Andrew B
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.
Valerie F.

Rain or shine, it’s stunning. You can’t go wrong with this place. Luke and Kaye have spent a lot of time putting it together with love, care, and complete respect of their environment. You can feel their attention to every detail as soon as you walk through the door. The place is gorgeous, the energy serene, even the dogs are good company! We enjoyed the proximity to Mt Cook, the walks in the area, the delicious food, the majestic beauty of the place, the night skies, and above all the silence and privacy. I spent several hours just watching the colours of the sky and nature at different times of the day…and “stargazing 101” through Luke’s telescope was a wonderful experience too, on a very clear night. Thanks again to both of you for one of the most relaxing stays we’ve ever had.

dpRAD

Total comfort in a postcard-perfect setting. Kudos to owners Luke and Kaye for designing this marvelous lodge, which is located on a grassy lawn in the wilderness, perched above the incredibly-blue waters of Lake Pukaki. Mt Cook appears in the middle of the expansive view, at the far end of the lake, and can be seen even while lying in bed. The rooms are large and very comfortable, and there’s a nice fireplace in the living room. Everything from tennis rackets, exercise room, sauna, and hot tub are available for use. And don’t forget the charming boutique wine cellar (stocked with quality local wines) and adjacent observatory (with 6-inch refracting telescope). The lodge is in the Dark Sky Reserve, meaning one can see more stars and galaxies than from almost anywhere else on earth. And if that’s not enough – the lodge has an amazing chef (and we’re not easy to please) who brings a superb dinner to you every evening.

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