Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

We had a wonderful stay at this luxury lodge. The property is situated in a beautiful area next to lake Pukaki and close to lake Pukaki, which makes for amazing views. The accommodation was really well kept and had all the amenities we could wish for. The employees were so nice and made sure we felt completely welcome! Also the dinner and breakfast they served were very tasty and refined, with fresh, local ingredients. Would definitely recommend! Thank you for this unforgettable stay!

This is it. I cannot see how our stay could be topped. I only wish I had the vocabulary to describe how magnificent it’s been. The villas-warm, inviting & serene. The food-the very best I have ever experienced and the staff-just exceptional.

Can not wait to return! We were in a private lake house earlier during our stay in Te Anau and thought it was incredible. Yet, the Ashley Mackenzie Villa & surrounding property here at Mt. Cook lakeside retreat absolutely blew us away. We booked through ATJ, Asia Transpacific Journeys in Boulder, CO where we live. Honestly we had no idea how delightful the staff, food, villa and lake view would be. Thanks for the hospitality! I’m writing this after our 2nd dinner on Thurs evening 11/22 when Sierra served us. Not sure how tonight could top last nights dinner served by Benny, it absolutely did. And that Granny Smith dessert was a dream from cocktails to the last bite our family of 4 enjoyed it all. We had the option of eating in our villa yet eating in the dining room both nights was a treat. 6 delicious courses. Breakfast delivered to the villa by Maia was special & yummy too. My husband & I did the star gazing at the Pukaki observatory on site on Wed night. Benny was so passionate & educated at describing the night sky. We just wish our teens had joined us because we were informed tonight the night sky was not ideal for viewing @10 pm & we opted to cancel instead of waiting til 11pm to decide if they will have a midnight show? This retreat is obviously a labor of love for the owners. It felt special that Luke swung by as we were enjoying dessert the first night.

We had an exquisite villa with fireplace and fabulous view of the countryside. The decorations, furnishings were so comfortable and tasteful. The refrigerator and bar were stocked with complimentary beverages. We had a 6 course dinner at the lodge the first night & dinner at our villa the second night. The staff were most attentive and friendly. We enjoyed walks around the property. Even heard a red deer roar! So relaxing and peaceful.