Tree house hotel in New Zealand: Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses is a unique luxury tree house resort located in Kaikoura, on New Zealand’s South Island, a famous spot for whale-watching. This Tree house hotel features, besides a Lodge, a number of accommodation nested 30 feet (10 meters) above the ground in the canopy of a native Manuka grove, providing every single treehouse with a spectacular views of Kaikoura’s dramatic mountains and surf-washed Pacific coastline.

As with the Lodge, the Tree Houses are meant to be a contemporary complement to the natural environment. Their exteriors are clad in native woods and copper shingles. Large windows bring the tree canopy right into the bedroom. Interior furnishings were crafted by local woodworking friends.

For a cool canopy experience, the modern, wood-clad Tree House Rooms, set in a Manuka grove remote from the main lodge, are a must. The five one-bedroom Upper Branch Rooms, perched 10 meters up in the treetops, are the most romantic and private with wraparound windows ensuring neck-swivelling views of mountains, sea and roaming deer from the spa bath, seating nook (complete with wood fire) and deck. Smaller, more affordable Lower Branch Rooms sit below, or book into one of the Family Tree Houses, an interconnected hybrid of the two.

In terms of additional accommodations, the Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses features a beautiful outdoor swimming 25-metre lap pool with poolside seating. Hot tub, sauna and pool house (with showers and a changing room) are due to be completed in the near future.

The lodge’s knockout 600-hectare grounds, between the towering Kaikoura Seaward Mountains and surf-lashed Mangamaunu Bay, include the family farm’s oil-producing olive grove and deer stud. One great thing about this tree house resort, is that it is environment friendly: the lodge uses solar power, sources its food from local farmers, rangers and fishermen with sustainable practices, and has an ongoing campaign to restore the natural habitat (1,400 new native trees have been planted on the grounds to date). Not bad for such a huge resort!

Last but not least: do not forget your binoculars for deer spotting and whale watching; a head for heights if you’re staying in a tree house hotel room.

The Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses can be booked here. Lock in a great price today for your upcoming stay and get instant confirmation with FREE cancellation on most rooms with booking.com. From $800/night (Superior Double or Twin Suite – Tree House) to $1,100/night (Superior Family Suite – Tree House).