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 Otahuna
Lodge was built in 1895 for prominent Canterbury pioneer
Sir Heaton Rhodes. Otahuna Lodge is an enduring
testament to his love for the finer things in life, the Otahuna
Lodge homestead is considered one of the best examples
of unspoiled Queen Anne architecture in Australasia and
is protected by a Category One listing from the New
Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Otahuna Lodge is an intimate, exclusive retreat offering
seven individual suites. The 2 master suites and 5 suites
at Otahuna Lodge retain grand architectural features from the 19th
century such as ornate wood-burning fireplaces, carved
inglenooks and stained glass windows.
Food and wine are an integral part of the Otahuna Lodge
experience. The Otahuna Lodge menu celebrates the best of fresh New
Zealand produce with an emphasis on seasonal
estate-grown offerings. Honest, uncluttered flavors,
the finest ingredients and elegantly restrained
presentation are the hallmarks of the Otahuna Lodge table.
 The
spectacular 110-year old gardens around Otahuna Lodge
stretch over 30 acres. Wide vistas over lawn and lake
contrast beautifully with intimate walks which wind
through heavily wooded areas. On the far side of the
lake, over a million daffodils welcome guests to the
property each spring. Meanwhile the formal “Dutch”
garden invites guests to meander its hedged pathways to
discover exotic trees, including some of New Zealand’s
largest and finest specimens.
Situated at the base of the Banks Peninsula, Otahuna
Lodge is just 20 minutes drive from the city centre of
Christchurch, making it the ideal place from which to
explore Canterbury. Wineries, private gardens,
championship golf, world-class fishing and even the
world’s rarest dolphins are all just a short drive – or
helicopter ride – from the front door.
 Otahuna
Lodge Dining
Dinner at Otahuna Lodge may be taken in the opulent formal dining room.
Ornate, original wallpaper, a roaring fire and sparkling
cutlery exemplify the gracious traditions of Otahuna
Lodge.
Alternatively guests may retreat to a private table in
the sunken wine cellar, the intimate library, the
drawing room turret or a location of their choosing.
Otahuna
Lodge
Accommodation
Otahuna Lodge is an intimate exclusive retreat offering
seven individual suites. Each retains architectural
features from the 19th century such as ornate,
wood-burning fireplaces, carved inglenooks and stained
glass windows. Meanwhile, state-of-the-art services
unobtrusively afford 21st century levels of luxury and
comfort. All suites are furnished with generous
super-king beds, superb linens and bathroom amenities of
the finest quality. Artworks commissioned especially for
Otahuna Lodge grace the rooms along with flowers freshly
picked from the estate’s gardens. A stay at Otahuna
Lodge is the
height of indulgence.
MASTER SUITES AT OTAHUNA LODGE
Rhodes Suite
Originally the master bedroom at Otahuna Lodge, 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
at Otahuna Lodge 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.
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SUITES
Botanical Suite
The Botanical Suite at Otahuna Lodge 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.
Butler Suite
The Butler Suite at Otahuna Lodge 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 the historic past of Otahuna
Lodge .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.
Clark Suite
Named for the Lady of the House, Jessie Clark, the
Clark Suite at Otahuna Lodge 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.
Garret Suite
Perched at the top of Otahuna Lodge, 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-paneled
walls and an eclectic collection of antiques and
mementos will convince one that there is such a thing
as a luxury attic.
Polo Suite
So named for the tradition of the game at Otahuna
Lodge, 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, hounds tooth 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 Lodge library.
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