Te Waonui Forest Retreat

South Island’s award-winning Te Waonui Forest Retreat really does have it all: the treetop setting, eco-credentials, organic fine dining cuisine and countless outdoor activities all around, not to mention the boutique stylings and design of a top New Zealand luxury hotel. The result is a design lodge here in Franz Josef that places you right in the heart of the wilderness, while within the property itself lies cutting-edge minimalist architecture, chic lounge spaces, a signature Amaia Spa full of holistic treatments and floor-to-ceiling windows on every side, great for those forest views that surround.

Guestrooms at Te Waonui Forest Retreat follow suit, being nicely modern and well-equipped with Wi-Fi, a minibar, walk-in rain shower or bathtub and flat-screen TVs, as well as a furnished balcony or terrace and accompanying vistas, of course. Your stay at Te Waonui Forest Retreat will also leave minimal footprint on the landscape too, thanks to energy and water efficiency systems onsite, natural lighting throughout, recycled local materials (such as disused telegraph poles) going into the building’s construction and preservation projects also being supported by the lodge. In fact, the very architecture of Te Waonui Forest Retreat has been designed to sit unobtrusively within the trees and native bush, wherever possible, which adds an extra layer to its already enviable appeal.

When it comes to exploring the wider Franz Josef region, the list of nearby excursions is almost endless, from heli-hiking and air safaris to kayaking and boat tours, rock climbing around Mount Cook and the surrounding Southern Alps, horse and bike riding trails aplenty, glacier tours, wildlife walks, birdwatching, private picnics, natural hot springs and so much more. However, it’s not all about action and adventure, as Te Waonui Forest Retreat also boasts a wonderful signature spa, Amaia, plus a world-class restaurant where inventive flavour fusions, seasonal produce and an unbeatable treetop setting combine to mouth-watering effect.