Otahuna Lodge Christchurch New Zealand
Otahuna Lodge lies within its own
peaceful country estate and gardens just half an hour from central
Christchurch. Fine dining and exquisite accommodation in one of
Canterbury's finest historic homes.
At the head of a secluded valley
on New Zealand’s South Island is a place of replenishment and
refinement. It is a place where prestigious luxury accommodation
meets exemplary service and cuisine in the context of an elegant,
historic country estate. A place where guests receive the warmest
welcome and indulge wholeheartedly in the sense of occasion
presented by lavish surroundings.
Otahuna Lodge is an exclusive country estate offering 5 suites and 2
master suites. Each retains architectural features from the 19th
century such as ornate original fireplaces, carved inglenooks and
stained glass windows. All luxury suites offer super-king beds, fine
custom-made linens, toiletries by Penhaligon’s of London, deep
bathtubs and separate rain showers.
The spectacular 110-year old gardens of Otahuna were laid out and
cultivated under the direction of A. E. Lowe who trained at Kew
Gardens, London. The gardens of the country estate offer a range of
guest amenities and activities including swimming, tennis, croquet
and petanque among others.
The cuisine celebrates the best of seasonal New Zealand produce,
with an emphasis on fresh Otahuna estate-grown offerings. Dinner is
a five-course chef’s degustation menu which changes daily, making
use of the best fresh produce and guests’ dietary requirements. At
dinner, guests dine communally in the opulent formal dining room -
ornate original wallpaper, a roaring fire and sparkling candlesticks
exemplify the gracious living of the Victorian era. Alternatively,
they may retreat to a private table for two in the sunken wine
cellar, the intimate library, the drawing room turret, or a location
of their choosing.
Art enjoys a distinguished pride of place at Otahuna. The Lodge's
collection, considered to be amongst the most important under
private ownership in New Zealand, comprises exclusively the works of
established and emerging Kiwi artists.
MASTER SUITES
Rhodes Suite
Originally the master bedroom, the Rhodes Suite is actually a series
of four rooms which embodies the gracious character of Sir Heaton
and Jessie Rhodes. The palatial bedroom boasts a magnificent
Victorian fireplace with inglenook seating and stained glass
windows. A separate octagonal sitting room situated in the turret is
the perfect spot to read a book, work a jigsaw puzzle, enjoy a quiet
candlelit dinner or simply gaze out to the gardens.
The ensuite bathroom is luxuriously appointed with a double shower
and separate spa tub, ideal for soothing tired muscles at the close
of an active day.
Outside, the private balcony affords spectacular views across the
Canterbury plains to the distant Southern Alps.
Verandah Suite
Epitomising the phrase “room with a view,” the Verandah Suite is the
perfect base from which to start exploring Canterbury. Four doors
open onto an enormous arched verandah, reserved exclusively for the
suite. Here, guests may quietly contemplate the birdsong from the
gardens, or toast with a glass of champagne as the sun sets across
the Canterbury Plains behind the Southern Alps.
Indoors, guests can lose themselves in the crackle of a fire –
either from a deep armchair in the bedroom or from the freestanding
bathtub in the spacious ensuite bathroom.
SUITES
The Botanical Suite is situated in the original Morning Room
of the house, where tea was served to Jessie Rhodes and other fine
Canterbury ladies every day at 11 o’clock sharp. A floor-to-ceiling
mantle featuring gingerbread woodwork and a wood-burning fireplace
anchors one corner of the room. In another, an enormous bay window
faces east to the gardens and receives bright sunlight through
painted glass in the mornings.
Located on the ground floor, the Botanical Suite offers its guests
access to the gardens through a private exterior door ensuring that
a leisurely stroll or a brisk walk is never more than a few steps
away.
Named for the Lady of the House, Jessie Clark, the Clark Suite
looks east over the treetops to the Port Hills. The soft yellows and
blues of this classic suite draw their inspiration from the
expansive stained glass windows, tiled fireplace and traditional
English country ambience of the estate.
After a day of exploring Canterbury, the Clark suite is an ideal
place to relax, either in front of the fire or in the spa tub. The
paintings of nearby Akaroa harbour will inspire one to see what lies
just beyond the hill outside the window.
The Butler Suite comprises a series of rooms looking over the
terracotta roof of the sunken game house – now a wine cellar – to
the woodland beyond. The bedroom, separate full sitting room, and
two bathrooms feature classic depictions of the evocative Canterbury
landscape as well as Otahuna’s historic past.
The decorative scheme reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts period
features dark wood, original fireplace tiles and classic furniture.
The butler never had it so good.
The Garret Suite: Perched at the top of the house, this eyrie
invokes Heaton Rhodes’ passion for the great outdoors. Writers may
draw inspiration from the desk which looks out across eaves and
gables to the treetops, while the views from the sitting area extend
all the way across the province to the mountains.
Fishing and hunting memorabilia line the warm, wood-panelled walls
and an eclectic collection of antiques and mementos will convince
one that there is such a thing as a luxury attic.
So named for the tradition of the game at Otahuna, the Polo Suite
occupies a sunny position at the front of the house overlooking a
courtyard on one side and the great lawn on the other. Heaton played
regularly on the lawn, which had to be mown by horses wearing
special leather shoes.
The classic leathers, houndstooth fabrics and oak furniture of the
suite provide the perfect inspiration to plan one’s own horseback
adventures from the comfort of a deep double-ended bathtub. Or
settled in by one of the suite’s two fireplaces with a good book
from the Otahuna library
Otahuna is located just over 20kms
from Christchurch City.
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