Luxury  Lodges

Following are a selection of lodges that exceed expectations for a property in this category. 

Each property has something that makes it special.  These selections are not just a place to sleep but an experience.    

        North Island

Kauri Cliffs
Northland
Set on 6,000 acres near Matauri Bay, Northland, The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs affords spectacular 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean. Cape Brett and the offshore Cavalli Islands are part of the panorama which can be viewed from the verandas, lounge, card and dining rooms.

There are eleven outlying guest cottages, each with two guest suites providing twenty-two accommodation units at Kauri Cliffs, 16 deluxe units and 6 standard units. Every suite offers its own private porch, comfortable bedroom with sitting area and open fireplace, walk-in his and hers wardrobes and a bathroom with a shower, bathtub and his and hers vanities. The cottages are nestled on the edge of a native forest overlooking the ocean and golf course.

Included:  pre-dinner drinks with hors d’oeuvres, a la carte dinner, full breakfast, complimentary mini-bar including domestic beers (excludes liquor and wine) and use of all lodge facilities excluding golf.

 Mollies on Tweed
Auckland
One of the world's unique, luxury boutique hotels in Auckland. Facilities include: Spacious, luxurious suite accommodation, Cottage garden & intimate outdoor areas, Ample off-street parking, Broadband internet access, Full à la Carte Breakfast available, Library, Drawing room, Dining salon, Private guest bar, Spa treatment room, Exercise room

Included: Welcome drink on arrival, complimentary in-room tea & coffee making facilities with homemade biscuits, full evening turn down service, unlimited in-room broadband internet access, private direct dial phone, daily newspaper, complimentary access to Mollies gym, luxury limousine inner city limo transfer (subject to availability)

Ridge Country Retreat                                      Final stay in the Colorado Public Radio New Zealand itinerary
Bay of Plenty
Situated on a ridge in the privacy of 35 acres of native bush in the scenic Papamoa Hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Ridge Country Retreat has been designed to blend in and also take advantage of the majestic natural surroundings.

Facilities include: a 15m geothermal pool, a massage and therapy room with accompanying spa pool, and a library.

Eleven spacious rooms are available, 6 villas with outdoor geothermal baths and 5 suites all with their own decks.  All ensuites have heated floors, separate showers, bath's and toiletries are just some of the thoughtful ideas included.
Awaken to the songs of so many birds welcoming the morning sun.  Penny and Joanne, the gracious host/owners are fun and very knowledgeable about things to do - they have lived in the area for over twenty years.

Included: Gourmet breakfast

Lodge @ 199
Rotorua Lakes
Luxury accommodation on the shores of Lake Tarawera in the heart of New Zealand's thermal region.  The lodge is a haven where guests enjoy the highest standards of comfort and genuine New Zealand hospitality.  Warm, intimate, serene - an extraordinary accommodation experience.

The Lounge: enter the lounge rich in textures and luxurious furnishings that echo the beauty and simplicity of the lodge.  Beyond the glasslikes the sparkling Lake Tarawera surrounded by the native New Zealand bush clad hills.  Enjoy nature from your plush furnishings or curl up beside the blazing fireplace.

Each guest suite offers a flat screen TV, a DVD/CD players, guest telephone, selection of fine English teas & fresh ground Arabica coffee, homemade muffins/baking and New Zealand chocolates.

Included: Delicious continental and cooked breakfast served outside in teh morning sun overlooking the lake or inside in the glow of the fire, pre dinner canapés and New Zealand wine before you head out for dinner.

Tree Tops Lodge
Rotorua
Travel + Leisure (USA) announces Treetops in Best 25 Hotels in the World and Best in NZ

Treetops Lodge and Wilderness Experience has been selected as NZ's best hotel and placed in the top 25 of the Worlds Best Hotels in the annual Travel + Leisure Magazine 2009 survey.

Nestled amidst magnificent native forests and valleys, Treetops Lodge & Estate offers a uniquely New Zealand experience. The Lodge with its’ elegant architectural style derived from this country's pioneering past. Timber and stone finishes echo the beauty and simplicity of the great outdoors at Treetops Lodge.
A sanctuary and retreat of breathtaking terrain in 2,500 acres of secluded native forest and game reserve, seven trout streams, four lakes, over 70 kilometers of hiking trails, mountain bike riding, horse riding and the ultimate in tranquility and splendor

Included: Breakfast, pre dinner cocktails, dinner and selected lodge activities.

Solitaire Lodge
Rotorua
Set on a private peninsula on the shores of New Zealand’s legendary Lake Tarawera, the lodge’s 10 suites feature magnificent views of the lake’s still waters. Minutes from your doorstep, discover secluded private bays, hot water beaches, majestic forest waterfalls and natural thermal hot springs. Feeling adventurous? Embark on a scenic helicopter ride over volcanic peaks, skim across the lake in a kayak, set sail on a boat charter, or enjoy world-class trout fishing. The lodge is also the perfect setting to simply relax, indulge and rejuvenate. Unwind with a decadent spa treatment, take a leisurely bushwalk, or sip a glass of champagne while relaxing in the terrace spa pool.

Included: pre dinner drinks and canapés, four course dinner, full breakfast and use of all lodge facilities including; motorised dinghies, kayaks and fishing gear.

Wildwood Lodge  
Boutique Lodge

Set in over five acres of landscaped gardens and with 200 yards of privately owned lake frontage, and offering a perfect retreat staying in the Rotorua area.
Situated on Lake Rotoehu, one of Rotorua’s prettiest lakes, offering sheltered waters, excellent trout fishing and total privacy. No other houses or properties can be seen from anywhere on the entire estate.

