Otahuna Lodge

Hotel description

As the New Zealand lodge boom shows no sign of slowing, perhaps it’s time to soberly take account of the situation, and note for the record that not all lodges are created equal. For one thing, there are lodges that pride themselves on being rustic, unfinished, homely and rough around the edges; and then there are lodges like Otahuna, which is pretty much the last word in Queen Anne–style refinement.

Here just outside of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island stands a 19th-century mansion, surrounded by rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep. Inside it’s every bit as ornate as any English country manor, though the indigenous New Zealand hardwoods lend it a slightly more robust look.

With just seven suites it feels scarcely like a hotel at all; you may forget there are other guests until you run into them at mealtimes. The suites are about comfort above all, with super-king beds and huge bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and separate rain showers. The grounds certainly don’t lack for comfort either — there are innumerable quiet places for reading, cocktails, tea, as well as all manner of sporting activities and spa treatments. And finally the food — it’s a bit of a question mark at some New Zealand lodges but not so at Otahuna, where your chef is responsible for a five-course menu crafted from the finest of local ingredients.

How to get there:

Otahuna Lodge is approximately a 20 minute drive from Christchurch International Airport.