Whare Kea Lodge

Whare Kea occupies 70 acres of private farmland on the western shore of Lake Wanaka, ten minutes from the town. The six-bedroom lodge is let whole rather than by the room, taking up to twelve guests, which makes it a family or small-group proposition rather than a conventional hotel stay. Long glazed living spaces open onto lawn that runs down to the water, with Mount Aspiring's range across the lake.

The house has a full kitchen for self-catering, but a private chef, housekeeping and a lodge manager can be arranged, and most guests take the staffed option. There is a games room with a billiards table and piano, an outdoor spa pool, and a boat shed.

The property's distinguishing feature is the Whare Kea Chalet, a separate alpine hut at around 1,700 metres on the Buchanan Peaks, reached by helicopter and available to lodge guests. It sleeps a small party above the glaciers, with a guide, and is one of the more unusual things you can do in the Southern Alps.