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New Zealand’s Flockhill lodge to open new restaurant and luxury villas
Former Chiswick chef Taylor Cullen will head up the kitchen at Sugarloaf, the soon-to-debut restaurant at Flockhill Lodge, which has also just opened 14 new luxury villas
Former Chiswick chef Taylor Cullen will head up the kitchen at Sugarloaf, the soon-to-debut restaurant at Flockhill Lodge, which has also just announced it will unveil 14 luxury villas in 2024
Overlooking the breath-taking peaks of New Zealand’s majestic Southern Alps, Flockhill Lodge has announced it will open 14 new luxury villas and a destination restaurant, Sugarloaf, which will be led by chef Taylor Cullen, formerly of the renowned eatery, Chiswick, in Sydney.
The property sits on a 36,000-acre sheep station in the Craigieburn Valley, about one-and-a-half hours’ drive from the city of Christchurch (with an international airport) in the Canterbury region of Aotearoa’s South Island. Guests will enjoy spectacular views of Lake Pearson and Arthur’s Pass Valley from the homestead.
New villas
The 14 new villas will be decorated in neutral palettes and organic textures and equipped with the modern luxuries that discerning travellers have come to expect — king beds, walk-in wardrobes, ensuite bathrooms, underfloor heating, and private decks with outdoor fireplaces. Larger groups can opt for connected villas, with a lounge flanked by king rooms.
Sugarloaf restaurant
Slated to open on 1 December, Flockhill has ambitions for its new restaurant, Sugarloaf, to be among New Zealand’s best eateries. Open-flame cooking and seasonal and sustainable menus will celebrate the surrounding bounty of Flockhill’s remote location.
Experiences
Flockhill is a playground for outdoors enthusiasts, with a range of activities designed to make the most of the property’s impressive natural surroundings.
Guests can take to numerous hiking trails that unearth some of New Zealand’s beautiful native flora and fauna, as well as interesting historical sites around the sprawling property. The nine-and-a-half-kilometre Avoca Coal Mine trail, for instance, takes hikers to meet Geraldine, a Krauss steam locomotive that has been part of the area since 1915.
Experienced guides are on hand to take keen anglers to try to catch wild, rainbow, and brown trout in some of the region’s best backcountry flyfishing spots; while those wanting to explore on two wheels can take an e-bike on a guided or self-guided ride through the Craigieburn Forest Park.
Other adventurous activities available at Flockhill include paddleboarding, kayaking, caving, and bouldering, while options at the homestead include witnessing a traditional sheep station muster, cooking classes, and star-gazing.
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