Mahana Lodge — Hotel in South Island

If you can get a reservation here, GO! We stayed at Mahana Lodge on Day 2 of hiking the Queen Charlotte Track. The setting is exquisite - a broad lawn dotted with beach chairs, picnic tables and bean bag chairs leading down to a gorgeous little bay. You can swim or take kayaks out.||In the lodge itself (slightly up the hill from reception/manager's house) has four comfy rooms each with an en suite bath surrounding a very comfortable central lounge area that also has outstanding water views. The lounge has a kitchen area with complimentary continental breakfast items (cereals, fresh eggs, toast, yogurt, etc).||But the very best thing about Mahana is the Chef's Table dinner. David (our host) is a chef and enjoys creating outstanding and inventive 3-course farm-to-table dinners a la Paul Prudehomme's Chef's Table in New Orleans. It was one of the best dinners that we've had in all five of our trip to New Zealand. We started with an amazing salmon rillette, then went on to a divine lamb (falafel for the vegetarians) with three gorgeous veggie dishes each elevated from its humble origins with creative preparations (the local cheese was heaven!) and a delicious lemon tart with a Madagascar lime curd. David has excellent local wines for sale by the glass or bottle (beer too) at very reasonable prices. It was a delight to be a guest at his table...

We stayed two nights at Mahana Lodge, and found it absolutely delightful in every way. The setting is magical. Beautiful lawns and gardens down to a private beach surrounded by magnificent forest. David was a wonderful host, with the chefs table a fantastic offering, and well worth the $90. We had walked from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge, and then caught a water taxi to Mahana for a first night, and then walked back to Furneaux Lodge and then caught the water taxi for a second night. A bit of a funny route, but gave us the payoff of staying at Mahana Lodge for a second night. The lodge rooms were very comfortable, with a beautiful common room. The breakfasts were terrific, and we filled ourselves on eggs that we cooked ourselves, high-quality muesli, juice, and yoghurts. We came as walkers, but this place would also be a beautiful, romantic retreat, or just a great place to unwind. The lunches that David prepared to eat on the walk were also filling...

We stayed at Mahana Lodge last week and it was nothing short of fantastic .David the host has a very special property , there were 8 of us we all had very comfortable double rooms with ensuites , and a spacious lounge .The breakfast was also generously good and his egg cooker a strange addition but fun to do .The highlight was the dinner , the chefs table .David produced a fantastic home chef cooked 3 course meal , absolutely beautiful .We had roast lamb rump for a main , as we were checking out the next day we asked what he was preparing for the next night , it was fresh salmon so he does mix it up .Worth every cent of the stay and a highlight...