The Headwaters Eco Lodge

My wife & I recently stayed for several days & dined in-house on 2 evenings. The first evening was great but the second evening (2 nights later) was the disappointing part of our stay. On the first night, I politely but unsuccessfully attempted to clarify whether the set menu would be lamb rack chops again 2 nights later. The chef replied with a disengeuous response. In the event, it turned out to be lamb rack chops again on our second evening. Unfortunately, this time, they were undercooked & bleeding dark blood. Before eating these, I politely mentioned it to the waitress who I watched talk to the chef. At the time, the chef was having a very loud conversation with a well known NZ film director. I watched the chef look in our direction & dismiss our message while he continued his prolonged discussion. For the record, the (also repeat) crème brulèes were cold, lumpy & unappetising. I now raise these points as I attempted to give significant feedback quietly & without fuss. However, this was brushed off by the chef. The delivery, response & attitude full short of our expectations arising from the establishment’s expensive tariff. Also, as requested, I have responded to the standard follow up questionnaire inviting our feedback. Several weeks later, I have only received a brief “holding” response.

Headwaters Eco Lodge was a dream come true. My traveling partner and I were a strange case - having spent very little time with each other before flying in to Queenstown and taking the ~1 hr trip out to Glenorchy. From the moment we got off the plane we were treated so well and didn't have to worry about a thing for the next 4 days. The staff at Headwaters were ready for us and had the most beautiful meals prepared for Day 1. I'm vegetarian and my partner is not, which can be a bit difficult in the states but was made so easy by the wonderful hosts and chefs at Glenorchy. In planning the trip, I was most nervous about the 7 minute showers and composting toilets. When I say there was not a single smell out of the toilets, it's real! I was truly shocked and not ready to return to normal bathrooms after our stay. We booked the Ultimate in Paradise experience which meant we had breathtaking guided tours for hiking and heli-hiking. We were able to customize our stay and add in horseback riding which was absolutely beautiful. To say our guides were phenomenal would be understatement of the year. They were all so knowledgeable and each individual brought a passion of their own to us. I can't rave on every single one of our guides enough. In addition to the adventures, we each had a massage and daily yoga at Headwaters which was well worth it after our more physical activities. Honestly, there were no disappointing interactions in Glenorchy. We did make it out in town to a local pub for snacks one afternoon and found the people there just as charming. Towards the middle of our stay we did a beer tasting and cookout with Glenorchy Brew Co. It was one of my favorite evenings in Glenorchy. There's many reviews about the food at Headwaters and all I can say is that they're completely correct - the food was amazing. We were often so tired from our adventures during the day that dinner was a happy wind-down. The sustainability aspect is well-documented so I won't go into too much detail on that as well as the overall beauty of the whole property. Glenorchy, and specifically Headwaters, is a wonderful place to stay and I would go back in a heartbeat.

What a delight to arrive at this beautiful place to stay. From the moment of arrival, during which we received an escort( to explain all of the many features) to our individual cottages for singles or couples to the creative talents of the master chef Peter enjoyed at dinner to the lovely continental breakfast served the next morning, we felt privileged to experience. I truly wished that there were more lodging opportunities like this one to book while traveling!

We have just returned from a five day stay at Headwaters Lodge and my wife and I look back at only very happy memories, lovely people and fantastic food. We booked for the Fab 4 package, which was 4 days of hiking, kayaking, e-cycling and horse riding. Yes, the accommodation is very comfortable, it is probably the most eco-friendly lodge in NZ, but that is not really what this stay was all about. We were in the middle of the most beautiful scenery in the world. It is right on your doorstep and the Lodge is the perfect launching pad to immerse yourself in the best of New Zealand landscape. Each day we were treated to a great breakfast and interesting chats with Peter, John, Kirsty, Simon and Hannah. Each and every one of them delightful in their own way and so accommodating. After breakfast we would be picked up by a guide and taken for each activity in areas around Glenorchy. The guides were a delight. Interesting, informative, and very experienced at showing off some wild landscapes to visitors of varying fitness and abilities. On returning, a quick walk around the quaint town, an ice cream – then an afternoon nap – and off to dinner. Peter Gawron is not only a remarkable chef, but one of those few people where every time you speak with him you feel you are the only one in the room. He prepared some amazing meals of local produce and when he learnt we loved Thai food, he prepared some of that on our last night. Delicious! We left happy and satisfied, and that nice sort of tired feeling. For that we are very thankful. We will be back!

Really nice stay, staff was very friendly. You have half of a cabin to yourself and there is plenty of nice outdoor shared space as well. Only a 5-10 minute walk from the lake and boardwalk. The dinner is delicious and definitely worth booking—note that there is really no other dinner options in town. Another con is no traditional air conditioning.

Simply exceptional! The Headwaters Lodge ranks right up there among my top 10 favorite places I've ever had the good fortune to stay at (and I've stayed in thousands, including many of the top lodges in the world) . It's a perfect blend of rustic comfort, exceptional (sustainable) design, a gorgeous setting, terrific food and cheerful staff. The attention given to everything - the linens, the food, the landscaping, the art - is amazing. This hotel was built for people who are looking for comfort, good vibes and a base for amazing outdoor adventures.

Had a lovely stay at Headwaters Eco Lodge. The staff has been extremely helpful. They are all very warm and ensured we felt we were always at home. Special shoutout to the chef who went and above to make the meal special for us. The stay is incredible and a must visit for anyone travelling South Island.