About the Lodge
Location and Setting
Along a quiet country lane that winds its way through the Gowan River valley lies Lake Rotoroa Lodge. It is nestled at the northern tip of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps.
This isolated and unspoiled location is surrounded by the forests of the Nelson Lakes National Park. Lake Rotoroa is considered the jewel in the crown of the park: its tranquil waters reflect a magnificent vista of snow-capped mountains and lush native bush.
From the lodge's idyllic and romantic lakeside location, guests can gaze along the length of Lake Rotoroa to the towering peaks of the Travers Range, and lapping at the foot of the lodge lawn, the waters of the Gowan River may just cause them to become lost in thoughts of some of the world's finest brown trout fishing that can begin just a few short steps away. Enjoy this stunning view from the lodge's open-fired sitting room, dining room or, indeed, from many of our guest rooms.
The Nelson Lakes National Park, with its alpine environment, is just one of three National Parks that surround the city of Nelson (1½ hours away). The Abel Tasman National Park is coastal (offering some of the very finest, golden beaches in the world, together with the internationally renowned Abel Tasman Track) and New Zealand's most recently designated National Park, Kahurangi, is one of the world's great wilderness environments. There are times of the year when it really is possible to swim in the ocean in the morning and ski in the mountains in the afternoon!
Lodge History
Lake Rotoroa Lodge was built in the early 1920s, and has been lovingly restored and protected to this day.
Looking back over his twenty years at Lake Rotoroa Lodge, Bob Haswell, one of the original partners, reflected "When we established Lake Rotoroa Lodge we wanted it to be a high country luxurious retreat, with trout fishing. Back then the world was looking for escape, and New Zealand was the perfect destination. Lake Rotoroa Lodge is still the ultimate escape."
In 2000 Lake Rotoroa Lodge earned a great accolade when National Geographic Adventure magazine named it as one of the twenty-five greatest adventure destinations in the world. It also named Lake Rotoroa Lodge as one of the two finest trout fishing venues in the world.
