty and after-sales support do you get?

A good company gives you clear warranty terms in writing and backs them up if something goes wrong.

Ask which parts are covered, for how long, and who you call if you need help. A supplier who answers that plainly, and picks up the phone after delivery, is one you can rely on (the only way you will know if they pick up the phone after sales is to look at independent Google reviews).

We give a 3-year warranty on the yurt and dome components we supply, covering defects in materials and workmanship. The full terms are on our FAQ page. Our team is a phone call away if you need help. Head to Google and type in "Yurt in the Dirt reviews" and see what comes up. That should give you a good idea of the level of customer service and after-sales support that we provide.

What help do you get with the build?

Ask for deck plans, written and video instructions, and a phone number you can call mid-build. Many owners put up their own yurt, so the support is part of what you're buying.

Our how to build a yurt and yurt platform guide show the kind of detail to expect. If you'd rather not build it yourself, ask whether the company installs. We install in WA and can connect you with installers elsewhere in Australia.

Is finance available?

Ask, because sometimes it changes what's affordable. Some suppliers have a finance partner and some don't.

We have finance options for eligible yurt and Geo Dome purchases, usually from around $500 a month.

How does the company talk about council?

Ask how the company handles council, and expect an answer based on your specific site and how you'll use it. Rules vary by state, council and intended use.

A good supplier gives you the honest position and points you to the right people like local independent planners. Ours is in our council approval guide.

Have they built something like your project?

Ask for examples similar to what you're planning. A backyard studio, off grid living on rural land and a multi-unit glamping site or eco-retreat are different jobs.

Ours range from home offices and guest rooms to an 8m ORON yoga studio in the Perth Hills that our team built start to finish, a 6m Geo Dome glamping stay in Victoria, off-grid yurts in Tasmania, eco-retreats in Western Australia and a growing community of 150+ clients across Australia and NZ.

Should a yurt company promise a delivery date?

A realistic estimate is more useful than a fixed date. Yurts and domes travel by sea, and shipping schedules move. Our yurts are handmade from the ground up and customised to you so our typical lead time is around 10 to 12 weeks in most cases, but this can fluctuate depending on the time of year and how many orders we have in production at the time.

A better sign is a supplier who gives you a realistic estimate with your quote, explains what can shift it, and keeps you updated. If you're working towards an opening date or a move, tell them early so they can plan with you.

How do you compare two or three suppliers side by side?

Put the same questions to each one and write the answers down. The right choice is usually obvious once the answers sit next to each other.

Want to run us through it? Get an ORON quote or call us on +61 489 269 088.