Luxury in Marlborough
Stones and Jack Black.
While Huka Lodge, near Taupo, has been recognised as one of the top 20 hideaways in the world, with former guests including Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands.
Marlborough has some luxury accommodation, but Chris Godsiff, the owner of Marlborough Tour Company, which specialises in wine tours and cruises, said many of his well-to-do clients chose not to stay in the region.
He believed the luxury set did not have enough options, so to help fill the gap he bought the former St Mary’s Convent, set
among 6.5 hectares of European-style parkland and vines near Blenheim.
The colonial-style building, with its stained glass windows and high ceilings, was built in 1901 for the Sisters of Mercy in Blenheim, before it was taken to pieces and moved to the countryside in the 1990s.
Since taking over the property in May and re-naming it the Marlborough Lodge, a team of builders had been busy renovating and refurbishing the historic convent, transforming it from a fivebedroom bed and breakfast to a 10-bedroom luxury lodge which opens November 14.
Marlborough Lodge general manager Peter White said entry level prices during the high season started at $1600 a night,
with the pre- mium suites on the second floor going for $2000.
Guests also had the option of hiring the entire property for their exclusive use, at a rate of $18,000 a night, which White said would be an attractive option for visiting celebrities seeking privacy.
A helicopter pad in the grounds gave guests jetting into Marlborough Airport the option of a sevenminute flight to the lodge, or the Marlborough Tour Company could pick them up.
What they expected for the premium prices they paid was personalised service and attention to detail.
‘‘Lodge accommodation is different where you’re very much going into what could be represented as somebody’s home, so you’re getting
personalised attention,’’ he said.
‘‘There’ll be lots of interaction with myself, and the food they’ll receive will be world class cuisine, which in Europe would be Michelin star-rated.’’
Both White and Godsiff believe the demand for luxury accommodation is growing in Marlborough, and in New Zealand generally, as the country is seen as an attractive and safe destination for wellheeled travellers.
‘‘I feel that Marlborough is on the cusp of something very exciting and it hasn’t really embraced that in the past, but projects like this will help to put it on the map in a much bigger way,’’ White said.
Tourism New Zealand manager premium and business events Lisa Gardiner said it was wonderful to see properties like the Marlborough Lodge opening.
‘‘It will bring a range of economic benefits to Marlborough and wider New Zealand through employment, use of goods and services and visitor spend.’’
Luxury lodge date showed a 21 per cent increase in revenue for 2015/16 year compared to the year before, with the tourism body predicting the greatest growth area for the industry existed with the top 10 per cent of the world’s wealthy.