About Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses
Hapuku Lodge sits on a working deer farm off State Highway 1, about 12 km north of Kaikōura just past the Hapuku River bridge. Its best-known rooms are the tree houses, built up in a canopy of native kānuka and pūriri, and there are also lodge suites with farm and mountain views and the three-bedroom Olive House, which once held the property's olive press.
A stay includes a three-course dinner, a chef-cooked breakfast, use of the spa, sauna and heated mineral pool, mountain bikes and trails, and a guided nature walk with stargazing. Check-in is from 2pm. The deer are treated as wild animals, so guests do not go into the paddocks, and pets are not allowed anywhere on site.
The restaurant cooks from the lodge's organic kitchen garden, neighboring and free-range farms and small-scale fishers, with seasonal menus (Spring 2026 menus were posted in October). Non-guests can book lunch, served 12 to 1:30pm, and casual dinner tables are limited, with availability confirmed about a month ahead. Dinner seatings run 6 to 8:30pm from October to April and 6 to 8pm from May to September. There is a kids' menu, and all common areas are wheelchair friendly.
Lavendyl Lavender Farm on Postmans Road is about 5 km south, roughly 10 minutes' drive, so a lavender garden visit fits neatly before a long lunch at the lodge.
What to do
- Stay in a tree house up in the native canopy
- Book lunch in the garden-to-table restaurant (12–1:30pm)
- Use the spa, sauna and heated mineral pool as a guest
- Join the guided nature walk and stargazing
- Ride the lodge's mountain bike trails
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round; meal times shift between October–April and May–September
- Hours
- 2026: lunch 12–1:30pm (non-guests by booking); dinner seatings 6–8:30pm October–April, 6–8pm May–September
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Accessibility
- All common areas are wheelchair friendly; the Olive House has a fully accessible ground-floor bedroom
- Reservations
- Required
Tips for your visit
- Non-guests should book lunch or dinner; casual dinner space is confirmed about a month ahead.
- Leave pets at home; none are allowed because of the working deer farm.
- Coming from the south, cross the Hapuku River bridge and turn right onto Station Road at the lodge sign.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavendyl Lavender Farm · about 10 minutes away
Lavendyl is about 10 minutes south on Postmans Road; visit the lavender gardens in the morning and book a lodge lunch.
Getting there
Questions
Is the Hapuku Lodge restaurant open to non-guests?
Yes. Non-guests can book lunch (12–1:30pm) and, when space allows, dinner.
Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed anywhere on site because it is a working deer farm.
How far is it from Kaikōura?
About 12 km north of town on State Highway 1.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Kaikōura, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
