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Mahu Whenua is a New Zealand luxury villa offering guests total privacy, unforgettable experiences & exquisite cuisine and is set amongst 550 square km of dramatic alpine scenery stretching between Wanaka and Queenstown. It's located in New Zealand's South Island just 20 minutes drive from central Wanaka, 60 minutes drive from Queenstown or a 10 minute helicopter to Queenstown Airport.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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We loved Mahu so much that we returned during the same trip for another 3 nights and we would have stayed longer if they had had the room available for longer. What used to be a famous singer‘s private family retreat has been converted into a small lodge with only 5 rooms that makes you feel like staying at friends rather than a hotel. Everybody on the team makes you feel home and welcome, the food is delicious and the atmosphere best described as cozy and informal and relaxed. During our days at Mahu, Emma was manager of the day on most days and she did a wonderful job in creating a home away from home for us it’s her calm and caring nature. Unfortunately Izzy had a couple of days off during our second stay, we loved her creative, modern and light cuisine so much.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Kereru Suite
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 Mahu Whenua, General Manager at Mahu Whenua
Responded 30 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review of your stay with us. I'm glad that Emma looked after you well during your stay with us and that you enjoyed Izzy's delicious food offerings. It's also so lovely to hear that it felt like staying at a friends house rather than a hotel and it's great for us to know that you were able to feel so relaxed during your stay with us. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience!
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My wife and I loved this place. It’s very private and has a very small number of rooms plus two cottages. It’s sort of rustic luxury.
All rooms have wraparound glass windows giving simply stunning views of the valley and lake Wanaka in the distance. We had one of the cottages which we liked as you had complete privacy.
We did half day horse rides and a guided hike which we really enjoyed as they took place on the property so we didn’t see another soul.
The food and wines were all excellent and the staff were incredibly attentive and welcoming plus provided really good service.
It’s not cheap but you definitely get what you pay for and it is one of the best places that we have ever stayed in.
We couldn’t recommend it highly enough - if you come to New Zealand stay here you won’t be disappointed.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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 Mahu Whenua, General Manager at Mahu Whenua
Responded 30 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for this fantastic review - we really are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us, and that you took the opportunity to explore the property with some guided experiences as there is so much to see and learn about.
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A wonderful farm experience (albeit a 5 star one) in the middle of nowhere surrounded by hectares of the homestead's own lawn. Celebrity owner aside, the lodge is perfectly executed with simple furniture and designer lighting. Food (all inclusive) is excellent but the service is what makes it. We were looked after by the utterly charming and efficient Victoria who really enhanced our stay. The spot is ideal for exploring the South Island. The property has four lodges. The two adjoining the main house are excellent, while the other two across the lawn are less luxurious and have small bathrooms - minus one point for uncomfortably tiny wc seats. If your group is 8-10, take the whole estate and have it private as we did.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Master suite is best- both in-room bathtub and separate shower have killer view.
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 MajorDomoNZ, Public Relations Manager at Mahu Whenua
Responded 7 Jan 2020
Thanks for leaving a review of your stay - we are so pleased to hear that you had a wonderful time at Mahu Whenua and we certainly agree that exclusive use of the property is a fantastic option for larger groups or families! I've passed on your kind words to Victoria - great to hear that she enhanced your stay. The two cottage suites which are not adjoining the property are our entry-level suites, and do have smaller bathrooms than the three suites located within the main house - the nightly rate for the Cottage Suites is priced accordingly. They are a great option for guests who enjoy total privacy, with their position away from the main homestead amongst native bush. Thanks again for taking the time to review Mahu Whenua and we hope to see you again for another visit in the near future!
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This is the top of the top, and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed resting in the lap of luxury if only for a brief time.
Our only criticism is: what's with the incidentals? It seems like a gouge (after you accept the cost of accomodations) to have to pay extra for a horseback ride etc. And it seems like nit-picking to charge $18 for a second glass of wine. Why not just include everything?
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:we loved the Kereru Suite
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 Mahu Whenua, General Manager at Mahu Whenua
Responded 30 Mar 2020
So pleased that you enjoyed your stay at with us at Mahu Whenua. Whilst our guided activities on site are an extra cost to guests we do hope that you were still able to enjoy exploring the property with the use of our complimentary e-bikes and self-guided hiking trails. We certainly take on board your feedback regarding the extra charges for alcoholic beverages - we provide a diverse wine & beverages list for guests to choose from to cater to all tastes and in doing so, we are unfortunately unable to offer complimentary inclusions of all alcoholic beverages in our nightly rate. Thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us, and again, we are so pleased that you enjoyed your time with us.
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We stayed 3 nights at Mahu Whenua. The positives were - stunning views, comfortable and spacious suites, attentive hosts, eg fresh hot cookies out of the oven, offering to curate the lodge music to my taste on my birthday and being able to feed the horses.
The helihike we did was a highlight. the helicopter literally landed on the front lawn, we got a personalised 2 hour hike of the ridge lines on private property with no one else in site for kilometres then dropped back via helicopter to the lodge - very cool. This was not included in the price and was an extra cost.
