Fiordland Lodge

Located near Te Anau in the far south of New Zealand's South Island, Fiordland Lodge occupies a truly special spot. Designed to make the most of the views over Lake Te Anau, Mt Luxmore and the Murchison Mountain range, the views make the journey here more than worthwhile. It's the perfect place to enjoy the fiords, whether you are heading to Doubtful or Milford Sound, going heli-hiking on the Kepler or Milford Track or plan to get out on the sounds on a kayak.

The Great Room lounge has double-storey floor to ceiling glass taking in the mountain scenery, and you'll find adirondack chairs on the lawn if you want to sit and soak it all in. The lodge is one of New Zealand's luxury lodges, a mark of the superb standards of service and fine cuisine you'll find here. It has been built in a log-cabin style that's reminiscent of a ranch in North America, with huge log walls, large roaring fireplaces in winter and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

There are twelve guest rooms here, ten of which are in the main building and all have a balcony, and two log cabins set further back from the main lodge and good for those looking for a little more privacy. All have a gas fireplace, underfloor heating in the bathrooms and air conditioning. WiFi is available throughout the lodge, too.

Dining is a real highlight here, with a-la-carte breakfasts and dinners, pre-dinner canapés served in the Great Room and an extensive wine list.

Nine deluxe rooms, all with a balcony to the front, ensuite bathroom with shower, armchairs and television. Four are on the upper floor and five on the ground floor. The executive suite is on the upper floor and has an additional lounge area and a bathtub with shower in the ensuite. The two log cabins don't have the same views of the mountains, and one is ideal for couples looking for a cosy retreat and the other for families, with a larger bathroom and twin or triple beds set up on the upper mezzanine. Log cabin 1 has an open plan configuration that's not suited to every taste, with the staircase to an upper lounge area to one side of the bedroom and the bathroom here is smaller.

Families are warmly welcomed here, and child-friendly menus can be arranged. There are no interconnecting rooms, but any of the deluxe rooms can be converted into twin beds and we can request rooms adjacent to each other.

The Fiordland region is a remote and wild part of New Zealand and weather here can change by the minute. The fiords receive 200 days of rainfall per year, which classifies a day where significant rain has fallen, but rain showers occur almost daily, and often visits will be misty and moody and cloudy whatever time of the year you are visiting. This is very much a part of the atmosphere of these dramatic fiords and if you do find yourself with sunshine and blue skies, make the most of it and count yourself lucky! You'll want to bring plenty of warm and wet weather clothes, including rain jacket, woolly hat and layers, again regardless of the time of year due to the changeable climate. On board the ship is of course nice and warm, but you'll want to be out on deck for a lot of the journey, when the weather permits.