Luxury hotel holiday Mahu Whenua Wanaka

Perfect as a private romantic retreat for couples, or a convenient base for families exploring Otago and Fiordland, indulge in the luxury of your lodge, and the incredible surroundings of 55,00 hectares of pristine towering mountains, lush green valleys, native bush, forests and meandering rivers. With the nearby highlights of Queenstown, Wanaka, Otago, Fiordland National Park or Mount Aspiring National Park, a range of activities are on offer to suit all levels of energy. Choose from wine tours, horse riding, rock-climbing, safari-style 4-wheel-driving, heli-hiking, heli-biking, heli-skiing, water sports, yoga, fishing and hunting.
Included in your Expressions holiday
  • Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
  • Scheduled flights with Air New Zealand or other airlines
  • Car hire for the duration of the holiday
  • Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
  • Optional room, car and flight upgrades. Details on request

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Mahu Whenua, Wanaka

Mahu Whenua is an exclusive luxury lodge in a stunning natural location. In the utter wilderness of the Southern Alps, it has incredible vistas over the landscape. This, alongside delicious cuisine, excellent accommodation make it a once-in-a-lifetime luxury lodge.

Facts in brief

Location Nestled in the mountains, ten minutes' drive to Glendhu Bay

Annual opening All year

Closest airport Queenstown Airport

Distance from airport Mahu Whenua is approximately a 90-minute drive from Queenstown Airport, or a 10-minute helicopter transfer

Hotel facilities and services

Farmhouse kitchen, Large open living area, Two dining areas, Sheltered swimming pool, Hot tub, Large decking area, Media and Games room, Library, Pool table, Helipad.

Land sports

Horse riding, Heli-mountain biking, Hiking and heli-hiking, Yoga, Heli-skiing.

Out and about nearby

Mahu Whenua consists of four high country sheep stations stretching between Wanaka and Queenstown. Over 55,000 hectares of some of the most iconic and dramatic natural alpine scenery provide a dramatic playground for a myriad of exclusive high-quality activities, both passive and adventurous, all easily accessible from your luxury accommodation. Those seeking relaxation and comfort are well-catered for with a range of excellent sight-seeing options. For example, join a wine tour of the Central Otago region, and introduce yourself to the iconic wineries of the Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn and Lowburn. Take this appreciation of the region's culinary delights further with a scenic helicopter flight and mountain-top picnic in the nearby regions of the Fiordland National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park and Milford Sound. Elsewhere, horse ride through the spectacular scenery where river crossings, hills and valley paths will await you, or otherwise join a guided art and photography workshop designed to help you create tangible memories of the wonders that surround you. Happily, Mahu Whenua was also designed with thrill-seeking guests in mind. Rock climb in this amazing geological area with tours built for beginners and families. Others may want to swap crampons for 4-wheel-drive as your safari-style adventure transports you through the countryside to the nearby shepherd's huts, working farms and Arrowtown. Finally, heli-hiking, heli-mountain biking, and heli-skiing are also on offer to those who want even more adventure. Your private helicopter will transfer you to the premium spots, otherwise inaccessible to the public. With water sports, yoga, fishing, and hunting also as options, you will be spoiled for choice of activities at this remarkable lodge. However, be sure to allow time to relax and unwind in the comfort of your luxury accommodation, and simply drink in the scenery that surrounds you.

Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5022

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Mahu Whenua, Wanaka

Mahu Whenua is a spectacular property, located in over 55,000 hectares of majestic beauty in the Southern Alps. The property consists of four adjoining high-country sheep stations: Motatapu, Mount Soho, Glencoe and Coronet Peak. Combined, these stretch from Glendhu Bay in Wanaka to Arrowtown in Queenstown. Throughout this landscape, much effort has been made to regenerate the land of the stations. In addition to sustainable farming practices, an extensive programme of plant regeneration and native bird breeding has proved an enormous success. The result is a pristine landscape of towering mountains, lush green valleys, native bush, forests and meandering rivers. To ensure these conservation initiatives continue, more than 90% of the land has been protected by covenants, making Mahu Whenua the largest conservation project on private land in New Zealand's history. It is no surprise to find that Mahu Whenua translates as 'healing the land'. Inside the lodge itself, you will find total privacy, captivating views, and complete luxury. A rustic design that incorporates locally sourced materials creates an ambience of relaxation, whilst the modern features of the lodge ensure ease of living. There are endless spaces to unwind here including a sprawling farmhouse kitchen, a large open living room, and a dining room, library and media and games room. However, possibly the best place from which to absorb the scenery is outside at the dinner table, or lounging poolside or in the hot tub. All stays at Mahu Whenua are hosted with a dedicated concierge team, and private chefs will deliver creative and innovative cuisine, complimented with the best wines of the region. On the front lawn of the hotel, a helipad awaits invitingly for your private use. With chauffeured helicopters constantly at your disposable, The Homestead and the Cottages are the perfect base for the many activities available in the nearby Wanaka, Queenstown, Fiordland National Park or Mount Aspiring National Park. Activities to choose from include wine tours, horse riding, rock-climbing, safari-style 4-wheel-driving, heli-hiking, heli-biking, heli-skiing, water sports, yoga, fishing and hunting. Or otherwise relax, rejuvenate and indulge in utter luxury, with some of New Zealand's finest hospitality, cuisine and wine.

Room descriptions

Mahu Whenua has four luxurious suites which all offer incredible views and supreme privacy for two discerning guests. They feature a king or king-split bed and en-suite with bath, and are equipped with WIFI, television and a phone.

Homestead Suites These two suites are located inside the homestead and boast uninterrupted views of the mountains and Lake Wanaka
Cottage Suites These suites are adjacent to the homestead, nestled privately amongst the native beech forest. They provide a fabulous view of the Motatapu River, mountains and stables.
Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5022

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Mahu Whenua, Wanaka

The journey and how you get there

For a holiday to Mahu Whenua in Wanaka, Expressions Holidays includes flights from London to Auckland with Air New Zealand (flying time is 24 hrs). Auckland is served by a wide variety of international airlines and we can include other airlines in your holiday. The chosen airline will depend upon any stopovers you might want to make en-route to New Zealand. Mahu Whenua is usually included as part of a tailormade touring itinerary of New Zealand and you can reach the hotel by hire-car. Depending on your overall itinerary on South Island, you may want to fly into Queenstown and collect your hire-car there.

Additional information

Minimum stays: There is a minimum stay of 3-nights between 20 December and 5 January. For all other times of the year, a 2-night minimum stay applies.

Children: Mahu Whenua welcomes children of any age.

Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.
Mrs H, Sep 2023

Holiday price guide A stay at this hotel is usually part of a tailor-made touring holiday of New Zealand which would include stays at several hotels and a variety of transport arrangements. We calculate the price of each tour on a tailor-made basis and include all arrangements. If you want to book this hotel on its own with flights and transfers as a stand-alone holiday, then please contact us for prices.

From about

Holiday Code EXH5022

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Call us on 01392 441245

Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Mahu Whenua, Wanaka

About Otago and Fiordland

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Otago and Fiordland is a chance to explore just some of the magnificent natural scenery New Zealand has to offer. These southerly regions of New Zealand are proud possessors of some of the most awe-inspiring and breath-taking natural scenery in a country of outstanding natural wonders. It is on the whole a landscape of mountain peaks, ridges and valleys, glacial lakes and fiords. With very few roads because of the terrain, the area is very natural with miles of it feeling very remote. At its heart is the resort of Queenstown, renowned as the centre of a multitude of adventure sports, with not only skiing in winter but as home to bungy jumping as well as now all sorts of sports including jet boating, white-water rafting, skydiving, hang-gliding and parapenting. The landscape is one of yellow-brown-green tussock-covered hills and rugged mountain peaks, with sparkling blue-green lakes. The lakesides often have a semi tropical feel with cabbage trees and New Zealand ferns. On the western coast are the magnificent fiords, flanked by steep mountains coated in rainforest and known for a profusion of wildlife including fur seals, dolphins and penguins.

Highlights of Otago and Fiordland

Doing or at least watching bungy jumping at the Kawarau Suspension Bridge or at Hackett’s Ledge above Queenstown, Jetboating in the Shotover or Kawaurau rivers, Climb up Queenstown Hill for a panorama over the town, lake and mountains, Helicopter trip to Milford Sound, Visit the Arrowtown gold mining settlement, Taieri Gorge railway trip from Dunedin to Pukerangi.

Call us on 01392 441245

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