Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, a secluded luxury lodge overlooking Lake Pukaki in New Zealand’s central South Island with uninterrupted views to Aoraki Mount Cook, has been welcomed into Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), the globally renowned collection of independent luxury hotels.
Set within one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat offers only four expansive luxury Villa’s with lake or mountain views and an exclusive ‘owner’s cottage,’ The Homestead. This retreat feels extraordinarily remote, where there are no neighbours but is conveniently located between Christchurch and Queenstown for self-drive guests and offers a helipad for those that choose to explore the Southern Alps by helicopter.
The property located in Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the best places in the world to view clear, dark skies and brilliant stars, has its own purpose-built observatory and is renowned for its guest experiences, outstanding cuisine and authentic welcoming hospitality.
Membership in SLH follows a rigorous selection process and recognises the Retreat’s commitment to authenticity, high service standards, and a strong sense of place.
Inclusion in the collection places Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat alongside more than 650 of the world’s most distinctive boutique hotels across 90+ countries.
“We are delighted to join Small Luxury Hotels of the World,” said Kaye Paardekooper whom together with husband Luke, developed and owns the property. “Being part of SLH allows us to share our unique alpine lakeside setting and our approach to understated luxury with a global audience, while remaining true to our independent spirit.”
“Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat is an outstanding addition to the SLH collection in the Pacific region,” said Mark Wong, SVP, Asia Pacific at Small Luxury Hotels of the World. “It’s extraordinary setting beneath Aoraki Mount Cook, combined with an intimate scale, exceptional hospitality and deep connection to its natural environment, perfectly reflects the spirit of independent luxury that defines our member hotels at SLH.”
As part of the SLH portfolio, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat will gain increased international visibility and access to SLH’s global network of luxury travellers, further positioning New Zealand’s South Island as a world-class destination for immersive, experience-led travel.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World™
Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) is the most desirable community of independently minded travellers and independently spirited hotels in the world. We turned the luxury boutique hotel into a phenomenon and selected the distinctive, the diverse and the downright delightful. People, places and experiences with individual character, intimate charm and inherent class. We’ve personally visited, vetted, and verified more than 650 hotels in 90+ countries. We are envisioning a future where people experience the world with intention, experience its intensity and protect its integrity.