Nature eco lodge vacation rentals in Te Waipounamu / South Island

One of the highlights of our trip! Amazing cheesecake whilst looking at the sun set on the mountains.

Absolutely AMAZING stay at the barn. Amazing views and serenity. Hugh is an outstanding host and went above and beyond all expectations. Absolutely loved, will be coming back and telling everyone about our stay

We stayed at Tira Ora over Christmas and was definitely an amazing and very memorable time. We we're treated as part of the family with exceptional hospitality, food and festivities and even received a Christmas present under the tree. The estate is vast, with lots to do and explore and a good get away from civilisation, truly a retreat where one can reconnect with nature and each other. Our only regret is not spending more time here. Much love to the Tira Ora family, you were amazing!

I wish I could give more than 5 stars, but I can’t. We spent three days here and I honestly wish we could have stayed longer. This place was more than accommodation, it was an experience. It has everything! Beautiful views, more animals than you can pet, stunning hospitality. Farm animals, hiking trails, sting rays and nighttime kayaking in phosphorescence. The farm is only accessible through boat, but the mail bot provides a discounted fare and it’s worth it for the views on the way over. Thanks again to the amazing hospitality of Tira Ora, we felt so welcomed and taken care of in every aspect.

We had a beautifully relaxing and energising couple of days at Tira Ora. The hosts were super lovely, the place was full of rustic charm, animals and birds everywhere. The rooms were comfortable, home-cooked food was delicious, and the place so captivating, we were sorry to have to leave. Great for families, a real natural treat away from it all.

A really nice place to hang around. Geoff was extremely accommodating and responsive in communication and our request.

We were cycling the TA route and Cathy was extremely helpful and sorted our washing, which is great when you are cycling. No eating out options in the village, so you need to bring your own food.

Great place to stay whilst you are journeying through new zealands south island. Cathy was very accomodating for our late checkin.

Very nice place to stay if you want your accommodation near Franz Joseph. I had booked my Heli ride so want to stay close for any reschedules. This motel is very good with very big washroom. Enjoyed my tea in the room

Enjoyed the quietness even with a f ull house of people staying. Well maintained and very clean with a very good kitchen. Need to bring food with you as not a town with restaurants and supermarket but being local it wasnt an issue. A good spot over winter with curling and iceskating facilities.

Cathy's place was perfect for our one night stay. She was kind enough to offer us an upgrade due to a cancellation, which we very much appreciated. The unit was very spacious, clean and very well equipped with everything we needed. It was well heated and the bed was very comfortable. We would recommend a stay at Cathy's place - it certainly met our expectations as a great place to relax after a full day of exploring.

Perfect spot to stay whilst attending a wedding at the Lodge.

Very helpful and accommodating host. We booked 2 rooms and we loved our 2-nights stay despite the weather. The beds were very comfortable. Highly recommended

This motel was a great place to sleep after a long day of hiking near the glaciers. The space was clean and the beds comfortable. Cathy has done a nice job making updates with cozy new electric fireplaces and newer linens. It was very quiet, which made for a great night sleep away from Franz Josef. We had eaten in town before we arrived, but we saw another guest eat in using the available grill to cook dinner. Cathy was great at sharing information about the area ahead of time to make sure we were prepared for our stay!

Fabulous place to stay the night between Christchurch and Queenstown. Judy was so accommodating and the house was warm and comfy. Kids loved seeing the horses and playing with the beautiful dog. Highly recommended.

This was our second time staying at Ao Marama. It is a peaceful, beautiful retreat. Rustic in many ways, but very accommodating. Highly recommend!

Staying at the Poolburn adventure hub for New Year’s with our family of five was an amazing experience! Mark and Matt were exceptional hosts and treated us like family. Mark cooked amazing meals, planned fun family outings for us, and let the kids feed the farm animals. I am so happy we stayed for three days to experience it all!

Lovely stay at Poolburn with Mark and the gang. Everyone was really friendly and we felt right at home. Mark is a fantastic cook! Great spot for exploring the area or just relaxing. You'll never get bored with resident dogs Bishop and Rook around. Will definitely be back for another stay!

This place is extraordinary and so are the beautiful family that host. We were welcomed, embraced, nurtured and extremely well-fed. We had the extra special treat of being there through Christmas and were warmly included with other guests in the most magnificent celebrations. The walks, animals birdlife and bush are out of this world and I can't recommend a visit enough. Shall return. Thank you beautiful whanau!

We had a lovely stay here and loved that we could walk the tracks to/from the Real NZ tours on Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound. There was more than enough space for two adults and we appreciated being able to cook our meals while traveling. The night sky was dark and lovely, and the area was very quiet and tucked away. We will definitely look to stay here again when we’re in the area.

our stay at the lodge was all I could hope for. easy drive into arthurs pass village, scenic routes through the mountains. cute dogs and good company in the lodge. kitchen had everything we needed. would 100% stay again.

Tira Ora Estate is a piece of land or better a whole bay owned by a retired couple,their daughter,her daughter and an ostrich,peakoks,turkeys,cats,horses,dogs,cats,ducks,bees,chickens,butterflies,glowworms and other animals.It is only reachable by a 2 hour ride with the Pelorous Mail boat, in the summer 3 times a week(Wedn.,Sat.,Sun.) and in the winter once a week or by airplane(on the estate owned airfield). It is a haven with powerful mountains surrounding the bay,unique trees,plants,swings,herbs and many things to explore. It has chalets with own bathrooms to stay in and you can either self-cater or let Melissa or her parents treat you with her/their amazing cooking. Have a look at their website too. Enjoy this wonderful family and this unique place!