Located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Hapuku Lodge is a 5 star Eco-Retreat just a few km’s north of the eco-marine town of Kaikoura. Surrounded by spectacular mountains and ocean, Hapuku Lodge and Treehouses boasts eco-friendly luxury suites that overlook a deer farm, olive grove, orchards, and vineyard.
The lodge’s contemporary luxury suites and five amazing tree houses set 30 feet (10 metres) above the ground in the canopy of a native Manuka grove were designed to blend with the property’s spectacular natural setting: the Kaikoura Seaward Mountain Range on one side and amazing views of beautiful Mangamaunu Bay on the other. Rooms in the Lodge have breath-taking views of snow-capped mountains and the Pacific coast. Beautiful, hand crafted furniture, tailor-made beds and mattresses, European style bathrooms and rain drop showerheads offers stylish, romantic and relaxing accommodation.
Kaikoura is known as the ‘Maritime Serengeti’ of New Zealand, for the rich abundance of marine life that lives on the shore or in the 1000-metre ocean trench just off the coast. Whale watching for Sperm Whales is a popular activity, in which you are also likely see colonies of sea lion, pods of dusky dolphin, seabirds and other fauna. Because of the sea life, the area has historically been and continues to play an important role for New Zealand’s Maori population, and thus is the best place on the South Island to learn about Maori culture. A one-on-one guided tour of the pa (historic Maori fort) as well as a guided walk in the forest, provides an excellent introduction to both landscape and culture.