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New luxury lodge opens at Lake MacKenzie

Ultimate Hikes today opened the doors to its brand new, purpose-built luxury lodge on the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand's world-renowned Great Walks.

The state-of-the-art 24-bed MacKenzie Lodge, set back from the shores of Lake MacKenzie, offers guests a luxurious, spacious wilderness retreat in which to relax and recharge before the following day's walk.

Designed by Queenstown architect Noel Tapp, the natural exterior of the lodge blends with the landscape and features heavy rustic exposed timber, panoramic windows and local stone.

Ultimate Hikes General Manager Bill Davidson described the new lodge as 'a cut above the norm.'

"By New Zealand standards, this is a really flash wilderness lodge. Every effort has been made to make our guests comfortable. On arrival they can refresh themselves under a hot shower complete with massaging showerhead, enjoy a well-earned drink from the bar and gourmet meal, relax inside by the fire or out on the deck, and then curl up in a comfy bed. The big Kiwi breakfast the next morning is a great way to fuel up for the walk ahead.

"The lodge has been designed to showcase its beautiful surrounds - particularly the panoramic views of Mt Gunn and Mt Christina from the large lounge and dining areas and the deck.

"It's a major upgrade for the Routeburn which is the country’s most popular trip into forests and mountains after the Milford Track."

Mr Davidson said the company had worked closely with the Department of Conservation (DoC) throughout the project to ensure minimal environmental effects.

As part of the project, the DoC camping ground was relocated and upgraded to provide better common areas and improved tent sites.

Arrow International managed the 12-month multi-million dollar project in its entirety, from planning, tendering and construction, to on-site monitoring and reporting.

Project Manager Gary O’Brien says the construction team felt a huge sense of achievement when the job was handed over on time and on budget.

"It was an interesting and complex build because the lodge is totally isolated in the bush. The lack of road access made the planning quite a challenge, and the sheer logistics of having everything flown in by helicopter, right down to the last nail, sometimes meant juggling tasks to ensure we had the right sequence of materials and workers on site. The results are fantastic though – I think the guests will love it."

Ultimate Hikes offers a range of guided multi-day and single day walks throughout the spectacular and varied terrain of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area.

The guided walks provide the opportunity of a lifetime to experience real wilderness without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

New Look Website

As you can see we have a brand new website for everyone interested in guided walking in New Zealand. Our new site is still bursting with information for prospective walkers but now we also have a whole range of new images and video clips of the walks to capture your imagination and prepare you for your ultimate hiking experience.

Bookings are currently beng taken for the 2008/2009 season and spaces are filling up fast, so don't leave it to the last minute or keep saying "one day I'll walk in New Zealand"...do it now! Use our super new secure online booking system on this website. Don't put it off for another year!

Ultimate Hike Becomes The Classic

Our longest walk, the 8day/7night adventure previously known as the "Ultimate Hike" has a new name! The ultimate challenge; 5 days on the Milford track, an overnight stay in Te Anau and 3 days on the Routeburn track will now be known as "The Classic".