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The ultimate adventure of a lifetime, featuring two exhilarating heli hikes with picturesque views of waterfalls and hanging glaciers, and stunning panoramic views from on top of Mt Alfred. Experience a picturesque day in the spectacular World Heritage scenery of the Routeburn Track - all with a local expert guide by your side.
Enjoy an exhilarating flight into the Mt Earnslaw basin to hike alongside a glacial-fed river, surrounded by cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs and hanging glaciers. Revel in the stunning 360-degree panoramic views after summiting Mt Alfred, then delight at the scenic heli flight back around the mountain and over the river deltas. Experience what makes the Southern Lakes region and the Routeburn Track so famous...all with your local guide by your side.
At the end of each day, relax in our warm comfy homestead lodge before indulging in a sumptuous dinner with our award-winning chefs, who source the best local seasonal foods and wines in our region.
Our legendary personal service and special touches throughout promise to provide you with an experience you will cherish forever!
Please note that minimum numbers apply to all getaways and prices may vary based on departure season.
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We’re not in the business of creating worry or anxiety. In fact, quite the opposite. When booking our getaways you can be assured that:
Magnificent accommodation and dining made all the more special when you’ve just spent the day on one of New Zealands best walks. This perfect all-inclusive weekend getaway combines the experience of a privately guided walk on the famous Routeburn Track with the luxury comforts of The Headwaters Eco Lodge and gourmet foods.
Explore the delights of this perfect pairing of adventure with natural beauty, delicious wines and delectable cuisine. This five-night package combines classic New Zealand landscapes with the best Central Otago wine tastings. Experience an incredible scenic helicopter flight, with a once in a lifetime glacier landing and a tasting experience at the region’s finest boutique cellar doors
The ultimate adventure of a lifetime, featuring two exhilarating heli hikes with picturesque views of waterfalls and hanging glaciers, and stunning panoramic views from on top of Mt Alfred. Experience a picturesque day in the spectacular World Heritage scenery of the Routeburn Track - all with a local expert guide by your side.
This breathtaking 5-day getaway combines the most beautiful hikes, the freshest meals and the most extraordinary locations where few get to go. Venture on to a working high-country sheep farm and experience an enchanting dinner in a historic location, while enjoying a unique craft beer tasting with our local brewmaster.
Designed to provide you with variety and new vistas every day, the Fabulous Four Getaway offers guided experiences that are perfect for the active adventurer who wants something unique and authentic. Hike, bike, ride and paddle your way through our spectacular end of the lake scenery!
Your Adventures in Paradise experience will be based at The Headwaters Eco Lodge. You'll be staying in one of our beautifully-appointed Chalets which each include a private ensuite bathroom with walk-in rain shower, a king-size or split-king single beds, your own covered verandah and lounge chairs to take in the breathtaking views, warm welcoming rustic décor and original artwork by local and NZ artists.
We like to think of Adventures in Paradise, and more broadly The Headwaters, as a regenerative operation; meaning our mission is to actively make things better than they currently are.
The Headwaters Eco Lodge, where you'll rest your head in blissful sleep each night, is a net positive accommodation provider, meaning we generate more energy than we use onsite each year. We also use 50% less water than similar facilities and are certified by the International Living Future Institute as meeting the imperatives of the Living Building Challenge, the most stringent environmental guidelines in the world!
We are committed to extending our regeneration principles to our Adventures in Paradise experiences, so you'll enjoy knowing that all your delicious food is healthy, locally sourced and free of additives. Your meals in the field are tasty and free of unnecessary packaging. And on the last day of each of our experiences there's also a unique opportunity to take active part in contributing to a community regeneration project.
Yes! All our Eco-Chalets feature a private ensuite bathroom with walk-in rain shower, covered verandah and lounge chairs to take in the breathtaking views of Glenorchy and the surrounding mountains.
The Headwaters Eco Lodge's Chalets redefine 'luxury meets sustainability'! Here you'll relish relaxing into a range of modern comforts including heated floors, triple glazed windows, keycard entry, sound proof walls (they are amazing!), temperature-controlled fresh air exchange and fine natural-fiber linens and towels. Spa, laundry and state of the art drying room facilities are also available onsite. Free high-speed internet access is included, and while we'll be spending time during the day in remote areas that may have spotty or little coverage, mobile coverage at the Lodge and in the township is very good.
