LODGE LIFE

With world-class dining, spectacular scenery, and authentic kiwi hospitality, travelling through New Zealand via its acclaimed luxury lodges is the best way to capture the essence of this remarkable land. Here are some of our favourites.

By Nick Walton

KINLOCH MANOR & VILLAS

One of New Zealand’s newest luxury retreats and one aimed at golfers looking for both challenging fairways and creature comforts, Kinloch Manor & Villas, located on the shores of Lake Taupo, is sister property to Treetops in Rotorua. However, that’s where the similarities end. Perched on steep mountain flanks, the uber-luxury lodge’s clutch of one and two-bedroom apartment style suites overlook the stunning Jack Nicklaus-designed course with the shimmering waters of the country’s largest lake beyond. Designed by architect Andrew Patterson, with interiors by acclaimed lodge guru Virginia Fisher that include oak floors, handmade New Zealand rugs, and carbon-neutral fireplaces, Kinloch Manor is dressed in local schist stone, and seamlessly blends into the lakeside landscape.

After trout fishing excursions, hiking or rounds of the private golf course, join fellow guests for pre-dinner drinks in the Great Room, a baronial space accented with fox fur, copper, stone and brass, or on the open terrace, before making your way into the cavernous Dining Room, a bold yet calming space in textured whitewash that acts as the perfect canvas for the modern Estate-to-Plate cuisine of Chilean head chef Norka Mella Munoz, who uses produce reared and grown on the the owner’s 2,000-hectare estate to execute refined, contemporary dishes matched with boutique New Zealand wines. kinlochmanor.co.nz

The Farm At Cape Kidnappers

Set atop a stunning 2,400-hectare working farm at the heart of the Hawke’s Bay winebelt, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers delivers world-class accommodation and hospitality to one of the country’s most coveted golf courses. Developed by the late American hedge fund billionaire Julian Robertson, and sister property to Matakauri and Kauri Cliffs (read more about this remarkable lodge on pg 84) , this unique coastal retreat boasts just 22 guest suites, in addition to a beautifully-appointed four-bedroom Owner’s Suite.

Each elegant farmhouse-style suite features interiors by designer Linda Bedell, king-sized beds, spacious bathrooms with over-sized bath tubs, wet bars, and lofty ceilings. But the real beauty is in the main lodge building, home to a sun kissed courtyard, fireplace snugs and a curated collection of local art. There’s an intimate spa (the manuka honey cocoon treatment is to die for), a heated infinity pool and fitness centre, an intimate wine cellar, and a Relais & Chateaux restaurant that capitalises on Hawke’s Bay’s outstanding local produce. If you’re not into golf, have the culinary team prepare you a picnic and explore the coastal cliffs on the Kiwi Discovery Walk; there are also Can-Am tours and opportunities to go horseback riding, wine tasting, kayaking or trout fishing. robertsonlodges.com

Huka Lodge

One of New Zealand’s most awarded lodges and the property that spearheaded the luxury lodge scene, Huka started life as a humble fishing cabin overlooking the iconic Huka Falls. Founded just outside Taupo in 1924, the property has since progressed in leaps and bounds. Located on a nine-hectare private estate that edges up against the mighty Waikato River, Huka Lodge is wreathed by heritage-listed gardens and features 20 junior Lodge Suites, and two exclusive multibedroom owners’ residences, the Alex van Heeren and Alan Pye Cottages, the latter named after its Irish founder. Expect thoughtful interiors by Virginia Fisher in cream, honey and lavender, with monogrammed bed linen, private terraces, well-lit bathrooms with deep soak tubs, and captivating river views.

Dining has always been at the heart of the Huka Lodge experience, with guests offered 20 private dining spaces, ranging from the Wine Cellar to the Orchard and Jetty Pavilion, in which to feast on the world-class cuisine of executive chef Tristan Abbott, who showcases locally-sourced ingredients from the central North Island. hukalodge.co.nz

A breathtaking mansion nestled just outside Christchurch, Otahuna Lodge is a historic Queen Anne-style home lovingly revived by Americans Hall Cannon and Miles Refo in 2007. Wreathed by 12 hectares of stunning gardens and staffed by hospitality innovators, Otahuna’s five guest rooms – which include the sumptuous Rhodes Suite – are replete with ancient wood, bespoke furnishings and subtle yet cuttingedge technology. Each is fitted with fireplaces, balconies, hidden nooks and snugs, as well as the intimate touches of personality that sets lodges apart from hotels.

However, accommodation is just one element of the Otahuna experience. Chef Jimmy McIntyre, who’s been at the lodge for almost 20 years, is renowned for his simplistic yet elegant approach to fine dining, a philosophy that places locally sourced ingredients, including 130 varieties of vegetables, fruit, and nuts from the lodge’s own gardens, front and centre. otahuna.co.nz

Matakauri Lodge

The sibling of acclaimed North Island golf destination lodges Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, Matakauri brings a more contemporary feel to the South Island. Positioned overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the towering Tooth Peaks ranges, Matakauri features just 12 guest rooms, with four located in the main lodge, and the rest scattered across the clifftops. Each boasts clean, modern décor that takes its design cues from autumn in Otago, plus a gas fireplace, private balcony, flatscreen TVs hidden behind artwork, and quite possibly the best bathtub views in the world. The Owner’s Cottage, the lodge’s penthouse, accommodates eight in absolute luxury.

