Canterbury High Country Discovery: This extraordinary, full-day guided tour departs Otahuna by road and travels across the Canterbury Plains and up the braided Rakaia River gorge before arriving at Double Hill Station. Situated in the heart of the Southern Alps, Double Hill is one of Canterbury’s original runs having been farmed since the 1850s and is the home of the Hutchinson family. After tea and a personal tour of the spectacular farm with its owners, it is time to lift off for a breathtaking helicopter journey to view alpine flora and fauna, inspiring glaciers, pristine lakes, and even glimpse New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook. Midway through your journey, your experienced local pilot will find the perfect hideaway location to enjoy a fully catered gourmet Otahuna picnic lunch. Having enjoyed this remarkable experience, your helicopter departs across the foothills of the Alps and the checker-board plains before landing on Otahuna Lodge’s own Great Lawn.
Akaroa & Banks Peninsula Experience: Less than an hour away from Otahuna lies Akaroa, one of New Zealand’s most scenic treasures. This harbour-side town, originally settled by the French in the mid-1800s, is nestled in the heart of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by a picturesque harbour boasting some of the world’s most unique marine life. On this full-day guided excursion, the journey is every bit as stunning as the destination as your guide drives you along the crater rim of the volcano, 2,500 feet above the ocean with views over the Pacific Ocean and Akaroa harbour. After exploring the quaint village of Akaroa, it's time to embark on a cruise in the harbour to see the Hector’s Dolphins - the world smallest and rarest. While sailing in the volcanic crater, be on the lookout as well for fur seals, blue penguins and some of New Zealand’s most unique tree specimens. Upon coming back to shore, a delicious meal can be arranged in one of Akaroa’s restaurants before setting off to explore the eccentricities of Josie Martin's whimsical mosaic garden at the Giant’s House.
Joys of Otahuna: No trip to the Lodge is complete with enjoying a selection of our own on-property activities. Following a leisurely breakfast, we suggest a private guided tour to explore Otahuna’s 30 acres of gardens with Head Gardener Steve Marcham. This tour showcases the Lodge’s grounds, “A Garden of National Significance,” and provides an interesting overview of its vast organic productive gardens and recent restoration efforts. After your tour outside, it's time to head indoors where a private lesson with Executive Chef Jimmy McIntyre awaits. A three-hour, hands-on cooking lesson with Jimmy outlines the philosophies behind the Lodge’s leading food and wine programme and offers a chance to learn first-hand cooking techniques in our demonstration kitchen. A relaxing conclusion to the day can then be found with a dip in the heated swimming pool or a blissful 60- or 90-minute therapeutic massage with one of our qualified therapists in the massage room.
