Guest reviews Wharekauhau Country Estate, Wairarapa

by jayplay135 Wellington, New Zealand

Beautiful spot, loved our stay BUT..

We had a great evening at Wharekauhau. It was very relaxing, the rooms are beautiful, the food is delicious and the staff are very friendly. Unfortunately our evening away was somewhat tarnished when it came out in the paper the next day that Wharekauhau owner Bill Foley donated $500,000 towards Donald Trumps campaign. Never in a million years would we spend money on something that inadvertently ends up in his hands or the pockets of a Trump supporter. As a result we won’t stay there again and will also avoid any products associated with Bill Foley - TK wine, Mt Difficulty, Lighthouse Gin etc. When you’re a prolific figure it’s important to remember that your opinions and behaviours will affect everything you touch.

by christineg596 Karlsruhe, Germany

Stay a day longer than you think you should......

We stayed at Wharekauhau for three nights, given that we had a time limit on our journey through New Zealand and many places that we wanted to see, but really, if you do go there, stay longer! After you have done all that you wanted to do, the wine tour, the tour of the estate, the walking.....you should really take one day to just enjoy being in this beautiful property! The rooms are incredibly comfortable and tastefully adjourned, food is amazing as is the possibility of actually being served dinner in a place of your liking, which for us was an upstairs room with a spectacular view. Service is impeccable and the location is absolutely beautiful!

by 2fromaus Sydney, Australia

Even More Truly Stunning

This is one of the finest luxury hotels in which we've stayed. You must really see this lodge's location. We had stunning weather to enhance the experience. The lodge itself is tastefully and elegantly furnished, befitting the setting. The rooms are similarly furnished, very spacious and well appointed. The staff are gracious, professional and experienced; Jackie will look after all your needs and activities. Richard will make you feel welcome and comfortable. The wine list is fabulously immense; ask for Adriene's advice. The food is delicious. The farm tour is an absolute must. Amelie will give you a wonderful massage at the spa. We think it's possible to admire that stunning ever changing view all day. Really should have extended our stay by a couple of extra days...

by Q5174ZJcatherineb

Simply Stunning

We were lucky enough to travel over by helicopter to get a sample of this place for lunch. It is simply amazing: a proper luxury lodge. The food was delicious and we hope one day to come back for a visit in one of the luxury cottages

by Stephen W Wellington, New Zealand

Remote, understated luxury

I was travelling as part of a group for the wine launch/release. We arrive by helicopter and spent one afternoon experiencing the hotel's on-site activities. There were several options, including a quad bike tour, which was my selection. The estate is very large and it took us more than an hour to cover it by quad bike. There are native forests, fields and hills on the property with spectacular views down the coast to the south. I stayed in one of the cottages. There are a few along a path leading from the main lodge building. It was very well appointed. Mobile coverage is expectedly poor for such a secluded location. I had acceptable wifi but some others apparently had a weaker signal (I was in one of the cottages closer to the main lodge). The food was incredible at every stage and the service was traditional and attentive while not being intrusive. Very highly recommended. It would be a great romantic getaway location but also fantastic if one is after some head space and seclusion without sacrificing the luxuries of life.