Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge is an award-winning lodge just 45 minutes from Queenstown. At the head of Lake Whakatipu, along one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives, it’s an ideal base for slowing down and reconnecting with nature. This unforgettable and immersive lodge experience is at the heart of picturesque Glenorchy village. Explore a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of mountains, lakes and rivers, enjoy chef-prepared garden-to-plate dining and reconnect in warm and inviting shared spaces. The Homestead includes an intimate dining room, lounges and event space – your spot for guided yoga each morning. Outside, you can gather by a sheltered open fire, and gaze up at the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary. Premium chalets combine modern touches with rustic elegance, and center on rest and comfort. In the dining room, talented chefs prepare gourmet breakfasts and seasonal dishes using ingredients from the lodge’s organic kitchen garden, local suppliers, and foraged produce. Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge is proudly designed to give back more than it takes, offering a stay with heart and soul. Built to rigorous Living Building Challenge standards, it is the first net-positive energy accommodations in New Zealand and each stay supports the Glenorchy Community Trust.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.7 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.7)

Breakfast Info

Continental

  • Free Parking Available On Site


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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Select occupancy
Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 king bed
1 king bed
1 king bed
and
2 bunk beds
or
2 twin beds
and
2 bunk beds
1 king bed
or
2 twin beds
1 twin bed
and
1 queen bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

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See what guests loved the most:

Tee
United States United States
Fantastic location. Great hospital and service. Sustainable facility that is top notch. And the food is amazing.
Erin
United States United States
It is an Eco lodge so toilets are composting and showers are timed. Some travelers might not care for this but it was fine - plus lots of educational posters explaining the process along with their solar panels. The add on dinner was superb. ...
Anne
United States United States
We were so impressed with the effort the lodge makes to run a sustainable operation and reduce their environmental impacts. It's also in a beautiful location.
Kate
New Zealand New Zealand
Loved everything the staff were great , the lodge & all the eco sustainable initiatives , the landscaping
John
United States United States
Eclectic in ambiance….very comfortable lodging The staff were warm and gracious. The chef(s) at the top of their craft. Their attention to the environmental concerns of our planet were way ahead of the curve. Too be applauded.
Kylie
New Zealand New Zealand
Everything! We love the eco aspect and it meet all of our expectations. We loved hanging out reading books in the lodge, and sitting by the fire in the covered outdoors while it rained.
Lever
Australia Australia
Fantastic location, friendly staff and comfortable clean rooms.
Charlotte
Australia Australia
My cabin was heavenly. The perfect place to come home to after a long day hiking or on horseback. Even with all the sustainability measures, you don’t feel luxury is taken away. Small details like complimentary Nibbles and drinks in the rooms were...
Rebecca
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Great place to stay that takes sustainability to another level. Great to learn how the hotel was built with sustainable materials. The non flushing toilets took a moment to get used to but the tech to make them non smelling is excellent. The...
Rachael
New Zealand New Zealand
Beautiful property & fabulous friendly staff. Amazing food

Managed by Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge

Company review score: 9.8Based on 60 reviews from 1 property
1 managed property

Company info

Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge opened in March 2018, it has been created from the ground up using regenerative design philosophies and is the first ever guest accommodation designed according to the Living Building Challenge - the most rigorous sustainability standards in the world. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) suggests buildings should function as cleanly and efficiently as a flower, using this metaphor to guide performance across seven ‘petals’ of sustainability: Health & Happiness, Energy, Water, Materials, Place, Beauty and Equity. To achieve LBC’s imperatives, The Headwaters Eco Lodge has been created through a process of collaboration; in contrast to typical building projects which involve architects, designers, engineers and tradespeople working in silos, The Headwater’s approach also included local artists, craftspeople, and energy management specialists. Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge is the vision and collaborative creation of Paul and Debbi Brainerd, philanthropists who have previously established environmentally-sensitive, community-based education projects in North America. The Lodge seeks to in inspire and share learnings about new standards in sustainable tourism.

Property info

Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge is an award-winning lodge just 45 minutes from Queenstown. At the head of Lake Whakatipu, along one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives, it’s an ideal base for slowing down and reconnecting with nature. This unforgettable and immersive lodge experience is at the heart of picturesque Glenorchy village. Explore a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of mountains, lakes and rivers, enjoy chef-prepared garden-to-plate dining and reconnect in warm and inviting shared spaces. The Homestead includes an intimate dining room, lounges and event space – your spot for guided yoga each morning. Outside, you can gather by a sheltered open fire, and gaze up at the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary. Premium chalets combine modern touches with rustic elegance, and centre on rest and comfort. In the dining room, talented chefs prepare gourmet breakfasts and seasonal dishes using ingredients from the lodge’s organic kitchen garden, local suppliers, and foraged produce. Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge is proudly designed to give back more than it takes, offering a stay with heart and soul. Built to rigorous Living Building Challenge standards, it is the first net-positive energy accommodation in New Zealand and each stay supports the Glenorchy Community Trust.

Neighborhood info

Blessed with a remarkable array of natural beauty and terrain, Glenorchy offers something for everyone, from the peaceful to the exhilarating to the sublime. We help our guests at The Headwaters Eco Lodge to explore the area on foot, on bikes and horseback; by jet boat, canyoning or funyak; via 4WD all-terrain vehicles, heli or plane - with or without an expert tramping, photography, birding or movie set location guide. There are a multitude of options for immersing yourself in Glenorchy's natural beauty, from a 30-minute wander around our historic township, to a 45-minute boardwalk through a pristine lagoon at the edge of town to your choice of gorgeous hikes of varying lengths all less than an hour away. If you would like to revitalise the spirit, we offer on-site morning yoga classes most days at Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge.

Languages Spoken

English,Korean

Area info

Restaurants

1 Restaurant On Site
Restaurant #1
  • Open for
    Dinner
  • Ambience
    Family-friendly
  • Dietary options
    Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

Amenities of Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge

Great facilities! Review score, 9.7

Most popular amenities

  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Free Wifi
  • Family rooms
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Breakfast

House rules

Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in.
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 3 years
Crib upon request
Free

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

Age restriction
The minimum age for check-in is 18
Pets
Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.
Accepted payment methods
VisaMastercardEftposCash
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Quiet hours
Guests need be quiet between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

Please note that there is a 2.5% charge when you pay with a credit card.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Quiet hours are between 22:00:00 and 06:00:00.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.

FAQs about Headwaters Glenorchy Eco Lodge