The Stay
The Space
Every room is framed around mountain and river views. Huge windows let the light pour in and give you a front row seat of the weather moving across the hills.
This generous space was built with groups in mind — beautifully detailed and built tough to handle family fun. Think 184 square metres of spacious, single level living, designed so you can share a roof and still have room to breathe.
A space where peace and play coexist. Gather generations together over local food and New Zealand wine. After a day exploring the land with the people you love, settle in for a quiet evening round the fire, while younger family members play outside in the dusk.
A spacious, open plan living area opens onto the outdoor space. Cook up a feast in the kitchen with quality cookware and fully stocked cupboards. Or bring in a private chef to cook for you as you retreat into quiet corners to relax, then celebrate around the table together.
BBQ delicious local produce and eat al fresco shaded from the sun. Or pull up a chair by the outdoor fire, turn up the music, and enjoy the surrounding views. Then soak in the outdoor bath as the sun sets, or head to the secluded woodfired hot tub hidden under the kōwhai trees.
This cosy media room is ideal for quiet reading, watching a big game, or keeping the kids happy while adults enjoy quality time together.
Four bedrooms configured for the different needs of groups, from a peaceful master suite to the joyful chaos of a bunk room for kids. Spaces for early risers and quiet retreats for those who need rest. The house sleeps 10, plus infants in porta cots.
With views out to Mt Hutt at the head of the valley and morning light off the Rangitata River, bask in deep peace as you sip your first coffee of the day.
A super king dressed in soft linens, with extra pillows, blankets, blackout drapes, and air conditioning makes for restorative sleep. The ensuite opens to the view — stand in the shower and gaze up the river to the Southern Alps. An outdoor bath sits on the deck, steam rising into the crisp air.
This secluded suite is the quietest room in the house, overlooking the property's gardens and neighbouring deer farm. A cocooning colour scheme, indulgent king bed, and ensuite make this a calm space for rest or reading in the deep armchair while gazing at the serene green vista outside.
This flexible space will become whatever you need it to be. The beds can be configured as two singles, or one super king. Perfect for older teenagers, or adult friends. This room shares a bathroom with the bunk room next door.
Two bunk beds sleep four with reading lights, books, and toys. This is the room where kids chatter late into the night and don't reappear until breakfast. A cot, change table, and baby monitor can be set up anywhere you need.
Everything you need taken care of
We've thought of all the pleasures and practicalities. Pre-prepared meals. Your favourite food in the pantry. New Zealand wines, beers, and local spirits. A great coffee machine. Gumboots in a range of sizes for muddy walks. A laundry with washing machine and dryer. Wood split for the fire.
The Land
Photos can't do this place justice. The expanse of plains. The magnificence of the mountains. This is the quintessential New Zealand rural escape.
Pack a picnic and take the walking path down to the river's edge. Swim or wander along the shingle braids while the kids fish for cockabullies, before building a fire out of driftwood and watching the sun set over Mount Hutt.
Play bowls on the lawn, take the bikes out on the trails, spot rabbits and hares in the fields, make huts in the bush, or simply dream in the comfy hammock.
We're replanting the property with native trees and shrubs. Head out with your coffee at dawn to hear the bellbirds in the mānuka, or wander over the fields to watch the native hawks float in the wind.
The Whakahā Experience
Mornings cooking with local ingredients. Afternoons exploring thousand-year-old tōtara forest. Evenings that stretch long around the fire.
Your stay includes one curated experience for your whole group. No logistics to sort out, no separate bookings to make. Once you've confirmed your dates, simply choose what sounds right for your group. Choose from a private chef dinner at the house, a local nature adventure, or a group photography session to capture your gathering.
A local chef can come to Whakahā and cook for you as you relax. They handle the menu, shopping, preparation, cooking, and clean up – all you have to do is gather and enjoy. Ideal for a special celebration, or simply an opportunity to savour the abundance of great local food.
Options include a guided fly-fishing session on the Rangitata, family-friendly rafting on the lower river, private horse trekking through river crossings and high-country routes with a guide who's ridden these tracks for over 20 years, or a visit to one of the working stations that shape South Canterbury.
Capture this precious moment when you're all together. A private photographer can come to Whakahā and spend a morning with your group, as you wander the land, relax by the river, and soak up being together, here.
Choose your experience with your concierge to suit your group's age, appetite for adventure, and the time of year – some activities depend on the season.
Full service for your stay
Choose your experience with your concierge to suit your group's age, appetite for adventure, and the time of year – some activities depend on the season. Your concierge is on call before and during your stay to book your curated local experience and help with anything else you'd like. They can help you plan activities, arrange delivery of groceries or catered meals, organise transfers and vehicle hire. From having a hot meal waiting when you arrive, to ensuring housekeeping works for your group, they're here to help.
Some of our favourite local activities aren't available to everyone. Your hosts' connection with local landowners means we can arrange access to places that are usually closed to visitors, such as historic stations and working estates. The same personal connections mean we can arrange for a local wellness practitioner to visit the property, access to local producers or artisans, and even a working farm visit in season. Experiences can depend on timing, weather, and the availability of local people. Talk to your concierge for more.
Local guides are a wealth of information on Peel Forest and the history, geography, and ecology of the surrounding region. From river guides to local makers, we can organise meetings and activities with the keepers of the local lore so you can have a richer experience at Whakahā.
Options include a private transfer from Christchurch to the property, and a vehicle for your group to use during your stay. We can even arrange a helicopter if you want to avoid the drive from the airport or want speedy access to the ski fields or a scenic flight. Just speak to your concierge when you book your stay and they'll sort out everything for you.
