239ernies
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I have to confess that being a crazy dog lover I was already eager to stay at the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki when I was greeted in the lobby by the resident cockapoo Beau. Having a friendly dog greet guests tells you a lot about a place and the people who make it special. And special hardly begins to describe the amazing experience of exploring the wonders surrounding Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki. Our guide for several of the adventures was owner Gerry, a bit of a character who was an encyclopedia of knowledge about wildlife, birds, the habitat and raw Nature. Our first adventure was a nighttime excursion to see glowworms in the dark, hidden in plain view alongside a local highway. It was fascinating and just a taste of the adventures that lay ahead. Some of our small group took to the river in kayaks while others explored the well marked local trails around the hotel. On one hike I sat at a bench along a river that connects to the Tasman Sea only to see New Zealand Long-fin Eels swirl in the waters at the edge. Only later did I learn that they probably were expecting a snack since we got to experience hand-feeding the eels raw bacon. We hiked all around the beautiful area, seeing whitebait fishing and meeting a local fisherman, and spotting huge old trees that helped inspire James Cameron in creating the movie Avatar. But the highlight hike was led by Gerry through a secluded trail to a beach where we spotted rare New Zealand Crested Penguins, a colony making a comeback. Just one amazing adventure after another. The lodge itself is so delightful, with open lounges that take in the lovely views of the river, the rooms were spacious and there was a very useful laundry. The unexpected delight of the stay was the incredible cuisine at the restaurant. During my visit to New Zealand I splurged on some very upscale restaurants but the best cuisine of the trip, the most creative and tasty, was the dinners and meals at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki. What a treat and what a complete experience of New Zealand's best features.