Events and Activities

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Events and Activities

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

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

Festive Kiwi Christmas Lunch at The Moraine

Celebrate the magic of Christmas at The Moraine with an exciting, festive communal dining experience on Christmas Day. Meet us at 1:00 PM for pre-drinks before coming together at 2:00 PM for a spectacular holiday feast. There are no private tables for this event. Instead, everyone gathers around one grand table to share in the holiday spirit, with incredible food served family-style to pass around and enjoy. As you share dishes and connect with neighbours, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Ben Ohau Range and the Mackenzie Basin. Our culinary team is crafting a beautiful seasonal menu that honours the finest local New Zealand flavours. Whether you join us with friends or come on your own, this is the ultimate celebration of warmth and companionship.

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.

Romantic isolated getaway
Wow wow wow… totally agree with all the other reviews. This place is magical and there are so many thoughtful touches provided such as the complementary bubbles, scotch and gin. You won’t starve as there is plenty of food. Nothing was an issue and we even asked the chef if he could cook us an Asian fusion meal one night. We stayed 3 nights with another couple and we each had a 2 bedroom villa. They locked off one of the bedrooms but it was so lovely having the entire villa to yourself. The villas are huge, as was the bathroom and bedroom … totally decadent. We rotated having dinners at each other’s villa and the chef would also drop off freshly baked bread and croissants at dinner. We also asked for bagels and salmon and poached eggs for breakfast and again this was no issue. There was no TV but plenty of magazines, jigsaw puzzles and games were provided. We absolutely loved our time here and would definitely return. It was the perfect location to do Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo and if you needed anything else, Twizel was only 7 mins drive away and they had a liquor store and mini supermarket. You could walk around the property which we did and there are some magical views of the lake. Personally I loved our villas which were side by side and had views of the mountain. It was so cool sitting in the spa watching the sun set … that was the highlight our stay as well as the open wood fire in the lodge which made it so cozy and warm.
Mic10011001 Auckland New Zealand
Mic10011001