The Best Ecofriendly Hotels and Stays in Wanaka, New Zealand

A 20-minute drive from Central Wanaka, this 55,000ha (135,908-acre) homestead takes its name from the Maori for “healing the land”. Since buying the land in 2005, owner Robert “Mutt” Lange has abided by covenants pledging to implement sustainable farming, protect native plants and animals, preserve public access and maintain historic, cultural and recreational values. Guests housed in one of five luxury suites should keep a close eye on the skies, with South Island oystercatchers, hen harriers and eastern falcons patrolling the area.

The nearby Cardrona River provides the water at this five-bedroom lodge, which also makes use of the South Island‘s geothermal warmth to provide underfloor heating and hot water. Accordingly, greenhouse gases and fossil fuels are a strict no-no, and the lodge is run to the highest levels of eco-awareness. Not that this impinges on prestige touches that include iPod docks, de-misting bathroom mirrors and king-sized beds with independent spring systems.

Steve and Liz are not only the owners of this solar-powered property 15 minutes east of Wanaka, they actually built it. Designed on permaculture principles including self-sufficiency, diversity and integration, the farm offers guests the chance to enjoy the fruits of this labour with a continental breakfast that features hazelnuts and sugar maple grown on-site. To explore and learn more about its fabulous surroundings, Steve himself can provide personalised tours either on foot or by bike.

With spectacular views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps, Oakridge Resort is the perfect getaway spot for environmentally conscious travellers wanting to unwind while they revel in the South Island’s sublime scenery. The lodge is quite strategic when it comes to keeping its carbon emissions as low as they can be: there are policies and monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure that all facilities are energy-efficient, recycling programmes are implemented and followed, and priority is given to sourcing supplies from local producers. Accommodation ranges from entry-level King Rooms with soft leather duvets and coffee-making facilities to fully-furnished, self-contained Family Apartments that can sleep up to six people.

Wanaka Alpine Lodge enjoys a picturesque, semi-rural setting that offers plenty of tranquillity without foregoing any of the local action. In fact, this boutique bed and breakfast manages to be quite convenient not just to Wanaka – only 4km (2.5mi) away – but also to the Cardrona, Snow Farm and Treble Cone ski fields. To keep things as ecofriendly as possible, all toiletries and cleaning products used in these premises are biodegradable, rubbish is also recycled and the lodge makes its own garden compost, too. Guests are invited to stay in one of five deluxe rooms that open up to a patio with fantastic mountain views, as well as enjoying complimentary services including free bike hire, gourmet breakfasts and hot tub use.

Wanaka Homestead’s ecofriendliness stems from its historic setting. The accommodation is nestled among Wanaka’s Station Park, which was established to preserve the maturing trees that were planted after its previous homestead was destroyed by two major fires. Wanaka Homestead was built at the site of its predecessor’s shed, which was deemed unsuitable for any kind of renovation; the accommodation repurposed the shed’s remaining wooden material to craft its furniture, staircases, fences and fixings. Nowadays, there are two styles of accommodation available at the Wanaka Homestead: the self-contained Lismore and Ruby Cottages, which are ideal for families; or the bed and breakfast-style Lodge which features five spacious bedrooms and a luxurious guest lounge that gives the area a ski-lodge feel.

Oasis offers a different kind of sleeping arrangement for Wanaka visitors: a selection of yurts, all New Zealand-made and crafted to fully suit the local climatic conditions, equipped with fireplaces, wool insulation and all the living essentials required for guests to be comfortable in all seasons. Yurts come in two different sizes – the two smallest being ideal for holiday couples, while the four largest can easily accommodate small groups or families – and some have even been designed with wheelchair friendliness in mind. Aside from its signature yurts, you could opt to stay at a holiday cottage (the Shed) with a shared kitchenette and lounge space.

You can’t get more ecofriendly than a lakeside campground. Lake Outlet Holiday Park is 5km (3mi) from Wanaka town centre, yet its sheltered surroundings give it an unmatched sense of remoteness and tranquillity. Besides featuring spacious tent and powered campervan sites, the holiday park also consists of bush cabins that can sleep up to four people and a self-contained cottage for up to six travellers. The site is pet-friendly and you can hire bikes from the accommodation at an additional cost.

Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet is where luxury, remoteness and sustainability come together. The accommodation is perched at an altitude of 1,750m (5,700ft) atop the Albert Burn Saddle, right at the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park and within a 20-minute helicopter flight from Wanaka. Both its lodge and chalet accommodation have been designed to be energy efficient and eco-conscious: solar power is a strong feature, propane gas is used for heating and cooking and the roofing provides additional insulation and heating in the snowy winter months. The Lodge can accommodate just 12 people in two master suites and four deluxe rooms, so you quickly get to know fellow guests.

Maple Lodge is an elegant getaway with convenient access to Wanaka’s best walking and cycling trails. With a lovely garden setting and exquisite mountain vistas all around, the lodge is also well-equipped to cater for special functions and weddings. Those looking for a peaceful place to unwind will get to settle into one of seven guest suites, all fitted with king-sized beds, private patios, work spaces, free internet access and tea- and coffee-making facilities. There’s also an outdoor spa pool for guests and a log fire to keep things nice and toasty during the chilly winter months.

Set right on the shores of Lake Wanaka, Edgewater Hotel is the ultimate option for those seeking accommodation with uninterrupted lake and mountain views. Besides featuring a range of hotel/studio rooms that can accommodate up to three guests, there are self-contained one-bedroom suites and private two-bedroom apartments for larger groups. Other amenities include a restaurant, cafe, day spa, sauna, tennis court, nine-hole putting green and bike hiring facilities.

Located just a 15-minute drive from Wanaka, Lake Hawea Holiday Park offers everything you need to get the most of the great outdoors: easy access to its namesake Lake Hawea, which is popular for fishing, boating and paragliding; as well as having proximity to the forested hiking and mountain biking trails in the vicinity. This pretty campground comes with a selection of tent and powered campervan sites, self-contained cottages, holiday park cabins with communal cooking facilities and family-friendly holiday homes.