Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula

Experiences

Welcome to Canterbury!  New Zealand's largest and most diverse province boasts an amazing array of experiences to incite your own personal sense of exploration. 

Whether you wish to sail in an extinct volcanic harbour, take in the panoramas from one of the world’s greatest train journeys or charter a helicopter from Otahuna’s Great Lawn into the jaw-dropping scenery of the Southern Alps, there are numerous options to help you become immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of the amazing place we call home.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 Otahuna Lodge Experiences Guide.

Akaroa

Originally settled by French immigrants, Akaroa is a picturesque seaside town that has retained many of its 19th century public buildings and cottages.
Read more
Akaroa

Arthur's Pass

Embark on one of the world’s greatest train journeys, the TranzAlpine, which traverses the South Island’s majestic landscapes, arriving into Arthur's Pass National Park.
Read more
Arthur's Pass

Cooking Class

A hands-on cooking lesson with Executive Chef Jimmy McIntyre provides an enjoyable overview of the philosophies behind the Lodge’s celebrated food and wine programme.
Read more
Cooking Class

Fly-Fishing

Canterbury’s rivers provide excellent chances for both the novice and expert fly-fisherman to test their skills.
Read more
Fly-Fishing

Gardens

Guests can visit a number of renowned gardens, either on their own or guided by a local expert who can provide access to many gardens usually not open to the public.
Read more
Gardens

Golf

Excellent golfing is available throughout the region from the nearby nine-hole country course at Tai Tapu to the internationally acclaimed resort courses at Terrace Downs and Clearwater.
Read more
Golf

Heli-Touring

A scenic flight by helicopter is the ultimate way to see the natural beauty of New Zealand with helicopters departing directly from the Lodge’s Great Lawn.
Read more
Heli-Touring

Hiking & Biking

Canterbury’s diverse landscape offers an array of trails for walking and biking, through volcanic hills, native forests, and along the Pacific Ocean.
Read more
Hiking & Biking

Massage & Relaxation

Otahuna Lodge offers therapeutic massage, a swimming pool and outdoor spa pool, and a games lawn with croquet, petanque and kubb.
Read more
Massage & Relaxation

Vineyards

One hour north of Otahuna Lodge lies the Waipara wine district, New Zealand’s hottest wine region and home to some excellent boutique vineyards.
Read more
Vineyards

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with stylesheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. The latest version of Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer will work best if you're after a new browser.