Knapdale Eco Lodge

Orange trees line the paths at Knapdale Eco Lodge, and guests are free to pick fruit for their own breakfast juice. The lodge sits inland from Gisborne, on New Zealand's east coast, roughly ten minutes from the airport by car. A lake anchors the property, ringed by forest tracks that guests can walk at their own pace. Animals graze the grounds, and feeding them is part of the daily rhythm here. It is a working, sustainably run operation rather than a resort. Beyond the immediate grounds, the wider Gisborne and east coast region offers forests, lakes and rivers, along with beaches known for good surf. The kitchen draws on Gisborne's wine country, and meals are built around what the region produces. Days move slowly: a walk round the lake, fruit from the orchard, a glass of local wine on the terrace. You can hear birdsong through the trees rather than traffic, since the coast and its surf beaches lie a short drive away rather than at the door. The lodge works well as a base for exploring the wider coastline without being a beach property itself. Rooms are simple and the setting does the work, with the lake and surrounding forest forming the main outlook. It suits travellers who want the coast nearby but prefer to wake up among trees and water.