Lake Hawea Station — Hotel in South Island

I wish I could say that all of the 5 star reviews captured this place perfectly and that I didn't feel compelled to add another, but here we are. ||5 stars is an understatement. If you're reading this, book your stay. ||Ok, since you need more convincing to visit, every detail of this place is thought out. What’s more, Richie, Tracey and the whole Lake Hawea Station team made us feel a part of this wonderful place that is breaking ground on regenerative and carbon positive farming. If you're like us and unsure what any of that meant, fear not. The team is expert in bringing you on board to seeing their whole operation in a new light. Our springtime (mid-october) visit was well timed with (literally) thousands of new born lambs, which coupled with the already spectacular views made for dream-like scenery. ||This is no rough stay though. We stayed in the "Packhorse" cabin and not a single item was out of place and all contributed to the most comfortable, cozy, home-feeling accommodation one could imagine. The baskets of local products we ordered were waiting for us on arrival along with a welcoming note. We highly recommend booking the Stargazing experience with Richie along with your stay, he made an often-overwhelming topic accessible, interesting, fun, and most importantly, tied in with the land we were sitting on. ||If you want the true luxury of a quiet, beautiful place surrounded by spectacular scenery, amazing accommodations, and people who are genuinely the most welcoming and enthusiastic we’ve met, Lake Hawea Station should be top of your list. We'll absolutely be planning...

Best ever!! Our stay at Lake Hawea Station (LHS) was hands down the absolute highlight of our travels through New Zealand. LHS and its team of warm, smart, and hardworking people (and dogs!) made our holiday at the station incredibly wonderful, tasty, relaxing, and fun — a unique, top notch combo of luxury, working farm, and nature. LHS demonstrates that agriculture and environmental conservation don’t have to be adversaries; but rather they can benefit each other and work together to improve climate resilience. The Back Country Immersion Experience and the Regenerative Farm Tour with Richie (awesome guy!) were a ton of fun and educational — what a variety of gorgeous landscapes, flora & fauna! Jack and his stellar dogs - fantastic demonstration of herding sheep — they’ve got BIG skills! Chef Dane’s cooking was deeeelicious using very local ingredients — phenomenal! Annie, an absolute gem, seamlessly made arrangements for us and provided great tips for perusing around the area! Rieko & Jess were thoughtful to details (e.g. providing a shoe dryer for our damp shoes!) in keeping the cottage comfortable and tidy as well as surprising us with refreshing drinks on our doorstep after an excursion :) Homespur Cottage is delightful — airy, clean & cozy — perfect for hanging out. The threads of eco-consciousness and excellent quality are consistent throughout LHS. Thank you, Jussie & Geoff, for creating a truly special place in...

We loved staying at Lake Hāwea Station! The Packhorse Cottage was lovely, with plenty of luxury, a hot tub, and a huge, well-appointed kitchen. We had ordered a hamper of food before arrival and it had delicious products from the station as well as the surrounding area, which we cooked at the cottage. ||The land here is gorgeous and there is plenty of space to relax as well as a lot to explore. We had booked an astronomy experience one of the nights and originally planned to be out on our own during the day, but weather changes brought new plans and we were able to work with Richie to find a time when he could take us for a tour of the high country area of the station. This was an amazing experience as we drove through the sheep pastures and on up to the top of the surrounding mountains. We used one of the photos taken on our holiday card this year — thanks, Richie! Later, our astronomy experience with was similarly incredible — warm blankets, a roaring fire, delicious snacks and a fascinating discussion about the stars.||We enjoyed meeting plenty of sheep as well as a lamb that was being nursed back to health indoors. The staff was friendly and helpful and we loved talking with everyone about their recent designation as a certified B Corporation. Their excitement about and commitment towards the environment is clear in all that they do. Book a stay at Lake Hāwea Station and you’ll have wonderful memories of this...