Lodge at The Hills is an ‘exclusive use’ hosted lodge, offering a bespoke experience for up to 12 guests. Set in 500 acres of tranquil ambience, in a stunning glacial valley and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, a stay at The Lodge is guaranteed to be a holiday of lasting special memories. The Lodge owners allowed the architects freedom of expression in their design and they have ably met the brief to break all boundaries of preconceived ideas and build a lodge to a standard rarely achieved anywhere in the world. From the moment guests walk into the grand entrance they are connected with the surrounding vistas. They are enveloped in the warmth, space, design and sense of home this unique lodge provides. Lodge at The Hills is a Queenstown haven where guests are free to unwind, relax and indulge in experiences not normally accessible. It is an opportunity to meet our people, soak up the rich art and culture, breathtaking scenery and be totally pampered by our attentive team.
Lodge at The Hills is located on The Hills private golf course, home to the New Zealand Open – a cornerstone event on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Measuring over 7000 yards, its thoughtful design provides a challenging and rewarding experience for golfers of all abilities. Each hole uniquely highlights the dramatic elevations of the area with no parallel fairways. The private course offers exclusivity with less than 200 members. There is no need to be tied to booked tee times, or indeed, order of holes played! Guests at Lodge at The Hills have the opportunity to play at The Hills. Bookings can be made at The Hills Clubhouse. There is also a private par 3 hole adjacent to The Lodge for the exclusive use of lodge guests.
Examples of activities within reach of the lodge are: Glacier and mountain landings, skiing the Tasman Glacier, numerous ‘Great Walks’ such as the Milford and Routebourn tracks and private property guided walks; day or overnight trips to remote huts, backcountry stations and unspoilt forests; guided fly fishing in secret locations; Milford and Doubtful Sound experiences including catching and cooking lobster, cod or abalone; scenic flights and landings to areas only accessible from the air; ice driving, race track time trials or self-drive jet boat sprinting; one on one with the wine makers and vertical tastings at local wineries such as Akarua, Amisfield, Carrick and Felton Road; private master class with talented and award winning chefs at the lodge or in restaurants; turn your stay into a yoga and health retreat experience with expert instructors and motivators, tailored nutrition and activities…. The potential is enormous, and the list is endless – from adrenalin charged track racing and heliskiing to yoga poses and watercolour painting lessons – it is all here!
The lodge has its own private chef – dining is gourmet but informal! The cuisine is inspired by locally sourced seasonal food and wine. The flexibility of Chef’s service ensures living in the lodge is an experience in itself. Guests may spend time with the Chef in the kitchen, enjoying a glass of wine while he cooks and may participate in a master class or two!! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and canapés are included in the guest tariff. Guests may wish to have lunch prepared as a picnic, or dinner left for them to assemble and serve at their leisure. Alternatively, guests may choose to self-cater. A complimentary selection of wine and beverages are provided, or guests may choose to purchase from the thoughtfully curated ‘Hills’ Cellar Selection Menu.’
The Lodge boasts a stunning collection of paintings and sculpture curated by Sir Michael and Lady Christine for their own and their guests’ enjoyment. There is also the world renowned private sculpture park as part of The Hills golf course with works by New Zealand and international artists. Included in the Sculpture Park is the 2012 installation The Wolves are Coming by Chinese artist Liu Ruowang. A herd of stunning cast iron horses The Frolic and the Fancy by English-born artist Max Patte was added in 2013. Guests of Lodge at The Hills are invited to enjoy the Sculpture Park at their leisure.
From grand entrances and voids to the intimate nooks, incredible music room and private sitting rooms in the suites, Lodge at The Hills is an architectural masterpiece. It marries intimacy with scale, ensuring the Lodge fits into the landscape but provides luxurious living, both indoors and out. The use of unique building materials such as natural zinc internal and external panels, iron pasted corton steel panels and chimneys which form a surreal black patina are stunning architectural features. This is complimented by expansive landscaping featuring waves of flowers, wild grasses, trees and lighting. It has extensive private walkways, sculptures, grass tennis court, petanque court and a hedge maize. Guests can dine under flowering cherry trees or snuggle in front of the fire pit in an enclosed seating area. The heated swimming pool has water crashing from level to level. A corton steel box houses the sauna, shower and changing room.
