Lake Heron Station

Location: Christchurch, Kaikoura & Canterbury District | New Zealand

Price guide: £££££ £100-£200 per person per night

Lake Heron Station is a luxurious country hotel in a stunning setting in New Zealand’s High Country, surrounded by 19,600 hectares of mountains, glaciers, forests and valleys. A working farm to this day, the land is scattered with original station huts, with the youngest of the accommodation options built in 1923. The farm has been in the same family for generations, and owners Philip and Anne are friendly and hospitable.

Perfect forRural seclusion in Canterbury’s High Country.

In the know

Working farm with lambing and calving in the spring
Stay in historic station buildings dating back 100 years
Outdoor activities include hiking, swimming and biking

Recommended for...

Peace & Quiet
Setting & Views
Eco-tourism
Family-friendly

Hotel Overview

Sense of place

Set in the basin of Lake Heron, this hotel enjoys a truly stunning location, surrounded by glacier-covered mountains, plunging valleys and forested hills. Owners Philip and Anne are continuing a 4-generations long family tradition here, and it shows in their hospitality and the friendly atmosphere.

Rooms at Lake Heron Station

Lake Heron Cottage was established in 1900 and retains an atmosphere of historic hospitality, having been lovingly restored to retain much of its original character. The cottage’s 3 bedrooms feature panelled wood ceilings and walls and historic period features like wrought iron mirrors and elaborate rugs. The cottage features a large outdoor area with a BBQ area and an outdoor bath. In the New Hut – constructed in 1923 – up to 13 guests can be accommodated in an even more secluded location, 13 kilometres from the main homestead.

Food and drink

In keeping with the family atmosphere, Anne cooks up a delicious dinner each evening, on a set menu basis, and ingredients for a heart cooked breakfast are made available each morning. Accommodation at Lake Heron station is fully equipped for you to self-cater and enjoy dining at your own leisure, in beautiful surroundings. Lake Heron Cottage has a kitchen as well as a BBQ, so you can enjoy cooking as well as eating outside when the weather suits. The original station huts which dot the landscape are a great place to stop for a picnic while you’re exploring.

Facilities

The cottage features a lounge area, BBQ and outdoor bath. The use of the hotel’s rowboat and life jacket is available to guests, and the remote corners of the property can be accessed by 4WD.

Activities at Lake Heron Station

Needless to say, the great outdoors is the star of the show here, year-round. In the summer, hike, fish, bike and row around the lake, stopping off at the end of the day to overnight in one of the historic station huts scattered throughout the property; in the winter, skate on the pond, or heliski from your front door, before coming back for a cosy evening lazing in front of the fire. In the autumn you can see salmon spawning and go foraging for mushrooms. Spring is a beautiful time to stay here, when lambing and calving season are in full swing on this working farm.