Events and Activities

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Events and Activities

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

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What's On

Experiences that offer you time together with family and friends in the company of leading figures in food, wellness and stargazing.

Ashley Mackenzie Luxury Villa

Dark Sky Stargazing at Pukaki Observatory

Experience a stargazing night tour beneath the world-renowned Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best stargazing destinations on Earth.

Tasting menu entreee

Dusk to Dark Stargazing

From sunset over Aoraki / Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki to a sky filled with stars, a journey from dusk to dark in one of New Zealand’s premier stargazing locations.

relaxing in the moraine villas

Billion Star Dining

Experience Billion Star Dining, awarded by TIME, where a refined Chef’s Tasting Experience at The Moraine flows seamlessly into an extraordinary night of stargazing at the Pukaki Observatory.

Tasting menu entreee

Chefs Tasting Experience at The Moraine

Seasonal Chef’s Tasting menu of refined plates, showcasing estate-grown produce and premium ingredients from local New Zealand producers.

Ashley Mackenzie Luxury Villa

Destination Weddings

Specialising in luxury destination weddings and elopements in New Zealand, bringing together international guests for unforgettable multi-day celebrations.

astrophotography workshop at mt cook lakeside retreat

Private Gatherings & Retreats

The Moraine is an exclusive venue for corporate retreats, leadership meetings, and private family gatherings, offering a secluded setting in New Zealand’s iconic alpine landscape.

 We invite guests of the Retreat and visitors
to the region to take time to simply be together within the beautiful surroundings of the Retreat!

Each experience is thoughtfully designed around exceptional cuisine, world-class stargazing, and meaningful connection with people and place. Fine food and wine, unforgettable night skies, and a spirit of relaxed enjoyment define every moment, inspired by the unique beauty of the Mackenzie region. We are continually evolving our offerings to create new ways for you to experience the very best of this remarkable landscape.

Many experiences require advance booking or registration and are ideal as a thoughtful gift for a friend, colleague, or loved one.

Our stay at the Retreat was memorable and the highlight of our 5-week trip to Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The views from our villa were breathtaking of the surrounding mountains and on the walks in the grounds there were beautiful vistas of Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook. The Retreat has everything, luxurious accommodation, beautifully designed and furnished interiors and your private hot tub for gazing at the stars. Kaye, Luke and all their staff were a delight, nothing was too much trouble. You can dine in the luxury of your own accommodation or enjoy dinner hosted and entertained with other guests in a baronial dining room. A choice of home grown food was available for breakfast and dinner – from the garden, with meat and fish sourced locally and cooked exquisitely by their chef. A hidden treat was the observatory Luke has built in the grounds with the opportunity to gaze at the the night sky totally unpolluted by electric light.

Kelvin and Susan London
Kelvin and Susan