Otahuna Lodge

Retaining all the regal splendour it would have displayed back in 1895 when the property was built, Otahuna Lodge is, in fact, less a lodge, more a bewitching country mansion surrounded by fairytale gardens and timeless mountain views.

Step inside and you’ll be transported back 100 years in this, one of New Zealand’s premier luxury properties and certainly one of the more unique Christchurch hotels.

Christchurch itself is around 20 minutes from Otahuna Lodge, meaning you’ll have easy access to the city when you want it, and blissful isolation, outdoor activities and countryside walks when you don’t.

And this ‘best of all possible worlds’ theme continues through to every aspect of your stay at Otahuna Lodge. Interiors, for example, are bedecked in original or restored features which are as atmospheric as they come, such as the charming and individually adorned fireplaces (21 of them, no less) tiled and ornamented just as they would have been back in the 19th century.

Your reading room is one of Winchester sofas, exposed beams and wood panelling while elsewhere antique armchairs, the occasional grand piano, treasure chest or mahogany dinner table illuminated under the glow of chandeliers all tell their own story. With its extensive wine cellar, collonaded courtyard and ornate arched balconies, Otahuna Lodge is every bit the bonified country estate of times gone by.

However, amidst this heritage and living history actually lies a fully 21st-century luxury hotel in Canterbury. There’s a heated outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, a small spa, a fleet of 4x4 vehicles, quad bikes and even the hotel’s own sightseeing helicopter to prove it.

Activities around Christchurch also don’t stop coming while here, from the nearby Tai Tapu and Terrace Downs Golf Courses to horseback riding, hiking and biking trails throughout the valley, wine tasting, helicopter tours and so much more.

Then, for a highlight of your South Island experience that’s a little closer to home, wander Otahuna Lodge’s magical gardens until you come across the vast organic allotment and orchards that service their world-class, fine dining fusion restaurant. It’s one of the best in the area and proudly showcases the finest of New Zealand’s ingredients across a daily-changing menu that is as good as any in the country; this is an exceptional South Island luxury hotel indeed.