Grasmere Lodge

Grasmere Lodge is based on the original 1858 homestead on a 13,000 acre high country sheep station in the Southern Alps.

It has been open as a luxury lodge since 1995, and now offers 12 king or twin guest rooms with the utmost in comfort and peace. The decor is elegant but in strong colors, to suit the rustic history and the rugged landscape.

The key to Grasmere though is personal attention, from owners Oliver and Vicki Newbegin and their staff. Oli is happy to share his love of Porsche cars, and has several on display.

The station is still a working ranch, raising fine wool Merino sheep, cattle and red deer, and a 90 minute 4 WD tour of the property is available for guests.

The local fishing is challenging and typical of the high country -- large freestone rivers, smaller creeks and spring fed lakes. The crystal-clear water makes casting to sighted cruising fish in the lakes as absorbing as stream fishing.

The Grasmere area has both browns and rainbows, averaging around three pounds, with fish five and nine pounds often landed from the rivers. The region is unique in that there are Loch Leven, Mackinaw and Splake trout to be found, each in separate lakes. There is also the opportunity to fish for salmon during certain times of the year.

Other outdoor activities include horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, swimming in the heated outdoor pool, kayaking, and hiking in the native beech forests and tussockland of the nearby 250,000 acre Arthur's Pass National Park.

This is an ever-changing mountain landscape of wide open beauty. In the evenings, choose a superb local wine from the underground cellar, and relax over a five course gourmet meal.

The lodge is warmly recommended by Andrew Harperas Hideaway Report, and was overall winner of the accommodation category in the 2000 New Zealand Tourism Awards.