Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection
Sitting pretty on the waters of Lake Pukaki — underneath the otherworldly Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and surrounded by the majestic Ben Ohau Range — Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection takes you away from it all. Remote, unspoilt and wildly beautiful, the lack of light pollution makes this one of the best spots in the world for stargazing.
Offering one of the most arresting views over Aoraki Mt Cook in all of New Zealand, this serene five-star retreat is designed for serious unwinding. Just three self-contained private villas are scattered across the alpine estate, allowing for a maximum of 12 guests at any one time. Get cosy in a luxury villa with an open fireplace, melt away under the stars in your private lakeside hot tub and let the dedicated onsite chef wine and dine you. Discover unparalleled landscapes at your doorstep — lavender fields are within strolling distance, Tasman Glacier and Lake Tekapo are a 30-minute jaunt away, and you can reach Queenstown in less than three hours.
Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection is on the doorstep of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and Lake Pukaki in the beautiful and unique Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. The retreat is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Queenstown International Airport (ZQN), 3.5 hours from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) and 1 hour and 50 minutes from Wanaka Airport (WKA). Airport transfers are not included in your package, please plan accordingly.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
The Lakeside Retreat — A private hideaway in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
Total seclusion is yours at the serene Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection — a three and a half-hour drive of Christchurch and Queenstown. With just three villas onsite — overseen personally by live-in hosts Kaye and Luke — this boutique escape was made for intimacy, with no more than 12 guests at any one time.
Choose to arrive in style with four helipads onsite for direct flights to this secluded oasis (additional costs apply), where the views from the ground are just as mesmerising as from above. By day, take in awe-inspiring vistas of Lake Pukaki to the Southern Alps and Aoraki Mt Cook. When night falls, marvel at the nightly light show from the onsite Pukaki Wine Cellar Observatory — unique to this Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award-winning retreat, situated in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
From a relaxing massage in your private luxury villa to a reflective walk or rejuvenating recreation, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection is a special place to revive your wellbeing. Choose to bathe within the 10,000-year-old waters of the glaciers at Aoraki Mt Cook, grab your friends for a game of petanque, croquet or outdoor curling (seasonal), enjoy a private, tailored yoga session (charges apply) or hike one of the several beautiful walking tracks, including a special shinrin-yoku track (dedicated to the Japanese practice of forest bathing).
Your Handpicked Inclusions — Daily breakfast provisions, nightly three-course dinner, stargazing experience, gourmet picnic and much more
Your Mt Cook experience begins from the moment you arrive, with a complimentary bottle of local wine. On the first day of your stay, enjoy a private cooking demonstration, led by the wonderful onsite culinary team. Watch as your chef cooks exquisite garden-to-plate seasonal cuisine from the best quality local ingredients and produce grown onsite, before sitting down and enjoying the finished product.
The kitchen in your private villa comes stocked with gourmet breakfast provisions, including eggs, bacon, muesli, tea, coffee and homemade jam, so you can wake up at your own pace.
Every evening, the in-house chef transforms the freshly picked herbs and vegetables from Kaye’s garden into a wholesome and nutritious three-course dining experience. Choose to have dinner delivered to your villa or enjoy at the main lodge.
Stargazing at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, High Country Estate & Luxury Villa Collection is an unparalleled opportunity to admire the universe underneath one of the world’s purest skies. At the purpose-built, retractable roofed Pukaki Wine Cellar and Observatory, enjoy a dram of whisky from the curated collection as you’re taken on a journey through the stars. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
On one day during your stay, savour a carefully curated gourmet picnic lunch, showcasing delicious seasonal treats, local produce and homegrown delicacies — beautifully prepared and presented so you can laze and graze in style.
Throughout your stay, make the most of complimentary access to onsite facilities. Take time to enjoy a game of tennis or croquet on the lawn and ride through this World Heritage-listed area with complimentary mountain bikes, perfect for following the magnificent Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail or discovering Tasman Glacier lookouts.
Enquire about 1pm early check-in, subject to availability.
Ultimate Mt Cook villa upgrade bonus: Upgrade and receive bonus welcome chocolates and a bottle of sparkling wine.
- Main lodge
- Four helipads
- Tennis court
- Curling rink (seasonal)
- Mountain bikes
- Cycleways and walking tracks
- Pukaki Wine Cellar Observatory
- Check-in: 3pm / Checkout: 11am
Surcharges may apply to select facilities and services
Important Update: From March 24, 2022, a new cancellation policy applies to this offer:
Free cancellation: You can cancel your booking for Cudo credit up until 21 days prior to the original check-in date. This can be done via self-service in your ‘My Escapes’ account. Your Cudo credit will be valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation. Credits are not transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Please note this does not apply to insurance or flights booked with Cudo. Flight fulfilment is provided by the airline(s) selected at the time of finalising the booking. For your air travel, you are bound by the terms and conditions and fare rules of the selected airline(s).
Valid for travel until 30 June 2022 (bookings must be made before 30 April 2022).
Blackout Dates Apply. Dates are identified in the Booking Calendar.
Package Inclusions: Inclusions are correct at the time of purchase. Refer to your booking confirmation for details.
Check Availability: To confirm your dates of stay at purchase, click on ‘Check Availability’ and select your preferred package. Use the calendar to browse and select available dates. Dates with a surcharge are identified.
Buy Now, Choose Dates Later: If you want to secure this offer and don’t know when you want to travel please select ‘Buy Now, Choose Dates Later’. This will secure your package and give you the flexibility to choose your travel dates — within the book by and validity period and subject to availability. To select dates post purchase, simply select ‘My Escapes’ under the ‘My Account’ tab and follow the prompts.
7-Day Change of Mind ‘No Questions Asked’ Refund Guarantee: Things don’t always work out. Our 7-day Change of Mind Guarantee is there to help. Bookings (except for Tour bookings and flights) may be cancelled with a full refund provided that cancellation occurs strictly within 7 days from the date of purchase and provided that the cancellation is made no less than 21 days prior to the check-in date.
Feel Like Changing Your Dates? No Worries… If your booking is with a property located in Australia or New Zealand you can make unlimited changes to the date of your hotel booking, as long as it’s at least 21 days before your original check-in date. If the property is located in any other country you may make unlimited date changes up to 1 day before check-in. This is provided you choose dates that are of an equal value and are available. Any change to booking dates is subject to availability and must be made online in accordance with our Terms and Conditions. Please note unlimited changes are not applicable for flights.
Please Note:
- All guests must be aged 10+. Infants under 2 are permitted.
- Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated). Menus are subject to change without notice.
- Two-person villas are 110sqm total, while four-person villas are 160sqm.
- Stargazing is subject to weather conditions.
- Private cooking demonstration is only available on day of arrival.
- Welcome bottle of wine is a choice of house red or white (subject to availability).
- Early check-in is subject to availability.
The property, facilities and dining are subject to government regulations and restrictions. Please check the property website for the most up-to-date information as some of the services may be impacted.
Cudo reserves the right to modify prices for marketing and commercial reasons. Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website’s terms and conditions.
