The Resurgence

Tasman district, at the edge of Kahurangi National Park, holds this ten-room lodge on 50 acres of bush threaded with five kilometres of track. The Riwaka valley runs beneath Tākaka Hill nearby, where the Riuwaka River resurfaces from underground marble caves into a cold, clear pool. The lodge itself sits inland from Abel Tasman's beaches, the closest five-star stay to that coastline, and within reach of Golden Bay's dunes and rock arches. Ten rooms split between two types. Bush Lodge suites stand alone, each with a super-king bed, fireplace, sheepskin rug, and a private hot tub or clawfoot bath on a double deck. Bush Chalets are smaller studios with the same private tub and BBQ deck, set roughly a hundred metres from the main building. Ensuite Lodge Rooms sit upstairs in the lodge itself, with balconies looking over the bush. Dinner runs to four courses, built around Nelson wine and local produce, with aperitifs first and guests seated together. There is a pool, gym, and spa on site. Birdwatching, cycling, and self-guided walks start from the grounds; further out, hosts arrange kayaking, wine tours, and day trips into Kahurangi or Golden Bay. It is a child-free, smoke-free property, roughly 45 minutes by road from Nelson airport.