Queenstown heaven: A stay at Matakauri Lodge
If you’re looking for a special getaway, look no further. Because there’s luxury and then there’s Queenstown’s Matakauri Lodge. Don’t just take my word for it. It’s a favourite of the rich and famous, even Kate and Will’s stayed here on their recent trip. And hey, if it’s good enough for royalty, it’s good enough for me 😉
Day one
We make our way up the gravel driveway and can’t help but say “Wow” at the uninterrupted postcard perfect views. Positioned on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, among pine forests and overlooking the snow-capped mountain ranges of The Remarkables, this is my kind of ‘getting in touch with nature’.
We’re warmly welcomed by Jodi from the management team, bags are whisked away with us barely noticing as we’re given a quick tour of the luxury lodge, trying to keep our jaws off the ground.
With expectations now firmly high, I’m excited to catch a glimpse of our suite and it doesn’t disappoint. Located in the main building, and designed for maximum views and privacy, the styling is sleek Hamptons meets warm modern country getaway with elegant neutral styling and wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of Vogue. So far, so very good.
The wow factor doesn’t stop there: our very own fireplace, courtyard, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary snacks and drinks in the mini-bar, (including house-made cookies and brownies –yes!) lavish double bathroom with a huge shower and little touches like a motion sensor light and free standing bath. I’m seriously considering just locking myself in our suite for the next few days.
As usual though, my thoughts (and stomach) turn to food, and we make our way down the corridor to the dining area.
A short lunch menu including daily specials, design your own salads, sandwiches and cheese plates makes choosing easy. It’s hard to go past a steak sandwich and Matakauri’s is one of the best.
Happy and fed, it’s time to go to one of my other happy places: the day spa. Francis gives me a seriously good 90 minute remedial massages and I walk out floating. Relaxation levels are high, as they should be in a luxury retreat!
After a quick freshen up, we’re ready for happy hour in the lounge.
Guests are invited to mingle over canapes and complimentary drinks before being seated separately for dinner service. It’s a nice way to get to know your fellow travellers, without the awkwardness that can come with communal dining!
We’re lucky to score a window seat and soak up the view as we choose between the a la carte or tasting menu option. Let’s be honest, it was always going to be the tasting menu 😉 Dinner is included in the nightly room rate with drinks additional. Matching NZ wines are $165 per person and the standard wine pairing is $105.
With a focus on local produce, the food doesn’t disappoint. The menu changes every day so it’s impossible to get bored. Mind you, I could eat that meal happily over and over again. We roll ourselves back to our room, grateful our pillows are a few minutes away to sleep off our food comas.
Day two
I didn’t know it when I woke from a glorious sleep-in but this was going to be one of those magical travel days when your plans completely change, you make spontaneous decisions and you’re rewarded with the best experiences.
The luxury of Matakauri Lodge seems like a very good excuse to slow down and have a relaxing day soaking up the grounds. We start with breakfast: continental (help yourself to a wide variety of seasonal fruits, pastries, yoghurts and cereals plus a la carte options (the scrambled eggs with fresh herbs are small but delicious).
We make plans with the helpful team to go for a leisurely stroll around one of the local lakes and also mention we’re interested in potentially doing a helicopter flight before we head back to Sydney, we are in the adventure capital of the world after all! Before we know it, Joanne manages to get us a spot on a Scenic Flight to Milford Sound leaving in a couple of hours! It takes us about two seconds to scrap our walk plans in favour of heading for the clouds.
Mr LML hasn’t been in a helicopter before and I’ve never seen snow so it’s a trip of firsts for us both. John kindly transfers us to a heli pick-up point 10 minutes away – no need to head to the airport like everyone else when you’re staying at Matakauri 😉
After a quick safety briefing, we’re up, up and away, flying over Queenstown sharing the skies with our pilot James and four other travellers.
From landing on the beach to seeing mountains up close and landing on a glacier (!) it’s an epic adventure and one I highly recommend.
We arrive back at Matakauri on a high and celebrate our adventure in style with a picnic on the grounds. Olives, pates, charcutterie, frittata, salads, crackers, dates. And of course a local Pinot. It doesn’t get much better than this.
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After a nap in the sun, we visit the gym to earn our dinner, with this view it’s hardly a drag. Especially when chill time in the outdoor Jacuzzi beckons afterwards.
Appetite fired up again, we find ourselves in a very unique position –tonight there is only us and one other couple in residence and they’ve decided to dine in town. Which is foodie gold as we’re offered the chance to have a private chef experience! Matakauri might not specifically market itself as a foodie destination but it definitely could. Sous Chef Mitchell Lake is in the kitchen tonight and we’re very happy to be his guinea pigs as we sample another tasting menu. A 24-year-old Australian born and bred chef from Newcastle, we share Sydney restaurant tips and love his attention to detail and food style which is extremely impressive for someone so young, he has a big future!
Day 3
The last day of any amazing trip is always a little bittersweet but we make the most of our last hours in heaven with:
- A gym session to wash away my degustation-two-nights-in-a-row sins
- A leisurely bath. It would have been rude not to.
- Delicious hotcakes. I wasn’t leaving without trying these babies.
A photo posted by Nicole Gentle (@nicgentle) on
- One last steak sandwich. Because who needs Fergburger when you have Matakauri 😉
It might have only been a two night stay but Matakauri Lodge really did start to feel like home. The Matakauri team – Steph, John, Jodi, Joanne and more, led by General Manager Stephen – manage to perfect that fine line between being personable and professionable.
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