relaxing in the private fantail spa tub

We have a podcast! Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat is pleased to present our four-part podcast. It’s the story of where we began, and how our Retreat has grown and evolved. Available on all major podcast listening apps, or stream it directly from our website.

Saving the Night Sky

New Zealand’s Bid to Become the World’s First Dark Sky Nation

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat is proud to be part of New Zealand’s bid to become the world’s first dark sky nation.

This excellent article from BBC Travel explores New Zealand’s dark sky journey. Retreat owner Kaye Paardekooper said:

“Dark skies are great for wellbeing – that’s what we tell anyone who’ll listen. Research by the Royal Society [of New Zealand] on the effects of blue light, for example, shows too much blue light at the wrong time of day can disrupt our sleep, our immunity, our hormonal balance and even our mood.

 

We don’t have that light pollution here, which is why it needs preserving. Without the dominance of blue light, it’s much easier to return to your natural circadian rhythms. The kind of sleep you get here, particularly during the long nights of winter, honestly, is second to none.”

Read the full article here.

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

Planning Your Stay

Explore our luxury accommodation and other offerings, learn more about the Aoraki Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Mackenzie region of New Zealand, or contact us with any questions – we’re always happy to help.

View

Our Accommodation  →

About

The Region  →

Contact

Our Team  →

View

Our Accommodation  →

About

The Region  →

Contact

Our Team  →

Upcoming Events at the Retreat

We are continually innovating to bring you fresh, exciting experiences with our special events at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat. Purchase your tickets or reserve your spot on our website, and feel free to contact us with any questions.