Celebrating at The Headwater Eco Lodge, Glenorchy

It takes a special friend, celebrating a special birthday, to bring people together and have an adventure at The Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy .

Our birthday girl.

Forty minutes from Queenstown, at the head of Lake Wakatipu, is Glenorchy, a small sleepy town in the middle of no-where. We were looking for somewhere to go, not far from home in Arrowtown, where we could relax, talk, enjoy good food and wine and explore the outdoors. The isolation and wilderness were key, so we could disconnect from home- life and enjoy some calm and reflection.

The Headwater Eco Lodge ticked all the boxes.

The lodge is located on the old Glenorchy campsite. It had been on the market for a number of years when American philanthropists, Debbi and Paul Brainerd purchased it in 2014. Transforming the old camp ground into Camp Glenorchy, now renamed, The Headwaters Eco Lodge was a huge undertaking and completed in 2018. It is the first real eco lodge to be built in New Zealand, completely off the grid following the most rigorous sustainability guidelines.

The Headwater Eco Logde, Glenorchy

Reception

This lodge is stunning and a real asset to the Glenorchy community. The founders have set up the Glenorchy Community Trust, administered by local trustees, so the community can benefit from the profits.

Lake Wakatipu

The lodge comprises of a dining room (that was originally a communal cooking area) living areas and a large multi-purpose room. Much of the lodge is built with repurposed materials. The luxurious individual chalets are dotted around the property. While they look rustic in appearance, they are anything but. There is state-of the art insulation, air circulation systems, composting toilets and computerised underfloor heating that adapts to the ever changing temperatures.

The dining room at the lodge.

The once communal kitchen, is now a fabulous restaurant, with local chefs working their magic with fresh produce. The night we were there, chef, Peter Gawron created a delectable meal for us. Peter was the executive chef and owner of Saffron Restaurant in Arrowtown for many years. It was one of the best restaurants in the Wakatipu Basin where foodies, tourists, and locals appreciated the zest and passion with which Pete and his wife Mel bought to this eatery.

Our succulent grilled scampi.

Our oyster slider.

Pete is a great friend of one of our group, so he treated us to some “sneaky” starters: a crab samosa, grilled scampi and an oyster slider. Having devoured these little entrees, we got onto the three course meal. A trio of whitebait, lamb rack and the best banana souffle with saffron and rosewater ice-cream. The lid of the soft souffle levitated above the dish like a cloud and could have blown away with the lightest of breezes.

Lamb that melted in our mouths.

The famous banana soufflé.

After a peaceful night’s sleep, we convened at 7.30 am for a yoga class. Looking up to the mountains through the early morning mist, the hoar frost clung to grasses, creating an ethereal and mystical wonderland.

The hoar frost and mountains outside our yoga room.

The best way to start our day, yoga.

A hearty breakfast was served in the dining room, necessary for our morning activities. Heading out, we made our way along the board walk to view the wetlands, birdlife and mountain. Vistas over the wetlands were framed by Mount Earnslaw and the hanging glacier, Mount Alfred, all the while seeing the snowclad peaks reflected in the lagoons.

Walking though the Glenorchy wetlands the mounatins relected in the lagoons.

Starting our walk into the Routeburn Track.

We then drove to the beginning of the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It’s a 32 kilometre walk usually done over 2-3 days. We planned to walk a section, then walk out again. We began at the Routeburn Shelter, gently winding our way alongside the crystal-clear Routeburn River, up past the famous Bridal View Waterfall and above the gorge, before turning back.

There are many more activities to do in Glenorchy. Helicopter experiences over the glacial mountains, jet boating up the Dart River, fly fishing, hiking, kayaking, horse riding, biking amongst them.