Wharekauhau Country Estate
Edwardian country grandeur
Palliser Bay-side pastures
There are country estates, and then there’s Wharekauhau Country Estate, a 3,000-acre working sheep and cattle farm straddling a set of dramatic gorges high above the thunderous blue surf of Palliser Bay. These Relais & Chateaux cottages are kitted out with the finest luxuries, and when you’re not reclining on your porch overlooking the ocean, there are treatments to undertake at the spa, wine tastings to tempt you, and quad bike, archery, clay-pigeon shooting or fishing adventures to be had, too. And all this just an hour and a half from Wellington.
Facilities
Rooms
16 cottages.
Checkout
11am, late check-out is free until noon; after that it's $250 an hour until 5pm. Check-in, 2pm. Early check-in before 11am costs an extra night stay.
More Details
Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and a four-course dinner (without wine). Meals are not included at Wharepapa Cottage.
Also
The main lodge has a ramp for wheelchairs, but beyond that access is unfortunately limited for those with reduced mobility.
Hotel Closed
The hotel closes for anualy between from early July to early August and from 1 May to 30 September, it's only open Thursday to Monday.
Fitness Center
Free Internet Access
Laundry
On-Site Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
At the Hotel
CD, DVD and book library, free WiFi in the cottages and main lodge, gym, spa, tennis-court, games room, gardens. In rooms: flatscreen satellite TV, iPod dock, minibar, tea- and coffee-making kit, free bottled water.
Our Favourite Rooms
Set a little way from the lodge with views out over sheep-dotted pastures and sea, the 13 Guest Cottages are all similar (give or take minor size and layout tweaks), although we were partial to numbers 6 and 8. All sport sitting areas (inside and out on verandas), gas fireplaces, walk-in wardrobes and ensuite bathrooms with marble floors and double spa baths. If you like squashy sofas and huge four-poster beds, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re in a posse, opt for the three-bedroom Owner Cottage, a kilometre away, which includes a horizon pool and the choice of your own chef.
Poolside
There's a 24-metre indoor heated swimming pool if you can't face the pounding ocean surf. Find it in the recreation centre, alongside a gym, all-weather tennis court and spa treatment room.
Spa
Hauora Spa takes its name from a Maori philosophy for wellbeing – one that takes into account physical, social, mental and spiritual health. At Wharekauhau, the spa process begins before you’ve even set through the door, as you unwind to the sound of the crashing surf and sight of the black-sand beaches. Try the warm bamboo massage, where the sticks are rolled across knotted muscles, or the signature body wrap, which includes a full body sea-salt exfoliation and a silky-smooth Manuka honey body wrap. A range of facials, manicures, pedicures and scalp treatments are also available.
Packing Tips
A swimsuit for dips in the spa pool; Orla Kiely Wellies for rambling; a dash of Ralph Lauren for nailing the country casual look.
Also
Borrow a guest pushbike to explore the hotel’s rugged 3,000-acre grounds, which include gorgeous forests, rivers, rolling pasture and striking coastline.
Children
The hotel can supply free baby cots and extra beds for older children for NZ$325, plus tax, a night. Babysitting with staff can be arranged for NZ$47 an hour (with 72 hours notice) and the restaurant offers a kid-friendly menu.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Dress Code
Sturdy jacket and boots for farm strolls by day; smarter get-up for evenings for glam communal dining.
Hotel Restaurant
Evenings kick off with drinks and canapés in the lounge or courtyard, when you can hobnob with fellow guests, followed by fine feasting in the dining room, where grand shared tables create a dinner-party mood. The chef uses local produce to whip up dishes including lamb with Mediterranean vegetables, polenta, peas, lamb jus and yoghurt. Breakfast is served in the rustic Country Kitchen, and lunch either there or outdoors.
Hotel Bar
The hotel bar is open all day offering spirits and fine local wines, including rare vintages. As the Estate's owner is in the wine game, you can rest assured that the cellar is always well stocked. Book a wine tasting with the hotel's sommelier to try the best the cellar has to offer.
Last Orders
Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 11am; lunch from noon to 4pm; and dinner anytime after lunch until late. The bar is open 24 hours a day.
Room Service
Available all day on request, with a full menu service. In-room minibars are also well-stocked and includes the Estate's own wine and gin selection.
Planes
Wellington International Airport is about 150km (one and a half hours drive) from Wharekauhau Lodge. From the UK and Europe, fly via Melbourne or Dubai. Our Smith24 team are on hand round the clock to organise your flights, if needed.
Trains
Featherston Train Station is 40km from the Estate. Trains from Wellington to Featherston run daily. See Tranzmetro for services and times.
Automobiles
You can hire a car at one of the airport’s major car hire company desks.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
With a mind-boggling 10,000 lambs born in spring, and sheep-shearing in autumn, it's worth taking a 4WD tour of the hotel's own farm. Historical local breeds include Romney sheep, mixed with Angus cattle, plus you'll see sheep dogs in action. The hotel's 3,000-acre grounds include a gorgeous mix of forests, lakes, rivers, rolling pasture and striking coastline, ideal for hiking or mountain biking (the hotel provides push bikes for guests). The lodge can also arrange a bunch of more full-on activities: ATV quad biking, clay target shooting, archery, and surfcasting (a kind of fishing apparently; no surf board needed). If you're feeling a tad lazy, you can just slope off for a game of petanque or croquet in the hotel's gardens, with a nice glass of white in hand. Or make a beeline for the swimming pool or spa. Fancy exploring further afield? To eyeball black-sand beaches and pounding surf near Wharekauhau, drive the old 1844 stock route along the nearby coastline, originally used to transport sheep and cattle. It's a rugged, other-worldly landscape of cliffs, rocks and mountains, taking in curving Palliser Bay. Further south, take a trip to local landmark the Cape Palliser lighthouse and its neighbouring seal colony, where brown seals bask. If you're in need of refreshment after all that worthy sightseeing, there are 29 boutique wineries around the rural village of Martinborough, a hot spot for wine in the region.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
