Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki

I have just completed a photography workshop based at Wilderness Lodge and am delighted to say that it was every bit as good as other reviews have indicated. Gerry, Anne and staff were very accommodating and professional. Gerry was a mine of information regarding the local flora and fauna during his guided walk of the Lodge surrounds. I whole-heartedly recommend a visit.

This was such a grand place, and we really appreciated the nature walk over suspension bridges. At one point, the surf from the Tasman could be heard in the distance. Our stay was way back on January 30, 2007, and the fond remembrances motivated me to include it in my science fiction novel, "Tripping Incarnate."

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.

Absolutely amazing! We stayed with our family of 2 adults and 2 children ( 9 and 11) and we had the most amazing 3 nights. There is lots to do - bushwalking, kayaking, nature tours and more. Gerry and Anne are the most wonderful hosts and made us feel so comfortable|The food is divine and Mira the desert chef is a genius.|I would highly recommend staying here on a west coast trip, we enjoyed it a lot more than the more well known tourist sites such at Franz Joseph. An incredible place to enjoy with the family.

We had a lovely two-night stay at Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki, which is a sister to the Wilderness Lodge at Arthurs Pass. Really friendly staff throughout. The rooms are spacious and the food is delicious. The lodge is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The cost (which admittedly is pretty significant, especially in the smarter rooms) includes complimentary short walks or other activities in the morning or evening, one of which was a short walk to feed the local long-finned eels! There are also are more distant daily activities at additional cost - such as a half day excursion to see the local fjordland crested penguins. We also took advantage of the complimentary clothes washing and drying facilities.

I would recommend a stay here for several days. Cuisine and bush walks excellent. My one suggestion for improvement would be better signage on the loop track. Our host Gerry was wonderful and staff very professional. I would recommend the walk at night to see the glow-worms. On a clear night you get the added benefit of seeing the night sky which is truely magnificent.

This experience changed the way we view overseas travel--this lodge, along with the lodge in Arthur's Pass, was over the top! We loved the informative and fun guided walks and information to guide our own hikes. The food was delicious, and the social aspect of these lodges cannot be overstated--many of our meal and hike partners are now new international friends for life, and the staff were just wonderful. Gerry and Ann have developed a wonderful concept for outdoor education and comfort, and their son has replicated this at Arthur's Pass. Bravo!

I loved my stay at the Wilderness Lodge. Upon arrival Anne, the lodge co-owner, gave me a tour of the property, and she and the staff were all extraordinarily pleasant and knew me by name for my entire two night visit. The work that Anne and Gerry have done to protect the rainforest and make it accessible to guests is amazing - I hiked each of the trails multiple times, and Gerry's trail guides made every fern and tree all the more interesting. The two (free) guided walks that Gerry led were highlights of the visit; he is so passionate that I could probably listen to him talk about lichens for an hour. Both the rainforest walk that he led and the glow worm walk were great, and I can't imagine anyone being more enthusiastic about sharing knowledge of this special area.||Aside from the rainforest, the lodge itself is excellent. Despite being off the grid the power, internet, hot water and everything else worked as well as you would find in any city hotel. Dinner each night was a delicious three course meal, and breakfast each morning included cooked options as well as fruit and pastries. The room was quiet, in great condition, and extremely comfortable.||If I'm ever back in New Zealand I will most definitely return to the Wilderness Lodge. It was a great nature destination, the hosts are both inspiring human beings, and the stay has been a highlight of my trip to New Zealand.