mzrobbie
Google
For an unforgettable luxury lodging experience that will raise the bar for all others, don’t hesitate to book a reservation at Otahuna Lodge! My husband and I arrived at this lovely countryside estate on a late September afternoon after traveling more than 24 hours from Phoenix, Arizona. Despite being dizzy with jet lag, we couldn’t have been more impressed with the staff, facilities, amenities, and gastronomical excellence. Our only regret was that our itinerary didn’t allow us to stay longer than two nights!||||The Lodge itself is an absolutely gorgeous blend of architectural elegance, historical detail, lush greenery, and artistic flair! Owners Hall Cannon and Miles Refo restored the mansion by seamlessly merging the charm of the Queen Anne architecture with modern conveniences. Each piece of decor reflected the home's Victorian origins while simultaneously enhancing its timeless character. My husband and I wandered through the rooms, hallways, and niches, admiring how the contemporary art fit so harmoniously alongside historical photographs and memorabilia from the original owner, Sir Heaton Rhodes and his family. The Lodge offers many unique spaces to relax or to enjoy meals, including the romantic library, the turret, the bright and airy kitchen banquette, and the elegant formal dining room. I also appreciated the colorful flowers and lush plants in every room, bringing the beautiful outdoor gardens inside.||||Our suite, the Rhodes, was both spacious and cozy, with its fireplace, stained-glass windows, rich woodwork, plush (and spotlessly clean) carpeting, sitting areas (plural!), and an outdoor veranda with spectacular views of the front of the property (where we enjoyed a glass of wine in the evenings and our coffee in the morning). I am picky when it comes to bathrooms, and this one was was thoughtfully designed and appointed, including||- large countertops, dual sinks, easily-accessible outlets, excellent lighting ||- modern shower with 2 shower heads||- spa tub with bath salts||- towel warmers and heated floors||- a Dyson (!) hairdryer with diffuser attachment (as a curly-haired girl, my heart swelled with gratitude and joy!!)||- a makeup mirror (positioned so I didn’t need to stand on my toes to actually use it) along with make-up-specific towels and disposable makeup-remover wipes||||Otahuna Lodge provides so many lovely services and touches, but we particularly appreciated the turndown service with decanters of water and brownies, the complimentary laundry service, and of course, the rapidly-replenished coffee/tea/snack offerings on the mezzanine level (my husband couldn’t get enough of the caramels, but I preferred the fresh fruit and chocolates). Our itinerary left us limited time to explore the grounds, but we loved strolling through the tranquil Dutch garden before dinner one evening. When we return to Otahuna (and we WILL return!), we will reserve plenty of time to enjoy a full tour of the property, including the potager garden that supplies the ingredients for the kitchen.||||Speaking of the kitchen, each of our meals was expertly prepared by the oh-so-talented Executive Chef Jimmy, Chef Nikki (those breakfast muffins!), and sous-chefs Zak, Gus, and . . . one more whose name I’ve unfortunately forgotten. Each dinner was a multi-course culinary masterpiece, on par with any Michelin-rated establishment. We highly recommend signing up for Chef Jimmy’s private cooking class; I’m not much of a chef myself, but Jimmy was kind, patient, and detailed in his explanations. Afterwards, he gave us a fascinating tour of the kitchen and all of Otahuna’s top-shelf equipment. ||||Bottom line: While every aspect of our stay was a pure pleasure, it was the staff who truly made Otahuna Lodge so exceptional. We were so impressed by the obvious pride and pleasure they all took in their crafts and responsibilities. Each of them (special shout-outs to Tim, who shared his coffee and wine expertise, and Andrew, who encouraged us to call him in the middle of the night if we needed him) made us feel like royalty. We were very grateful to them all, and I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends even though we spent less than 48 hours at Otahuna Lodge. Thank you, Hall and Miles, for making our 30th anniversary trip to New Zealand and Otahuna Lodge an unforgettable one!
