Otahuna Lodge

"In the lush green heart of New Zealand’s South Island, a 20-minute drive south of Christchurch, Otahuna is a perfect example of how to bring an antique into the twenty-first century. Built in 1895 for antipodean pioneer Sir Heaton Rhodes, this recently restored three-story manse combines the best of the building’s history (the original wallpaper adorns the dining room) with the demands of today’s discerning traveler (under-floor heating, movement-sensitive lighting). The grounds feature sweeping lawns and lakes, formal and kitchen gardens, orchards, inexhaustible paths through acres of woodland, and stables complete with a resident horse whisperer. The seven guest rooms are individually themed and priced, from the extravagant grandeur of the Rhodes Suite to the cozy character of the less expensive lodge rooms. Add a pool, a tennis court, fine food and wine, and a staff for whom nothing is too much trouble and the result is one painful departure."