A special birthday trip and a special way to celebrate with a long weekend at this magnificent little hotel on the Kaikoura coast. After a quick drive up SH1 (and a stop at Pegasus Bay), we arrived as the sun hit the mountains to a warm welcome and a stunning suite at Hapuku. The owner Stanley welcomed us like family,... more

We stayed in a treehouse for 1 night (that's all we could afford!). It was one of the nicest rooms we have ever stayed in. Wood burning fireplace, jacuzzi tub, shower with view of ocean, amazing bed, flat screen tv with dvd player, great views, etc. - all in a treehouse! The breakfast was the best we had in the... more

We stayed at Hapuku lodge during our honeymoon at the beginning of the year. Having read some mixed reviews, we were looking forward to our stay but somewhat apprehensive. However, all our fears were allayed as soon as we arrived at our treehouse. It was just perfect, with everything you would want for a romantic hideaway. With a wood burner... more

We stayed in the Lodge Proper with a fantasic room with a view of the mountains. Very modern decor giving it a very different feel from the other lodges we stayed at. The room was huge and had moste amenities that you could desire. We splurged on dinner in the Lodge. It was a bit pricy but absolutly wonderful. We... more

From the view of a 13 year old. Wow! I am part of a family or 6 and we stayed here for 3 nights with our aunt and cousin. We absolutely loved it! We stayed in the family tree houses which were excellent. My family could fit into one which was a rare occasion for us and we really enjoyed... more

If it weren't for the opportunity to swim with dolphins, we probably would not stop through this sleepy little town of Kaikoura. The Hapuku Lodge did make the stay better though. Once you drive pass the town, going north, through some lovely scenery, mountains to the west, ocean to the east, you spot the lodge. The architectural style looks very... more

This lodge is a great concept and I think you really have to stay in the treehouses. The view of the mountains is stunning and rooms have great services like floor heating and a wood stove. The food is great and well cooked and there is a good selection of wine. The clear attraction is Kaikoura where you can go... more

We were very disappointed with this lodge. Our room & bathroom although very spacoius had a nasty smell of drains that permeated the whole suite. We did complain & the owners tried to clean the drains but apparently it turns out that it is a known problem & not solvable at the time of our visit. The evening meal on... more

From its website ('the quest for the most comfortable beds in the world', 'the exquisite hand made furniture' etc etc), I expected this to be amongst the highlights of my South Island tour. It wasn't. The woodwork was indeed exceptional and the staff very obliging. But the setting, hospitality and overall experience wasn't nearly as good as most other places... more