Wilderness Stays
Drive up the valley beneath the high peaks of the Kahurangi National Park towards where the Riwaka River gurgles out from within the marble mountain. Here you’ll find the highly regarded Resurgence – a luxury wilderness retreat perched above the valley floor, bathed in sunlight and surrounded by beautiful native and exotic forest.
Hosts, Clare and Peter, have created a special place where guests can stay in luxurious rooms in the main lodge or in individual chalets and bush lodges in the grounds.
The Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki sits near the coast on the lower south-west of the South Island, amidst wet temperate rainforest and bearing the brunt of the wild storms that blow ashore from the Tasman Sea – which is what makes it such a special place to visit.
Recognised now as the best place in the world to observe the gorgeous Tawaki, or Fiordland Penguin, (in season), the lodge offers very welcoming hospitality in a primeval setting.
Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses lies on a narrow strip of coastal land wedged between the towering mountains of the Seaward Kaikoura Range and the temperate waters of the southern Pacific Ocean. This is whale watching territory, and guests come from around the world to see the mighty sperm whales that live along this wild coastline.
Add in the seals and dolphins, the long hikes up to vast views, and the local food attractions like fresh crayfish (lobsters), venison and cheeses, and you can easily spend a few days relaxing in this beautiful spot.
Milford Sound Lodge is the only accommodation option in Milford Sound, so it's an obvious choice for a comfortable stay in a stunning setting.
Try the Mountain View or luxury Riverside Chalets, which have fabulous views and beautiful 4 star accommodation. And there’s a two bedroom chalet as well for a larger group or family. Meals are available at the on-site cafe/restaurant and the boat terminal, hiking and kayaking trips are just a few moments away. Nature is big here, and the weather can be strong, so bring your warm and wet weather gear any time of the year.
The Wilderness Lodge Arthurs Pass sits above the Waimakariri River valley, letting you enjoy the rugged beauty of the Southern Alps while staying in very comfortable rooms and suites.
Join in ecology walks on this 3,000 hectare nature reserve, take part in farm activities like mustering and shearing or do some of the other wilderness activities further afield.
There are wild flower walks, bush, glacier and mountain walks, bird-watching, kayaking, mountain biking and photography trips and the chance to go mountaineering or climbing in the nearby Arthur's Pass National Park.
Minaret Station is everything you could want in a remote fishing lodge. You can’t drive there, or reach it by boat. You can’t drop in by fixed wing plane, or realistically even walk there. But you can arrive by helicopter, as everyone else does. Until a few years ago the accommodation here was in luxuriously appointed tented cabins, but these have now been replaced by equally luxurious mountain chalets.
All fishing at Minaret Station is heli-fishing, and there are also drive-out guide fishing options available from Queenstown and Wanaka. Minaret Station allows access to world-class river fishing for brown and rainbow trout, and a short season of salmon fishing as well
The Lindis is a brand new kid on the block – a stunning, contemporary luxury lodge right in the heart of fly fishing country in New Zealand’s South Island.
The Ahuriri River is one of the country’s iconic fishing rivers, with excellent fishing for trout in the season. And The Lindis sits right at the centre, with conservation areas on three sides. So not only are you close to some of the best fly fishing around, but also perfect hiking, horse-riding, e-biking, mountain biking and ecotours. And the intensely clear, dark sky means you are also able to enjoy incredible star-gazing in the late evening.
Less than an hour by water taxi from Picton, Bay of Many Coves Resort is a gorgeous place to enjoy some great sea fishing, delicious cuisine and let yourself and your partner or friends be thoroughly pampered.
Apartments are stacked across a hillside above the sea, overlooking the beautiful Bay of Many Coves. These labyrinthine waterways are quite gorgeous on a calm day, but even if the weather isn’t cooperating there will usually be a quiet spot where you can still get in a good day’s fishing, protected from the wind and swell in the internal waterways. Fishing is provided by quality local charter boats with blue cod, terakihi, snapper, kahawai and gurnard in the inshore waters and the possibility of grouper (hapuka) as you get out towards Cook Strait.
Book a Lodge or Fishing Stay
We’ll help you choose the most suitable lodge (or lodges), arrange your bookings, find your fishing guides and help get you there. We can book one lodge for you, or several – let us suggest an itinerary that will cover all your New Zealand lodge stays. When you book with us you will deal with real people throughout the process. We are New Zealanders, passionate about sharing our country with you.