Grasmere Lodge
Grasmere Lodge is tucked away in the heart of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, approximately 90 minutes drive from Christchurch city in the glorious South Island of New Zealand. Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island and the magnificent Southern Alps.
The original farm homestead of Grasmere Station remains the heart of Grasmere Lodge. It was built in 1858, and was essentially a timber slab hut then, built from beech logs hewn on the property. Luckily much of the history has been recorded and preserved. The two distinctive limestone chimneys at the front of the house date from 1872 when the first bride arrived at the property, and the house was enlarged. After several owners, David McLeod and his wife Mary took over the farm in 1930, and tales of their hospitality over the next 48 years are still told.
The six lake view deluxe rooms in the Lodge each measures 37 square metres (400 square feet), and has a view over the lawn and deer farm, to Lake Grasmere and the Puketeraki mountains in the distance
The four Mountain View Junior Suites in the Mountain Chalet are 48 square metres (500 square feet) each, with their own gas fireplace and butler’s pantry (wetbar), as well as all the features of Grasmere’s other rooms. Each junior suite can be booked individually and has separate outside access. Alternatively, a central lounge or Great Room measuring 54 square metres (580 square feet) can be combined with one or both downstairs rooms to form the Chalet Suite.
The Chalet is a short walk from the Homestead, set amongst well-established pine trees for shelter, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It is built in a Colorado alpine style, clad in cedar with copper spouting.
New in 2004, the Riverview Cottage has enormous windows to take full advantage of its sweeping views down the Cass River and across to the Puketeraki Range - the heart of the Arthur’s Pass National Park. It is built to fit in with the surrounding environment in a modern alpine style. It features two junior suite bedrooms of 51 square metres (550 sq ft), each with their own gas fireplace, with walk-through wardrobes, separate toilets, and spacious bathrooms with individual vanities and jacuzzi baths. In addition, both rooms have a king or twin single beds, comfortable armchairs, antique desks, internet port, and a deck with outdoor chairs and table. With a full lounge between the two junior suite bedrooms, this can be taken by one couple that enjoys space and privacy, or is perfect for two couples or a family. The snug has leather armchairs, books, TV with satellite connection and video/DVD player and CD player, to provide a cosy hideaway in front of the double-sided log fireplace in cooler weather.
The pool is 1.05m (3’5”) at the shallow end and 1.35m (4’5”) at the deep end. The pool house has a changing room and bathroom, a small kitchen for cold drinks, and gym equipment for those who want to stay fit indoors.
The Grasmere fishing area includes more than four large freestone rivers, eight streams and creeks, and eight lakes, all of which have the potential to produce trophy fish. The rivers, streams and creeks are all fished with dry flies and nymphs cast upstream to sighted fish, while the lakes are fished also with dries and nymphs to sighted cruising fish. The Grasmere area has both browns and rainbows, averaging around three pounds, with fish five pounds and bigger often landed. The region is unique in that there are Loch Leven, Mackinaw and Splake trout to be found, each in separate lakes.

State Highway 73 · Cass · Canterbury
Christchurch , New Zealand
U.S. Reservations: 904-288-0036


The main homestead and the surrounding mountains are steeped in the history of Grasmere. The old building is one of the highest and longest-inhabited in the high country, although it has been enlarged and altered over the years.
This building was added in 1998 and extended in 2000, designed with the early colonial farmhouse style in mind. Breakfast and lunch are usually served here in the Verandah restaurant, taking full advantage of all-day sun and great views. The lounge is perfect for chatting with other guests over afternoon tea, or finding a quiet corner and a good book on the mezzanine. Feel free to stay in practice at the grand piano, or to stay in touch with home with the complimentary internet access.
The Grasmere Suite is 65 square metres (700 square feet), with a "sink-into-me" sofa and armchairs in front of the schist fireplace, and a walk-in wardrobe.
The Chalet lounge has an eight-metre (26 feet) high beamed ceiling, with leather sofas seating eight, arranged in front of the huge log fireplace of stunning South Island West Coast schist. Internal access to the lounge is available if the upstairs rooms are booked by the same party.
This complex, on the hill behind the Homestead, was built in 1998, and is a perfect sun trap in the summer. Sunscreen is essential because of the clean mountain air and the hole in the Antarctic ozone layer. Breezes in the afternoon are deceptively cool and you may not realise how strong the sunlight is. The 12-metre (39 feet) pool is heated to 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) and has teak loungers around it for you to take full advantage of fine weather.
The summer house adjacent to the swimming pool leads into an underground wine cellar, dug back in the sheltering hillside. The cellar holds 5000 bottles of fine New Zealand wine and is dug back into the hillside behind the pool house. The wine is kept at a constant temperature to ensure it ages well. Dinner is not served in the cellar because the temperature would have to be raised for guests, above the comfort level of the wine.
The lodge has a number of horses and can arrange for riding manager Heather Harrington to take you for treks of various lengths in summer (usually October-April, sometimes outside this period depending on the season).
The Lodge has a wooden Canadian-style canoe and more open kayaks which can be used on Lake Grasmere and Lake Pearson. Both are wildlife refuges, with a ban on motorized boats, so this is an ideal way to observe the endangered crested grebe (Podiceps australis), as well as the more common teal, black swan, scaup, paradise shelduck and Canada goose.
Oliver and Vicki Newbegin own Grasmere Lodge, with manager Tom Butler. Oli bought Grasmere Station in 1988, and owned the adjoining Cora Lynn Station from 1981 to 1994. After more than 30 years in the travel industry, he and his wife Vicki opened the lodge in January 1995 in order to share with others a place they love. As well as Porsches, Oliver is keen on jazz. Vicki has previously been a radio journalist and square-rig sailor.

Current Daily Rates: The Lodge... Lake View Deluxe Room - Twin / Double $NZ 600. Single $NZ 950. Grasmere Suite - Twin / Double $NZ 800. Single $NZ 1350. The Chalet... Mountain View Junior Suite - Twin / Double $NZ 700. Single $NZ 1150. Chalet Suite - Twin / Double $NZ 800. Single - $NZ 1350. Riverview Cottage... Cottage Suite (one couple only) $NZ 800. Twin / Double $NZ 1350. Cottage Suite (two couples) $NZ 750. Accommodation Tariffs quoted are per person in $NZ and exclude 12.5% Government Goods and Services Tax (GST). Grasmere Lodge is designed to be an executive retreat for adults, but we recognize it is also an ideal spot for families, with its range of leisure and farm activities, and wide open spaces. Particularly during the busiest season from 24 December to 15 March, we prefer not to accept children under five (as we cannot provide baby-sitting facilities), unless the children are accompanied by a care-giver/nanny or child over 14 who will take over that responsibility. In New Zealand it is illegal to leave children alone or in the care of anyone under 14. Grasmere Deposit & Cancellation Policy: To secure your reservation, a deposit of 25% of the total value of your stay will be debited against your credit card at the time of booking. If your plans change, this is fully refundable up to 30 days before your scheduled arrival. Cancellations within seven days of arrival and no-shows will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the value of your stay, in line with New Zealand Lodge Association policy. We recommend you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy so you are covered in the event of loss of deposit or holiday payment through cancellation, as well as for personal belongings and health.

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