Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Cabot Lodge is a luxury estate situated on a 2000 acre sheep farm overlooking the World Heritage Fiordland National Park in Te Anau. The Lodge accommodates a maximum of ten guests, offering private luxury and an authentic New Zealand escape. Cabot Lodge provides an all-inclusive retreat. Guests are welcomed with an arrival drink, followed by the opportunity to participate in on-farm activities, before enjoying an evening cocktail hour with canapes, and a set-menu evening meal showcasing authentic farm to plate cuisine. Guests are woken each morning with a hearty cooked breakfast, and are provided fresh fruit and baking in their suites daily. Every suite offers panoramic views over Fiordland's vast mountain ranges, Lake Manapouri and the Fiordland National Park. Guests have access to the entire estate, with several private walking trails as well as private fishing access in the National Park. Cabot Lodge can provide individually-crafted itineraries to ensure guests enjoy a Fiordland experience like no other. Cabot Lodge is a luxurious escape on the doorstep of world class hiking, kayaking, fishing, adventure activities, and the renowned Milford and Doubtful Sounds.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Location
268 Hillside Manapouri Road, Manapouri 9679 New Zealand
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Fabulous 2 night stay with Brydie and Brad (owners) at Cabot Lodge. Only four rooms means a completely uncrowded relaxing atmosphere where absolutely everything was catered for. Outlook is amazing and we immediately felt our heart rate slow and hassles of the world disappear. meals were simply but elegant. Think best possible home cooked meal served in very relaxed but professional manner. How Lunch box take away meal for a 4 hour hike was worth effort of leaving for a few hours and after dinner cocktail by the fire was perfect end to great day
Read more
Date of stay: March 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Only four rooms to choose and all have privacy and similar standard
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 8 Apr 2021
Thank you so much for your kind words Bryan, they are much appreciated. It was so lovely to meet you both and we are so glad that we could look after you and give you a break away from all of the chaos of the real world! We hope to have you back again soon to show off more of Fiordland.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I spent 2 weeks in NZ on the South Island (in the Mt Cook, Wanaka, Queensland, and Fiordland areas). All of our accommodations were at highly rated luxury places along the way. That said, I can confidently state that the Cabot Lodge was by far the best place that we stayed at in NZ.
The owners, Breidi and Brad, are a sheer delight. They are incredibly warm and friendly hosts, have amazing attention to detail, and provide top notch service. The lodge and rooms are impeccable... on par with the best luxury accommodations I have stayed in worldwide. The food prepared by Brad (both dinner and breakfast) was excellent. The location is perfect for exploring the Fiordland area (Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Kepler track and other area day hiking)
The combination of the owners/hosts, the amazing location and views, and first class facilities make this a very special place. In hindsight, I wished we had stayed in the Fiordlands area longer (could have spent a week there) and I would have only stayed at the Cabot Lodge (we stayed at multiple places in the Fiordlands area). Rest assured we will return!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from cabotlodgenz, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 29 Jan 2020
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are just so thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us. We certainly wish you both could have stayed longer, although we are so pleased to hear that you will be returning. There is so much of Fiordland to explore - one trip is never enough!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We chose Cabot Lodge to celebrate my wife’s special birthday. Great choice as we were not disappointed. From the moment we arrived Breidi came to greet us like family and show us to our beautiful rooms with very comfortable beds and luxury linens, including every possible amenity, with a view that was breathtaking. Walking through the beech trees to reach the Spa pool was fantastic as the setting was beautiful overlooking the farm and the lake. Breidi and Brad are wonderful hosts who are happy to share their 2,000 acre farm and their vast knowledge of the area. We walked to the top of the farm for an amazing 360 degree view, totally stunning and peaceful. We enjoyed meeting other guests over drinks and canapes in the evening in the Library with breathtaking views through the huge windows. Beautiful selection of canapes each night, followed by amazing dinners showcasing authentic farm to plate cuisine (complements to the Chef, Rod), mouthwatering desserts, and both cereal and hearty cooked breakfast selection with fresh fruit and baking in the suite everyday.Brad packed us delicious lunch to take on our Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise (stunning) which Breidi booked for us. We could not fault the service provided by Breidi and Brad. They are an amazing couple with attention to detail, and in our eyes they are a STAR, Service Tailored to Any Request.
