“New Zealand’s grand old lady has never been more vibrant nor more fully herself. Not preserved - alive. Not frozen – flourishing.”

Some places are simply beautiful. Others are historic. Otahuna Lodge, nestled among the rolling hills of Tai Tapu just outside Christchurch, is something rarer still - a place where history, hospitality and home have been woven together for more than 130 years.

At first glance, Otahuna feels like a grand English country estate transported to the Canterbury countryside. Built in 1895 as an extravagant wedding gift from politician and philanthropist Sir Heaton Rhodes to his beloved wife Jessie, the magnificent homestead quickly became one of New Zealand’s most celebrated private residences. The name Otahuna, meaning “little hill among the hills”, perfectly captures its idyllic setting beneath the Port Hills and alongside the landscapes of Banks Peninsula. For over six decades, Sir Heaton and Lady Jessie welcomed guests through Otahuna’s doors, hosting garden parties, dignitaries and even royalty, including the Duke of York - later King George VI in 1927. Their love of gardening also left an enduring legacy. Otahuna’s daffodil fields became nationally famous, and thousands of visitors flocked annually to admire the blooms. Also helping to secure Christchurch’s identity as the Garden City by donating a plethora of bulbs to the city, forming the nucleus of the daffodil gardens in Hagley Park.

Yet Otahuna’s story did not end with the Rhodes family. Following Sir Heaton’s death in 1956, the property entered a fascinating second life, serving at various times as a guesthouse, monastery, teaching seminary and even a commune. Like many heritage buildings, it experienced periods of neglect, and its future once seemed uncertain.

Then, twenty years ago, another love story began.

In 2004, American-born proprietors Hall Cannon and Miles Refo discovered Otahuna while travelling New Zealand and fell completely under its spell. Leading to Hall and Miles relocating from New York City in 2006 to purchase the private historic residence. What followed was a labour of devotion unlike any other. Room by room, garden by garden, they restored New Zealand’s largest private historic residence, preserving its extraordinary craftsmanship while gently reimagining it for modern guests. Today, as Hall and Miles celebrate two decades of calling Otahuna home, their connection to the estate is felt in every detail - from the lovingly tended gardens and world-class cuisine to the warm welcome extended to every guest who arrives.

What makes a stay at Otahuna truly memorable is that it never feels like a hotel. It feels like being invited into a remarkable home - one rich with stories, character and genuine hospitality. Guests can wander through formal gardens and productive orchards, dine on produce harvested just moments before it reaches the table, relax beside roaring fireplaces, or simply lose themselves in the quiet beauty of the estate. Every suite, every artwork and every carefully preserved detail tell part of Otahuna’s unfolding story.

At Otahuna Lodge, history is lived, shared and warmly welcomed into its next chapter.