The lodge itself is especially well appointed with a large open plan design and expansive decking that provides a wonderful indoor/outdoor feel, with the lake almost blending as an extension of the house. There is an extensive library, theatre and a number of separate areas where guests can relax and enjoy the solitude of the wonderful setting. The lodge has central heating, air conditioning and a large open fire for the cooler months. Broadband wireless internet access is available in every room, including the guest house.

All meals are served in the main lodge dining area and superb New Zealand fare is the order of the day. Fresh seasonal produce from our own garden is incorporated where possible and guest’s dietary preferences are catered for.
A 1,000 bottle wine cellar further complements the evening meal.

Included: breakfast, pre dinner canapés, superb 3 course dinner, selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, wireless broadband internet access, international phone calls to land lines back to the U.S., use of laundry facilities

The Farm Cape Kidnappers
Napier
Located in the Hawke's Bay. One of New Zealand's most important wine districts, Cape Kidnappers has a rich history beginning with its discovery by Captain James Cook in 1769. The new lodge, or 'The Farm'  is a five star experience like its sister lodge Kauri cliffs Kauri Cliffs. Cape Kidnappers is set on a 6,000-acre sheep and cattle farm, which encompasses land reminiscent of Montana but plunges 800 feet straight into the sea. 

Each cottage suite has room controlled air conditioning, high speed wireless internet, remote control flatscreen LCD TV, DVD, CD player with iPod connection, safe, fully stocked complimentary mini bar*, walk in closet, spacious bathroom with heated towel rack, separate WC and shower stalls, oversized bath tub, and twin vanities. 180 degree panoramic views of the farm, golf course and Pacific Ocean are enjoyed from each suite's private balcony.

Included:  Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres, gourmet 3-course dinner & breakfast, complimentary mini-bar including domestic beers (excludes liquor and wine), and use of all lodge facilities, excluding golf.

Breckenridge Lodge
Napier
If superb kiwi hospitality, a peaceful location and gourmet food & wine are amongst your pleasures in life and you have come to the right place...

Your host, renowned Chef Malcolm Redmond, invites you to truly relax and enjoy private, luxury lodge accommodation, nestled in the picturesque valley of Omarunui in the sunny Hawkes Bay Wine Country.

Experience Malcolm’s exquisite cuisine using only the best, fresh seasonal produce from his organic garden and local markets. Malcolm hand picks reserve Hawkes Bay and other excellent New Zealand wines, so you can take pleasure in an unforgettable fine dining experience.

Wharekauhau
Palliser Bay
 Wharekauhau Country House Hotel is located on a 3600-acre country estate. Modeled on the lines of an Edwardian country mansion, this luxurious guesthouse features a grand hall, massive fireplaces, mullioned windows and breath-taking views. Guest suites feature private verandahs, fireplaces, dressing rooms and bathrooms with double baths, separate showers and amazing views over Palliser Bay. Fishing, hunting and safari tour packages available.

Included: Full Breakfast, Pre-dinner drinks & Canapés, Superb Gourmet Dinner  

Additional Luxury and Unique Accommodation  

         South Island

Huntley House
Christchurch
Huntley House is a beautiful historic homestead, built in 1876 by one of Christchurch's early settlers. In October 2004 it's doors were open to the public. Today, it boasts 17 rooms, each combining the comforts of a private home with the amenities of a luxury hotel. We are proud to be a member Select Hotels & Resorts International.

Room amenities include:  Super king or king size beds (or two king singles), Eiderdown bedding.  Ensuite bathrooms with separate spa bath and shower, under-floor heating, heated mirrors in the ensuite bathrooms, Mini bars, Tea and coffee making facilities, TV, radio, DVD and CD players, Sky satellite television, ceiling fans, Hairdryers, Full sized writing desk, Broadband Internet access Central heating and/or gas fireplace, Garden views.

Included: Breakfast.   

Otahuna Lodge
Christchurch
 Otahuna was built in 1895 for prominent Canterbury pioneer Sir Heaton Rhodes. An enduring testament to his love for the finer things in life, the homestead is considered one of the best examples of unspoiled Queen Anne architecture in Australasia and is protected by a Category One listing from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Otahuna Lodge is an intimate, exclusive retreat offering seven individual suites. The 2 master suites and 5 suites retain grand architectural features from the 19th century such as ornate wood-burning fireplaces, carved inglenooks and stained glass windows.

Food and wine are an integral part of the Lodge experience. The menu celebrates the best of fresh New Zealand produce with an emphasis on seasonal estate-grown offerings. Honest, uncluttered flavors, the finest ingredients and elegantly restrained presentation are the hallmarks of the Otahuna table.

The spectacular 110-year old gardens stretch over 30 acres. Wide vistas over lawn and lake contrast beautifully with intimate walks which wind through heavily wooded areas. On the far side of the lake, over a million daffodils welcome guests to the property each spring. Meanwhile the formal “Dutch” garden invites guests to meander its hedged pathways to discover exotic trees, including some of New Zealand’s largest and finest specimens.
Situated at the base of the Banks Peninsula, Otahuna Lodge is just 20 minutes drive from the city centre of Christchurch, making it the ideal place from which to explore Canterbury. Wineries, private gardens, championship golf, world-class fishing and even the world’s rarest dolphins are all just a short drive – or helicopter ride – from the front door.

Included:  pre-dinner drinks & canapés, five course dinner, breakfast, complimentary mini bar and airport transfers.

Kincaid Lodge
Kaikoura
 Backed by the snow-capped Kaikoura Mountain Range and looking out to the Pacific Ocean, the historic Kincaid homestead has stood for over 100 years in this classic New Zealand location.