Thank you Breidi and Brad for your incredible hospitality and allowing us access to your entire Estate. Definitely a Lap of Luxury experience.
Jag, Shobha, Alaina and Keryn
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Everything is amazing
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 13 Oct 2022
Thank you so much Kalyan family for your incredibly kind review. We so appreciate you taking the time to let us know you enjoyed your stay. It was such a pleasure getting to know your lovely family and we are so happy we could take care of Shobha for her birthday. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next travels to the South!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taking the long twisting driveway from the main road you know immediately this is going to be a special place. Coming round the last bend in the drive you are greeted with magnificent views of the lake and the lodge. The lodge itself could easily feature in grand designs with interconnecting octagonal buildings housing the four suites sitting room and dining room. Before we could get out the car we were greeted by a beaming Bridie who seemed so pleased to see us. After being offered a welcome drink we chose to go on a tour around the property and were introduced to the farm and animals as well as the river where Lord of the Rings was filmed. The room was spotless and huge beds. There was fresh fruit and cookies in the room. The attention to detail surpasses anywhere I have stayed before with too many things to mention here. The evening meal and breakfast was overseen by Brad who cooked up an amazing lamb dish and the breakfast was just as good and was cooked to order. Bridie and Brad's passion and enthusiasm for the Lodge is very clear to see.
The lodge is excellently located for Fjordland being 5 minutes from Manapouri for the cruise to Doubtful Sound and 2.5 hours to Milford Sound. Bridie took the time to tell us what to see on the road to Milford and her choices did not disappoint.
This was our last stop on our road trip around New Zealand and what a way to end the trip. If you are looking for somewhere special to stay I would certainly recommend Cabot Lodge. Marking this 5/5 really does not do it justice.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from cabotlodgenz, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 29 Jan 2020
Thank you so, so much for your warm and thoughtful review - it is hugely appreciated and we are both so thrilled that you had such a wonderful time at Cabot Lodge. We had a lovely time looking after you, and we do hope you will return again soon. There is so much more of Fiordland to explore, and we certainly can't wait to welcome you back to Cabot Lodge.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are a family of eight (parents, five kids, plus one) and booked the entire Cabot Lodge for three days at the final station of our NZ tour.
Breidi and Brad provide 5-star service in an incredible warm and discrete way. We have been in many very good places in all continents but Cabot Lodge stands out.
When we had dinner in the big kitchen (needless to say it was excellent) we forgot that Breidi and Brad where in the same room and felt really private: They were preparing everything and even doing the dishes but in an incredibly silent way.
And if you want to learn anything about New Zealand's politics etc., just ask them and you will see that they are also very pleasant and intellectual thought partners.
Cabot Lodge is not just a lodge. It has been built by one of the world's most famous horticulturists as a holiday home. You realize that if you see the garden (and the stone gardens!) and if you look at the library - real books put in by somebody of education!
We should have stayed longer but had to leave towards home. We had tears in our eyes when we left.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from cabotlodgenz, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 13 Jan 2020
Johanness, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. We had such a wonderful time meeting you and your incredible family, and you were all such a delight to look after. We are so thrilled that you felt so at home, and we do hope our paths will cross again and you will make it back over to this side of the world. One visit is simply never enough!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is the kind of experience that every discerning Kiwi or international traveller should have, at least once! No, it's not cheap, but it's much better value than any budget trip you'll ever do. Don't try to do Milford or Doubtful Sound in a day and rush back to Queenstown: make a special trip unforgettable and stay a night or two at Cabot Lodge instead. Brad, Breidi and their team made us feel at home even before we arrived, and they didn't miss a beat with a combination of personal charm, attention to detail (inc. a welcome card and a jar of honey from Brad's bees) & impeccable professionalism. Set on a beautiful farm, with stunning views, the Lodge is a perfect mix of luxurious comfort & relaxing homeliness, complemented by excellent, locally sourced food & carefully chosen wine, gracious service and Brad & Breidi's deep love of & knowledge of the whole region. A lovely bonus is meeting interesting other guests at breakfast or dinner, with the option to join tables when there's an obvious affinity. The lounge & library are easily shared by guests, yet each spacious room feels as if it's the only one in the Lodge, so it's easy to maintain whatever balance you wish between privacy & sociability. I'm so proud & grateful to see this style & standard of boutique hospitality in New Zealand and recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone seeking a first-class, uniquely Kiwi accommodation experience as part of a longer tour, a visit scheduled around Fiordland's many attractions or for a mini-break, a special birthday or anniversary, or a small family reunion.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 7 Dec 2021
Thank you so, so much for taking the time to provide such an incredibly thorough and thoughtful review of the Lodge. We appreciate your kindness so much. We absolutely loved taking care of you both, and we are thrilled you were able to explore Fiordland while it was so quiet - you really had Milford Sound to yourselves! We look forward to catching up again in the new year, and we hope we can take care of you at the Lodge again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is a place that you need to put on your bucket list. The exclusive 4 bedroom lodge sits on a private hill high above Lake Manapouri and the snow covered mountains of Fiordland National park. Views to die for and that is just the beginning.
