Kinloch Lodge

Making the journey to Glenorchy is rewarded with a feeling of winding down the pace. Continue on the road past Glenorchy for an additional half an hour and the heritage-listed Kinloch Lodge will suddenly appear, almost out of nowhere. Located on the other side of the Dart River from Glenorchy, the extra effort to come here will be rewarded by an even greater sense of peace and solitude. Kinloch Lodge offers a range of accommodation, from backpacker-style with shared facilities, to tastefully decorated rooms in the heritage building. Two passive green technology EcoScape rooms are the newest additions. The massive front windows of these studio rooms frame uninterrupted views of Lake Wakatipu and the Richardson Mountains, hence their description as ‘a view with a room'. A shared spa is the perfect place to rejuvenate weary bones after a day walk or longer tramp and the fine-dining restaurant is reminiscent of a warm and intimate English lounge crammed with quality wooden tables and cutlery. This cosy and comfortable space reflects the owners' desire that guests who make the effort to come here must feel a part of it. Located about midway between the starting points of both the Routeburn and Greenstone tracks, this is a popular option for trampers coming and going. But it's the feeling of isolation here that is the big drawcard. Enjoy the simple things in life like skimming stones over the water's surface at twilight, or just sit on the lake edge and take in the soundtrack of pure nature. 862 Kinloch Road, Glenorchy. (03) 442 4900, kinlochlodge.co.nz

The massive front windows of these studio rooms frame uninterrupted views of Lake Wakatipu and the Richardson mountains,