Easy! Book online here or just get in touch and we will arrange your booking.
Yes, once you've paid your deposit you can change your departure date or transfer to to any of our other getaways - provided you make this change before full payment is due (no later than 30 days before the departure date).
To help preserve our ability to generate a profit, all of which goes to the Glenorchy Community Trust, our cancellation policy is as follows:
A deposit of 20% of the getaway price is required to confirm your booking. The deposit is fully transferable across all getaways and dates and is valid for 12 months.
The final balance for a getaway is due 30 days before the departure date. Cancellations more than 30 days before departure date will receive a full refund, less the 20% deposit.
- Cancellations made within 30 to 14 days of the trip’s departure date will incur a cancellation fee of 10% of the booking total.
- Cancellations made within 14 to 2 days of the trip’s departure date will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the booking total.
- Cancellations made within 48 hours of the trip’s departure date will receive no refund.
Yes! Anything goes - please let us know when you get in touch and we'll make sure your Adventures in Paradise chefs and guides can plan to meet any special needs.
Absolutely! Our Getaways are a great option for a family or group of friends - if you'd like to go private, chat to us about our options.
We’ve designed our Getaways with a sense of connection and community in mind, so we’ve included all meals with your like-minded fellow travellers. Because of our values and selection of activities, we tend to attract similar guests with aligned interests so you'll be in excellent company. We also pride ourselves on including absolutely everything during your trip to allow for the best value experience. Because Glenorchy is such a small village, there are limited dining options which is why we’re happy to provide our guests with delicious meals daily. In saying that, this is your trip of a lifetime so if you prefer to eat out one night, you’re certainly welcome to do so.
If you're joining us on an Adventure in Paradise, your transportation will be convenient and hassle-free. We'll pick you up from Queenstown Airport or central Queenstown, and chauffeur you along one of the world's most beautiful drives to your destination as you take in the breathtaking views of your 45-minute journey alongside Lake Wakatipu.
Our guides are beautiful spirits! As you explore together, your guides will share their passion and knowlege about the area, the local flora and fauna, the fascinating history of Glenorchy and the head of the lake, and informative commentary throughout. They're humble, patient and worldly - they know how to tell a good story and they know this place like the back of their hand.
You'll soon discover that the people of Glenorchy have created a wonderful lifestyle for themselves here at the head of the lake. We have plenty of additional hiking options to share with you, as well as a raft of other outdoor activities. Consider booking a few extra days to soak in the healthy mountain lifestyle. If you're keen to relax and make this a personal wellness retreat, that's available, and if you want to engage your creative side there are art and photography workshops. Head on over to our Headwaters Eco Lodge experiences page to learn more!
To help preserve our ability to generate a profit, all of which goes to the Glenorchy Community Trust, our cancellation policy is as follows:
A deposit of 20% of the getaway price is required to confirm your booking. The deposit is fully transferable across all getaways and dates and is valid for 12 months.
The final balance for a getaway is due 30 days before the departure date. Cancellations more than 30 days before departure date will receive a full refund, less the 20% deposit.
- Cancellations made within 30 to 14 days of the trip’s departure date will incur a cancellation fee of 10% of the booking total.
- Cancellations made within 14 to 2 days of the trip’s departure date will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the booking total.
- Cancellations made within 48 hours of the trip’s departure date will receive no refund.
Glenorchy is located at the head of the lake and the heart of the mountains. It's a beautiful and ever-changing alpine environment and as such, the weather can change quickly. We'll provide you with a comprehensive gear list well in advance of your Getaway. The main things to keep in mind are to layer breathable, quick-dry active wear for our daily activities, and to bring casual, comfortable clothing for relaxing at the lodge in the evening. A good sun hat, and a pair of well worn-in, lightweight hiking boots will also be essential.
Please chat to us if you'd like to organise a getaway with children under the age of 12.
We offer our experiences all year round, so there’s really no bad time to visit Glenorchy! Generally, the most popular times to visit are the summer and shoulder seasons; however, we love the winter here too: everything's a bit quieter and bright, cool, clear days are common, which makes for stunning photos.
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