The warm colours of the suites continue in the main lodge, where breakfast and dinner is served in the intimate dining room, on the outdoor patio, or in the private library. Head chef Jonathan Rogers’ menus are inspired by the produce of the deep south and his everchanging à la carte offerings include roasted scallops with black pudding and beurre noisette; North Island terakihi with mussels and dill; and smoked Otago duck with beetroot, goat’s curd and blood orange. robertsonlodges.com

Blanket Bay

Situated just outside Glenorchy, a hidden Eden at the western end of Lake Wakatipu, this purposebuilt lodge is flanked by the lake on one side and the imposing peaks of the Southern Alps on the other. Designed by US architect Jim McLaughlin and built using locally-sourced schist rock and recycled timber, Blanket Bay boasts a selection of accommodations ranging from main lodge suites to chalets, villas and a sumptuous Owner’s Residence. In addition, within the main lodge building there are cavernous living rooms with double-height picture windows and towering fireplaces, intimate bars, a modern games room, a duo of wine caves, a spa and fitness centre, a seasonal outdoor pool, and an indoor spa that looks through French windows to the lake.

Located at the base of the Southern Alps, the lodge is the perfect jumping-off point for travellers looking to explore Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park by helicopter, the Dart River by highpowered speedboat, or the ancient rainforests and towering peaks of the Mount Aspiring National Park on foot. Guests return to dinner cooked by chef Dan Reynolds and served in the cosy Lake View Dining Room. blanketbay.com

When you do venture from your room there's plenty to keep you occupied. Nestled on two kilometres of private shoreline, and backed by its own 215-hectare farm, the main lodge wreathes a large infinity-edged swimming pool while there’s a small fitness centre, spa, sauna, steam room and icy plunge pool housed in one wing; lounges, libraries and snugs with fireplace and an extensive art collection in another. Two dining rooms, manned by immaculately clad staff, many of whom cut their teeth working on luxury superyachts, open onto tiled terraces and expansive lawns that double as a helicopter pad.

You can explore the estate on a farm tour that takes in the Wagyu herd and stunning views of the Poor Knights Islands; retreat to the intimate Mohei Pavilion, a beachfront cottage for day use set on one of the property’s five private bays; and sample the cuisine of Italian chef Michele Martino, a protégé of chef Ernesto Iaccarino of restaurant Don Alfonso 1890, who taps into the estate’s extensive gardens and orchards for the freshest ingredients. helenabay.com

TREETOPS LODGE & ESTATE

One of New Zealand’s most acclaimed luxury enclaves, Treetops Lodge & Estate is nestled amid an 800-year old native forest just outside the geothermal mecca of Rotorua. Created by passionate naturalist John Sax, Treetops showcases the very best of New Zealand through lavishlyappointed accommodation, sensational dining, and a raft of unique encounters that infuse the region’s Maori culture, bucolic landscapes, and its world-class trout fishing legacy.

With a pioneering eco-friendly architectural design that’s won the property global praise, Treetops offers a variety of accommodation styles, including the traditional Lodge Wing, a four-room enclave ideally suited for families and friends travelling together, and a clutch of secluded villas. Each space is exquisitely decorated with custom furniture, fireplaces, high thread count linens, and objets d’ art.

Guests can explore the estate’s seven trout-packed streams or wander along 50km of adventure trails on geocaching hunts, hiking and 4WD experiences. The lodge’s ground-breaking Maori Indigenous Food Trail, Estate to Plate Safari, and Wild Food Cooking School offer foodies unprecedented access to locally-sourced ingredients and traditional culinary culture. Leave time to visit the spa, where a host of innovative Rituals of Treetops treatments guarantee to soothe mind and body. treetops.co.nz

Annandale

Nestled in Pigeon Bay, at the tip of the Banks Peninsula, Annandale is the modern face of New Zealand’s luxury lodge movement. Envisioned by New Zealand-born real estate tycoon Mark Palmer, Annandale isn’t really one property but a collection of five, each vastly different from the next, and most spaced a good 30-minute drive across a working farm from each other, ensuring ultimate privacy. There’s the historic and beautifully restored Homestead; the rustic elegance of Shepherd's Cottage; the contemporary lines of The Stables; and the open-plan, family-friendly living of Scrubby Bay. Seascape, a one-room glass-encased retreat overlooking a remote bay wreathed by a stony beach and rocky headlands, can be accessed directly via helicopter from Christchurch.

A stunning, unashamedly modern, open-plan villa, Seascape offers mesmerising sea views, a duo of gas fireplaces, an outdoor Jacuzzi, a kitchen with Miele appliances, and a deep soak tub with little between it and the expanses of the Pacific. While not a traditional lodge, Seascape offers the same chance to become a part of the landscape, to slow down, sleep in, and leave the rest of the world behind. To that end, guests can have a chef cook up a storm in the butler’s pantry; have raw ingredients delivered; or opt for the “we create, you serve” approach, which sees executive chef Craig Martin prepare a gourmet multi-course meal dish packed with ingredients from the farm’s own gardens that are vacuum packed and requires minimal preparation. annandale.com

Minaret Station

A true departure from the traditional lodge model, Minaret Station marries luxury and the rugged outdoors to perfection. Only accessible by helicopter, the lodge is hidden away 3,000 feet up in the Southern Alps, in the shadows of Mount Aspiring. Situated on a 26,000-hectare station that’s home to just four luxuriously appointed Alpine Chalets, each of which features sheepskin carpeting, king-sized beds, ensuite bathrooms, and private in-deck hot tubs, the property takes privacy and luxury to whole new levels. Powered by its own hydroelectric system, and constructed from timber and stone harvested from the station, Minaret Station’s main lodge building may have a rugged exterior but inside are gleaming timber floors, a complimentary wet bar, and a communal dining room where head chef Ivan Savae serves European and Asian fusion cuisine matched with the best drops from Central Otago.

Spend your days ‘tramping’ through Middle Earthlike scenery; take the helicopter to coastal islands for crayfish dives; go sailing on Lake Wanaka; or drop in at some of the region’s best cellar doors, and return in time for an al fresco soak under the stars. minaretstation.com