The Lindis Lodge — Hotel in South Island

We spent 2 nights here on our honeymoon and it went beyond my expectations.

1. Room: we stayed in the pod and the views were stunning. We loved the privacy and the bath. I really can’t describe how amazing it is to lay on the bed, listening to Lord of the Rings music as we enjoyed the view. Epic is the only word that even comes close.
2. The food: I had quite possibly the best steak ever here. They’re so willing to accommodate and change menus for you whether it’s a preference or allergy issue. Their breakfast was top notch and I loved that you’re not strictly limited. Again, really willing to adjust and add items. And the lunch egg noodle pasta with pork belly — it might have been my favorite thing there, period.
3. The drinks: creative bar menu with excellent bartender. Fresh mint tea was so enjoyable. We might have depleted their entire mint garden during our stay.
4. The service: I didn’t expect a welcome party when we arrived but that’s how tailored the experience is. I could tell everyone wanted to go above and beyond. Talking to the employees it was obvious they really loved working for the Lindis and take their roles seriously. Their clientele seems to have very high expectations which drives this formality across the staff. There is nothing I can fault but I almost wish the staff felt more comfortable just chit chatting! But I understand that’s not the vibe nor expectation for perhaps the majority of their clientele. Johnny, the manager from the uk, was super friendly, helpful, and flexible with scheduling.

For our honeymoon they gifted us a bottle of champagne and chocolates, a lovely surprise. And when we picked up our car, we found cold drinks and some baseball caps left in there for us.

5. The activities: my husband isn’t a huge helicopters guy and we are live hiking, biking, etc. We did horseback riding and an ebike ride to a swimming hole. Elise was SO nice and keeps the stable the cleanest I have ever seen or smelled. Her dog was adorable to ride by and see eagerly waiting. The horses are the happiest I’ve ever seen for trail horses. They’re well treated and used ethically for trail rides which is rare but made possible through lower demand given there’s

Amazing stay. My husband and I spent two nights at the Lindis in January in one of their private pods. The Lindis is located about 20 minutes off the main road - and the drive is well worth it for the remote location and absolutely stunning views when you arrive! The team at The Lindis were brilliant from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. We arrived on a rare cold (around 5 degrees) summers day, but this did not impact our stay – we ran a hot bath (which you can do from inside your pod) and had a lovely time in the hot bath looking at the beautiful scenery. The next day was warmer, and we went on some lovely self-guided walks (equipped with our GPS and radio in case we needed help or wanted a pick up!) and an incredible horse ride through the forest. The horses were so well behaved, and the guides were very friendly and even took me for a gallop through the paddock when we got back which was an amazing experience. On our final morning, we took the Ben Avon trail to the top of the mount- the views were superb and well worth the walk up - it took us around 2 hours in total. The food was exceptional, with an a la carte breakfast and choice of lunch or picnic to take with you, and a multi-course dinner. Although the dinner was a set menu, we were shown the menu earlier in the day and could ask for anything to be changed if we were not completely happy- we didn’t need to worry though, every course was a delight! Overall, the best couple of days and would highly recommend staying at the...

This is a world-class hotel and set-up. Set 20 minutes off the main road, but on a maintained surface none-the-less, it's relative remoteness means that only those who have a good reason to do so venture this far into the valley. The 5 star service starts the moment one pulls upto reception, and doesn't end until the moment one leaves. There is a very high staff to guest ratio- there are only 8 guest rooms or so- and it shows everywhere, from the attentive service in the lounge area to arranging the activities on offer. The food is quite exceptional, and the setting is simply stunning- we were blessed with good weather- late November, which helps. The owners have their own vineyards, and do stock their own wine- simply ask the staff to guide you on wine selection. You can tell the staff love being there, and its seems their only objective is that their guests have the best time. In terms of the design of the hotel and rooms, no detail is too small - everything is very carefully thought through. We went on the curated (self-guided) walks (complete with trackers and walkie talkies), and borrowed the ebikes, and tried some clay pigeon shooting- all great fun. I went gliding- this spot is a worldwide mecca for mountain and wave flying enthusiasts. If you fly, you will likely be in the air at the same time as gliding royalty. Next time I will try the fishing, and our daughter is going horse riding when...