Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet – New Zealand
Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet is a private alpine haven nestled amongst the mountains of New Zealand’s spectacular Southern Alps.
Located on 60 acres of private farmland on the shore of Lake Wanaka, the inspiring building captures the full beauty and grandeur of its lake-side setting and alpine views, whilst providing elegant and refined service and superb cuisine. The guestrooms are nice, if not outstanding and the communal dining is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.
The Chalet is one of those rare “jaw-dropping” properties… Here, an exclusive retreat awaits you. Accessed via a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight from the front lawn of the Whare Kea Lodge, the luxurious, high alpine Chalet is located at 5,700ft. The only other access is via a two-day hike. That night, your chef will prepare five-star fare and the night sky will put on a magical stellar performance.
Enjoying direct sunlight all day from its north facing location, the Chalet was conceived to maximise the breathtaking views without impacting on its environment. Its sustainable design excellence was recognised when Whare Kea received the Relais & Chateaux Environmental Award in 2004. Whare Kea’s mountain-view spa would be a very good place to die.
As Max Anderson convincingly states in his article, New Zealand’s wilderness is best enjoyed from a hot tub, with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Nearby Rippon vineyard is one of the world’s most beautiful wineries. Nature works real magic at Rippon; the vineyard produces wines with an elegance and finesse that have received accolades both in New Zealand and abroad. Rather appealing, isn’t it?
