Royal High Tea
Indulge in timeless elegance at Moraine Lodge. Immerse yourself in a world of exquisite pastries and delicious tea, served in a luxury setting with beautiful views. This experience includes a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

Live the life of a royal by making Moraine Lodge your own.

Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of our Royal High Tea, envisioned by our Culinary Director, Corey Hume, and complemented with the expert execution of delicious bites by our Pastry Chef, Jennie. A low or no sugar approach to patisserie showcases the produce grown on-site and local delicacies, allowing the full flavour of our products to shine.

This unique offering is served on a luxurious three-tier stand designed for two to share. Delight in a symphony of flavours, from the exquisite Strawberry creation with Valrhona Strawberry chocolate to the decadent cherry delicacy and the tantalizing ‘inverted’ lemon meringue pie, providing a delightful balance of sweet and sour. Smoked Longfin Eel and beef carpaccio tartlets add a savoury touch, while the whipped goat cheese with honey and edible flowers provide a whimsical twist. The symphony of flavours is accompanied by warm scones, homemade raspberry jam and whipped mascarpone. Each person will receive a complimentary glass of New Zealand sparkling wine and choice of tea or coffee classics.

Moraine Lodge stands as a beacon of luxury in New Zealand. It offers a refined ambiance with its travertine floors, grand fireplace, and opulent chandelier. Treat yourself and your special someone to a genteel experience reminiscent of a bygone era.

Dietary requirements:

Gluten-free and vegetarian requirements can be accommodated with advance notice upon booking. Some items may contain gelatin. Unfortunately, vegan and dairy-free options are not available.

Please note:

Due to the length of time it takes to create your special Royal High Tea experience, preparation starts 3 days before you arrive. Bookings cancelled within 48 hours of your booking time will be charged the full amount. Please take a look at our full list of terms & conditions before booking.


 

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What’s On

Our upcoming events are featured below. Purchase your tickets to reserve your place, and feel free to contact us with any questions. And check back for more new events to be released throughout the year.

Dusk to Dark Stargazing

Dusk to Dark Stargazing

Join us for an awe-inspiring Dusk to Dark experience. Admire the surrounding vistas in twilight followed by stargazing in the Pukaki Observatory.

Royal High Tea

Royal High Tea

Indulge in timeless elegance at Moraine Lodge. Immerse yourself in a world of exquisite pastries and delicious tea, served in a luxury setting with beautiful views. This experience includes a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

Gift Voucher

Gift Voucher

Celebrate any occasion with a gift voucher, whether you'd like to treat someone to stay in one of our luxury villas, fine dine in our Moraine Lodge, or spend a night under the stars in our Pukaki Wine Cellar and Observatory it's up to you.

Landscape Photography Session

Landscape Photography Session

An experienced photography guide will take you to the Retreat's most iconic spots and let you capture all of its beauty. Whether you have experience or are new to photography we would love to show you or teach you how to capture the beauty of the ever-changing Mackenzie landscape.

Billion Star Dining

Billion Star Dining

Indulge in a fine dining experience at Moraine Lodge, and then explore the stars from our private Pukaki Observatory.

Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Join us for a unique dark sky experience in our Pukaki Wine Cellar Observatory. Not only will you witness and experience the Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve, you will also be able to capture it with astrophotography. Enjoy several hours with an experienced astrophotographer who will help you take amazing photos of the dark sky.

Chef’s Tasting Menu

Chef’s Tasting Menu

We extend a warm welcome to day guests wishing to join us for a 6-course Fine Dining culinary experience at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat. This is a culinary journey inspired by the breath-taking beauty of the Mackenzie Region, Te Manahuna. Our multi-course, seasonal tasting menu is designed to showcase local produce and delicious flavours.

Dark Sky Stargazing

Dark Sky Stargazing

Join us for a unique dark sky experience in the Pukaki Observatory. This is a fun, informative and unique experience where you will explore the universe in a small group setting.

Plan Your Celebration

If you’re searching for the perfect setting for your own celebration or special event, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat will exceed your expectations in every way. To make your experience even more special, stay at the Retreat in our private luxury villas.

Your Event at the Retreat

Weddings at the Retreat

Stay in our Villas

Your Event

At the Retreat  →

Weddings

At The Retreat  →

Stay

In Our Villas  →

Surprised Excellence!!  We didn’t know a thing about Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat. We were just looking for a place to stay in the area on our way from Christchurch to Queenstown and luckly found that they had a few nights available that met our travel dates. Arrived to find a privately situated lodge with a wonderful bottle of wine and snack on the kitchen table in the homiest of living rooms. The living room overlooked the deck (and Jacuzzi) onto open fields with sheep and dear meandering about. In the backdrop was a beautiful mountain range. The bedroom and bathroom were to die for. Floor to ceiling windows in the bathroom to a private view of mountains and fields. The bedroom was expansive with windows and light galore. The food was gourmet and individually prepared to meet our dietary needs by the property’s own chef. We opted to have dinner brought to our lodge. Breakfast was placed in the refrigerator the night before for us to eat at our leisure in the morning. Spectacular farm to table fare with incredible plating and presentation. The staff were warm and gracious and made every effort to inquire about our stay to make sure all our needs were met. We would HIGHLY recommend a stay and will be back if we return to New Zealand. You would be missing something really special if you are in the area and don’t drop in for a night or two or three. No hesitation to recommend this to anyone.
Andrew B