Set within 30 acres of nationally significant gardens, Otahuna Lodge is New Zealand’s largest private historic residence. Built in 1895 as the home of Sir Heaton Rhodes, a prominent figure in the country’s political and social history, the Queen Anne–style homestead has been meticulously restored with great sensitivity to its heritage.
Today, it offers seven individually designed suites, creating an atmosphere that feels less like a lodge and more like a graciously hosted private country estate. Throughout, Otahuna serves as a remarkable showcase for New Zealand art, housing one of the country’s most significant private collections.
Here, days unfold at an unhurried pace—between garden walks, fireside moments, and exceptional dining drawn from the estate’s own organic produce. Every element reflects a deep sense of place, heritage, and warm, intuitive hospitality.
Accommodation
Each of Otahuna’s seven suites retains the architectural romance of the original homestead—ornate fireplaces, stained glass, and layered textures—while offering generous space and modern comfort.
Rhodes Master Suite
The Rhodes Suite, Otahuna’s largest, was once the private bedroom of Sir Heaton Rhodes and remains a graceful expression of the estate’s heritage. Spread across a series of four beautifully proportioned rooms, the suite features a palatial bedroom centered around a magnificent Victorian fireplace with inglenook seating, framed by intricate stained-glass windows. An octagonal sitting room, nestled within the turret, offers a distinctive sense of character, while a separate study provides a light-filled retreat, and the private balcony offers sweeping views of the countryside. The spacious bathroom is thoughtfully appointed with a double shower and a separate spa bath. The suite spans approximately 1100 square feet (102 square meters).
Verandah Master Suite
Featuring a thirty-foot long terrace that runs across the front of the Suite, the Verandah Suite enjoys an abundance of sunlight and offers views of the Canterbury plains. Embroidered Colefax & Fowler curtains enhance this lovely room that once was Sir Rhodes’ main guestroom and hosted HRH the Duke of York (later King George VI) when he visited in 1927. A woodburning fireplace in both the bedroom and ensuite bathroom add to its romantic nature. The suite averages 1000 square feet (93 square meters).
Botanical Suite
Inspired by the native flora that surrounds Otahuna, the Botanical Suite was formerly the Morning Room. A floor-to-ceiling mantle featuring gingerbread woodwork and a wood-burning fireplace anchors one corner of the room. In another, a large bay window faces east to the gardens and lets in bright morning sunlight. Located on the ground floor, the Botanical Suite offers its guests access to the gardens through a private exterior door. The Suite features a Colefax & Fowler fabric that
highlights New Zealand’s national symbol, the silver fern. The suite is accessible and averages 700 square feet (65 square metres).
Clark Suite
Adopting the family name of Sir Rhodes’ wife Jessie, the Clark Suite features a soft yellow and blue design scheme that draws its inspiration from the expansive stained-glass windows. Originally the private bedroom of Lady Rhodes, the Clark Suite today has drapes clad in a stunning Brunschwig & Fils fabric, along with original oil paintings of the nearby seaside town of Akaroa. Elsewhere in the Suite lie a wood-burning fireplace and spa tub. The suite averages 600 square feet (56 square meters).
Jockey Jones Suite
Representing the culmination of the Otahuna interior aesthetic, this very special collection of rooms overlooks the Herb Garden, the terracotta roof of the Wine Cellar and the woodland beyond. Inside, discover a bedroom clad in a chic 18th-century Pierre Frey wallcovering, a spacious sitting room with a sofa that can accommodate an extra guest, a striking collection of modern art by two emerging New Zealand artists and the ultimate in indulgence: two separate bathrooms and a wood-burning fireplace. The suite averages 700 square feet (65 square meters).
Polo Suite
The Polo Suite draws its name from the tradition of polo formerly played by Sir Heaton Rhodes in the Lodge’s century-old grounds. Originally known as the “Green Room,” the room finds modern inspiration from its historic colorway with a striking lacquered, emerald entry passage. The layered, serene bedroom clad in Schumacher sisal offers vistas both to the Great Lawn and the Port Hills through windows framed in a hand-printed Bennison crewelwork fabric. Meanwhile, the largest bathroom in the entire homestead, boasts a wealth of graphic prints. These prints—both new and historic—pay homage to the Sir Heaton Rhodes Stamp Collection, the world’s largest and most complete assemblage of New Zealand stamps held today at the Canterbury Museum. There are fireplaces in both the
bedroom and the palatial bathroom. The suite averages 700 square feet (65 square meters).
Loft Suite
The Loft is a masterpiece of design perched at the highest point of the Lodge. This very special enclave inspires the imagination with its dramatically scaled headboard clad in a vintage Schumacher Chinoiserie fabric, a collection of art commissioned exclusively for the Suite and numerous decorative touches which
playfully highlight the Lodge’s century-old heritage. The brightly painted timber-clad walls and fresh green tones found in the design complement sweeping views across the Great Lawn and all the way to New Zealand’s Southern Alps. A writer’s nook with a window view looks out across the property’s eaves and gables to the treetops. Elsewhere, the generous sitting area includes a sofa which can be converted to a bed in order to accommodate an extra guest. The suite averages 900 square feet (83 square metres).
Dining
Dining at Otahuna is a defining part of the stay—thoughtful, seasonal, and deeply connected to the estate. Much of the menu is drawn directly from the lodge’s extensive potager garden and orchard, with dishes shaped by what is freshly harvested each day. With its extensive gardens and focus on excellent dining, Otahuna Lodge offers a nationally celebrated food and beverage program, led by Executive Chef Jimmy McIntyre. Four-course degustation menus paired with New Zealand wine are prepared nightly. Uncluttered flavors, fresh ingredients and restrained presentation are the hallmarks of Otahuna dining.
At dinner, guests can dine in the formal Dining Room, which features rich dark wood panels that remain true to the Lodge’s original resplendent style. Ornate original gilded wallpaper with its own rating from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, a roaring fire and sparkling candlesticks conjure up the gracious lifestyle of the Victorian era. Alternatively, guests have the option to enjoy a private table in a host of locations including the sunken Wine Cellar, the intimate Library, the sun-filled Turret or another location of their choosing. Breakfast is served in the sunny cream-colored kitchen.
Gardens
Otahuna Lodge is surrounded by 30 acres of grounds, including manicured lawns and rambling, semi-wild woodlands along with sheep paddocks. The gardens are among Sir Rhodes’ greatest legacies and contain an orchard with peach, pear, plum, quince, walnut, and hazelnut trees; a ½ acre potager (vegetable garden); a
mushroom house; a rose garden; a Dutch Garden and a field that blooms with millions of daffodils each August and September. The original gardens were designed by garden designer, A.E. Lowe, who trained at Kew Gardens in London. For the 2007 garden restoration, a team of six gardeners revitalized many areas of the grounds and the Lodge’s original lake. The gardens are overseen by Head Gardener, Steve Marcham.
Experiences
Otahuna offers a deeply immersive yet unhurried experience, balancing estate life with curated exploration:
- Gardens & Estate: Wander 30 acres of formal gardens, woodland paths, and productive kitchen gardens.
- Garden & Culinary Experiences: Guided garden tours or cooking experiences centred on estate-grown produce.
- Canterbury Adventures: Heli excursions, alpine experiences, and dolphin encounters in nearby Akaroa.
- At Leisure: Croquet, pétanque, cycling, or simply retreating fireside with a glass of wine.
Otahuna is gracious and immersive—more private residence than hotel—where heritage, gardens, and quietly exceptional hospitality come together in a deeply restorative way.