It is owned and run by a lovely young couple who are related to the owners of the farming station that it is nestled in. The farm is extensive with beef sheep and more recently deer. The lodge is about as nice as they come with the lodge owners (Breidi and Brad) having all the right makeup to be fantastic hosts - personable and friendly, (but not over the top) knowledgeable of the area, having a very interesting story of their own and demonstrating fantastic attention to detail when it comes to customer service.
We stayed in the Premier Suite which had a large spacious room delicious bed, a well appointed separate dining room and kitchenette, a sitting area facing the mountains, and a lovely heated floor bathroom with a bath with a view.
Breakfast and dinners were superb, serving foods mostly grown in their own gardens and cooked by Brad who is an accomplished new chef, clearly loving the challenge of delivering tasty and fresh food to their guests.
Pre-covid serving almost exclusively Americans, the lodge is now serving mostly Kiwis. Surprisingly serving Americans was never meant to be the only plan, but the hosts have been surprised and grateful to be finally discovered by their own countrymen.
You won’t be let down.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 25 May 2021
Thank you so much Tracy and Phil for your incredibly kind review. We are so appreciative that you took the time to write such a thoughtful review of your stay with us. We had such a lovely weekend with you both and we are so thrilled to know you enjoyed your stay at the Lodge. We certainly look forward to welcoming you back, and we hope you have returned to Wellington feeling rested and relaxed after your holiday in the South.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Two families with 4 adults and 5 kids spent 2 nights at Cabot Lodge in late April and can not speak highly enough of this spectacular property and the incredible hospitality. The location is absolutely stunning and so well located to sightseeing in Fiordland. The rooms are beautiful with stunning views over Lake Manapouri and every amenity you could wish for. Brad and Briedi are amazing and thoughtful hosts and looked after us all so well. The food was fresh and delicious and our children will never forget their 'special' breakfast! We wish we could have stayed longer. Thank you Brad and Briedi for a very memorable stay.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â All the rooms are stunning
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 12 May 2021
Thank you so much Sarah for your lovely and thoughtful review. We are so thrilled you enjoyed your time with us. We had such a wonderful couple of days getting to know you all, and adored our time with the kids - each a fabulous reflection of their parents! We hope to welcome you back again soon, and help you explore more of Fiordland.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 26 Feb 2021
Thank you so much for your lovely review, what a wonderful way to start our weekend. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay as much as we enjoyed having you. We are so looking forward to your return, and to meet more of the family!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked for a 4 night 3 day package at Cabot Lodge, which included a scenic helicopter flight around Lake Manapouri and up to the Luxmore Hut on the Kepler, and guided walks with the Trips and Tramps team on the Milford (with a 2 hour Milford Sounds cruise) and Routeburn. Our hosts, Brad and Breidi, provided a flawless intinerary, and an incredible place to stay and enjoy any downtime, bookended by lux appointed rooms and 5 star restaurant quality food, canapes, wine and packed picnics to eat in the big outdoors. To go with the unparalled views of the mountains and lakes from panoramic windows in every part of the lodge, we were made to feel both very special and part of the family. Breidi and Brad have a passion for their service, their lodge and their country, all of which combine to ensure an unforgettable stay.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brad Alexander, Owner at Cabot Lodge
Responded 9 Mar 2021
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words Howard. We had such a fantastic time getting to know you both, and we hope we can welcome you back again soon with the family! We are so thrilled you got to experience so much of Fiordland, but we certainly need to have you back, as we have plenty more to show you.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Manapouri area.
PRICE RANGE
$836 - $1,650 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandSouthland RegionManapouri
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
