Otahuna Lodge

Otahuna is the largest private historic residence in New Zealand and dating back to 1895, is regarded as the best example of Queen Anne architecture in Australasia. Distinctive features such as a hand-carved Kauri staircase, Rimu panelling, original lead lights and fifteen working wood-burning fireplaces have brought Otahuna Lodge the honor of a Category 1 listing with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and make this one of the most luxury homesteads there is.

Each guest suite retains architectural features from the nineteenth century such as ornate original fireplaces, carved inglenooks and stained glass windows while boasting modern décor that is sensitive to Otahuna's historic past. The suites all differ so much in style, size and shape but all are styled in character with their original use. It is easy to imagine the lady of the house, Jessie Rhodes, and other fine ladies of the Canterbury region taking their morning tea at 11 o'clock sharp in the Botanical Suite (originally the Morning Room) overlooking the manicured gardens. Similarly, the Veranda Suite epitomizes a 'room with a view' with a huge veranda with cane furniture provoking strong images of times past.

The 30 acres of manicured gardens and rambling, semi-wild woodlands include an orchard with a variety of fruit and nut trees, a one-acre vegetable garden, a mushroom garden, a rose garden and a field that blooms with millions of daffodils in the spring.

At dinner, you can eat communally in the formal dining room or alternatively, you may retreat to a private table for two in the sunken wine cellar, the intimate library, the drawing room turret or another location of your choosing. Aside from formal dining, you can pursue many culinary experiences on the property, including cooking classes and even seasonal mushroom foraging.

Beyond Otahuna, hiking, cycling, horse riding, golf and fishing are all easily arranged and the vineyards and cellar doors of the Waipara wine region and the fascinating city of Christchurch are easily explored in a day trip.