Riverrun lodge, Wanaka

Riverrun lodge offers luxury accommodation just six minutes drive from Wanaka resort and one hour from Queenstown, in the heart of New Zealand's Southern Alps. The lodge is set on an escarpment and surrounded by 500 acres of private land bordering New Zealand’s largest river, the Clutha, with walks and running trails and spectacular and uninterrupted mountain views. Accommodation is stylish and private, with attention to comfort and detail. In the evening lodge guests enjoy fine food and wine and a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. Nearby are two magnificent lakes, Lake Wanaka and Hawea, and Mt Aspiring National Park.

Individual style: Riverrun is a small luxury lodge designed by a leading local architect. The recycled hardwood timber and beams used in its construction give the guest accommodation and living areas a strong feeling of warmth, intimacy and permenancy. Richly polished jarrah floors extend throughout both lounges, historic wharf timbers and massive railway beams feature in both the lounges. Handcrafted furniture and original metal balustrades and light fittings make this a special and individual environment. Furnishings reflect a casual blend of contemporary and elegant. The two ground floor lounges each have a roaring log fire, generous seating, email and internet, cd players, tv/video, an extensive library of current and old movies, music, books and magazines. Both lounges open onto deep verandas with panoramic mountain views.

Relaxing accommodation: Guest accommodation is uncluttered, spacious, comfortable and simply relaxing, with carefully chosen touches of luxury in the pure calendared cotton bedlinen, big wrap robes, extra large bath towels, herbal soaps and toiletries, feather down pillows and New Zealand wool duvets. Clutha rooms are larger with super-king beds and video as well as tv, Cardrona rooms have queen size beds, and open directly onto a veranda. Twin beds are available by prior arrangement. All rooms have sumptuous bathrooms with quality German power shower fittings. Every room has an unobstructed view of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Magazines, books, chocolates and nuts and a complimentary tea/coffee/non-alcoholic drinks service ensures guests feel both indulged and at home.

Enchanting location: The tracks leading out from the lodge offer guests the choice of a short stroll down to the Clutha river or a more vigorous hike to the top of Halliday Bluff with magnificent views out over the Clutha river and Hawea plain.

Privately situated, a short distance from the lodge, is an oversize cedar hot tub, with spa jets and distant views of alpine ridges and golden terraces - private, romantic, and ideal for star gazing on clear nights.