There’s a reason New Zealand’s luxury lodges are celebrated the world over, but only by staying in one can you truly understand why. We speak to local luxury travel expert Vance Haywood about the history, charm, and uniquely Kiwi spirit behind these remarkable retreats, and how they’ve developed from fishing huts to five-star stays.

What is a luxury lodge?
A stay at a New Zealand luxury lodge is less a getaway, more an experience – immersive, intimate, and unforgettable. Set in spectacular, often remote locations, these lodges blend five-star comfort with the raw beauty of the wild. Expect personalised service, world-class cuisine, and access to extraordinary adventures right on your doorstep.

In New Zealand especially, the lodge experience is about immersion: waking to the sound of the river; dining on locally sourced produce; and feeling part of the land rather than apart from it. It’s luxury defined not by opulence alone, but by authenticity and warmth.

What makes the luxury lodge experience so special?
“As far as the lodge experience goes, they’re small, they’re boutique, with 24 to 26 rooms, so you don’t get a lot of guests staying there, which just adds that intimacy,” explains Vance. “They’re in beautiful locations, like the Huka Lodge for example, which is set on the edges of the Waikato River, so you can fly fish off the lawn there.

“Often people are in tears when they arrive at properties because they’re just so beautiful. They’ve travelled so far to get here, but I always tell guests that it’s going to be so worth it when they get there. When they get to these properties, they say ‘we’re in heaven.’”

How did New Zealand’s luxury lodge tradition begin?
New Zealand’s lodge culture began in the early 20th century, rooted in the country’s appeal to adventurous travellers seeking world-class fishing, scenery, and solitude. Over time, rustic retreats evolved into refined hideaways, combining warm Kiwi hospitality with international standards of luxury.

Huka Lodge, established in 1924 as a simple fishermen’s camp on the banks of the trout-rich Waikato River, was the first of New Zealand’s famous lodges, ultimately setting the benchmark. Beginning as white canvas tents and appealing to anglers drawn by the fly-fishing and the natural beauty of the area, it developed quietly, gaining a reputation for its hospitality and riverfront setting, until 1984 when Alex van Heeren took ownership and transformed it into one of New Zealand’s first true luxury lodges.

What sets lodges apart from other high-end hospitality?
“What makes the lodge experience unique is the intimacy, but it’s also such an elevated experience above what people would experience in, for example, a hotel,” says Vance. “It comes down to everything from the meet and greet when you land at a property by a helicopter to the reclusive beauty of each room.

“They pitch that higher price point than hotels, but lodges are more inclusive in terms of the dining experiences, which again are far more intimate.

“In New Zealand, the size of properties are just far smaller than what people may experience elsewhere, so the lodge experience draws on that and situates it in nature, which is a beautiful thing.”

What can guests expect from the dining experience?
“While traditional lodge stays once called for dinner jackets and formal dress codes, today’s experience is more relaxed without compromising on quality. Evenings typically begin with pre-dinner canapes and drinks, offering a chance to connect with fellow guests and share stories from the day’s adventures. Guests can then enjoy a fine dining experience in the main lodge or opt for a more intimate setting in one of the private dining areas or cosy snugs.

“The dining is always elevated; it’s fine-dining quality. The 10-course degustation at Roki Collection in Queenstown, comes with a wine pairing and that was the best degustation I’ve ever had. Paul Froggatt is the chef, the former chef at Hoka, and the sommelier, Eric, was outstanding. It was the way he paired the wines, he knew the tones and the flavors and why he’d match them. It was a real experience.”

Do lodges across New Zealand offer different experiences?
Lodges are found all over New Zealand and, as a consequence, there are a plethora of different activities you can try as you make the most of the natural beauty your lodge has to offer.

“I think each lodge has its place,” says Vance, “and each is obviously different in experiences.

“If you start up in Northland, in the Bay of Islands, it’s all about being out on the water, where you can dive, scuba, and out on a boat cruise, it’s stunning.

“Then you’re a short hop down to the central North Island, and you’ve got geothermals, volcanoes, and the Waitomo caves. Then you go over to Hawke's Bay and you’ve got the wineries, and then Clearview and the stunning chardonnays through there.

“Everywhere you land and every lodge you stay in is such an experience in itself. They're so self-contained in so many ways, because they all offer something so different.”

What defines the Kiwi approach to hospitality?
The Kiwi approach to tourism is less about sightseeing, more about connection with people, place, and culture. It’s welcoming, generous, and deeply rooted in the Māori worldview, where hospitality (manaakitanga) means caring for visitors like family, and guardianship (kaitiakitanga) reflects a profound respect for the land. Visitors are not just observers but participants, drawn into an experience that’s immersive, authentic, and guided by a commitment to leave things better for the next generation.

“Having the cultural welcome when the guests get here is so important because it sets the tone,” says Vance. “You should be welcomed by the tribe that’s from the area where you're flying into.

“We’re blessed down here, the people we work with are so passionate about what they do, not just around the food and beverage, but around wilderness experiences and getting out in the country. We genuinely don’t care who people are, we just treat people as people.

“It’s a laid-back professionalism, a pride in what we have, a willingness to host, and wanting our guests to have the time of their lives when they’re here.”

Why have luxury lodges become such a defining feature of New Zealand tourism?
With each property offering a completely unique experience, luxury lodges allow travellers to explore the full breadth of New Zealand’s diverse landscapes and culture. It’s little wonder they’ve become such a popular, and integral, part of the country’s tourism offering.

“There’s a price point that goes with it, but I guess we look at it in terms of value,” says Vance. “I've never had a client who left the lodge who didn’t appreciate why we put it in the programme for them.

“Everyone wants something unique and tailored, so I guess it comes down to how we create that for them, and lodges are a big part of that.”