At the price point of Mahu Whenua, I would have expected more inclusions (eg unlimited beer, wine and minibar, free daily curated activities). As it stands, the included alcohol was limited to one glass per person per day. There were no included scheduled activities. All curated activities (beyond a self guided walk / e-bike on the property) were at an extra cost. Given there are only 10 guests at a time, it would have been great to offer at least one included daily activity that didn’t cost hundreds to thousands of dollars extra. The food was good but conservative, the desserts were the highlight and canapés the let down. They catered to everyone’s requirements well. I’ve stayed at a few other luxury lodges in Australia and this fell short of the standard provided at other comparably priced luxury lodges.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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 MajorDomo Villas NZ, Owner at Mahu Whenua
Responded 26 Feb 2024
Thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us at Mahu Whenua, and we are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the lodge and the service from the hosting team. It's also great to hear you had such a memorable time on the Heli hike trip - it certainly is one of the most spectacular ways to explore the property and truly get an understanding of the scale of the landscape and the high country stations that make up Mahu Whenua. We are sorry to hear your comments on the food, I have asked our operations manager to look into the menu on the dates of your stay and discuss this further with the chefs, as dining plays a big part in the Mahu whenua experience. We have also taken on board your feedback regarding the inclusions - most New Zealand luxury lodges don't include alcoholic beverages in their standard rate inclusions, so this is industry standard practice, but we appreciate that this may be different in some international lodges. We have consciously tried to maintain an affordable and varied wine list for our guests so that those who wish to enjoy a glass or share a bottle can do so without the worry of a large bill at the end of their stay. In regards to activities, unfortunately it's not feasible for us to offer complimentary guided activities for guests, but hope that you did enjoy the self-guided experiences available to you on the property - these are available exclusively to guests of Mahu Whenua so it's a great opportunity to explore some beautiful private landscapes. Thanks again for taking the time to review your stay with us - it was a pleasure to host you.
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Mahu Whenua melted our hearts. This place is just amazing, grand design, luxury and comfort with stunning views and real tranquility. It is the perfect place to escape and enjoy down time. The Mahu team made our stay very special, warming and welcoming. They were very attentive, but not intrusive and gave us all the space we needed. Emily was our chef for the last two days and absolutely spoilt us with her high quality restaurant meals. We would like to personally thank Shonagh and Emma for their outstanding service during our stay. It was a fabulous way to end our very busy New Zealand trip and we are hoping to spend more time at Mahu Whenua in the future.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Kereru has large room, amazing views
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.
Delightful Tui suite which is very well appointed with panoramic views of the mountains and grounds. The quality of the meat at dinner was superb, high quality venison and steak and superb canapés and drinks before dinner served in a convivial atmosphere with other guests. The staff are affable and friendly and it has a proper lodge feel. The 4x4 2 hours tour of the estate is informative and worth taking but best to split the NZ$750 cost between two couples.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Long gravel lined approach road to the property means getting in and out takes a little time!
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 MajorDomo Villas NZ, Owner at Mahu Whenua
Responded 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for your kind words Michael. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and all the food on offer, and and took the opportunity to explore the land on the 4x4 tour. We look forward to hopefully welcoming you again for another visit!
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We were here in the middle of our 18 day trip in New Zealand and it was the perfect time to be there. It is remote but easy to get to. It was a very pleasant and scenic drive from Queenstown that took a little more than an hour. The setting is spectacular and the service outstanding. The staff anticipated our every want and need and exceeded our expectations at all times. The food was very good and they were accommodating of my wife’s and my vegetarian diet. We relaxed at times and did activities at others. It was a nice mix.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The 2 cabins that are separate from the main building have washers and dryers which came in...
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.
Having checked out of the Lindis, I was worried that nothing could match up to it and that we’d peaked too early in our tour round the South Island.
Turning up at Mahu Whenua, I realised instantly that I couldn’t have been more wrong. The lodge is absolutely stunning and the view could not possibly have been better. It really does defy adequate description, a commanding position surrounded by mountains with uninterrupted views down to the blue waters of lake Wānaka and beyond.
Despite its situation and beauty, what really sets the lodge apart is the relaxed professionalism of the staff. Nothing is too much trouble and we really felt like we were part of a house party, rather than paying guests. That is a house party where you’re being expertly looked after and being fed delicious food and wine.
Our room was great, spacious with lovely views. The washing machine was a real plus.
We went on a great walk around the property. It was pretty steep in parts, but was fantastic.
If you can, stay here. You really won’t regret it, or ever forget it.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip 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.
Heaven on earth! Stunning home - only 5 rooms so you literally feel like a guest of the owner. The views are pure magic. The grounds offer endless fun and yet tremendously peaceful. The food and service is impeccable. One day we took e-bikes out for a long ride. The chef prepared an incredible lunch - so fun!
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Take the e-bikes out for the day. Enjoy horseback riding!
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 MajorDomo Villas NZ, Owner at Mahu Whenua
Responded 28 Apr 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share such kind words about your recent stay at Mahu Whenua. We're thrilled you had such a lovely time enjoying the grounds, the food, and the e-bike experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back again soon!
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There are more places to choose from in the Wanaka area.
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandOtago RegionWanaka
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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