{"id":11459,"date":"2024-04-16T18:57:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T17:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxurygoldbdev.wpengine.com\/?p=11459"},"modified":"2024-04-16T19:01:14","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:01:14","slug":"five-star-sustainable-hotel-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luxurygold.com\/lg\/five-star-sustainable-hotel-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"This New Zealand Forest Retreat Combines 5-Star Luxury with Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/span>ncreasingly, we want to know that the places we stay are not just doing no harm, they\u2019re actively doing good: for their natural environment, for wildlife conservation, for staff and local communities. One of the leaders in this field is New Zealand\u2019s magical Te Waonui Forest Retreat<\/a>, which guests visit on Luxury Gold\u2019s 19-day The Long White Cloud journey<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designed with sustainability in mind from top to bottom, it\u2019s visitors\u2019 first stay after their entry point of Christchurch; tucked away on the west coast of the country\u2019s South Island, it\u2019s an exclusive and atmospheric base for visiting the Franz Josef Glacier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Portrait<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out more about how this five-star hotel manages to seamlessly combine luxury with sustainability, we spoke with Richard Hayman, one of the architects that originally worked on the forest retreat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Green at Heart<\/h3>\n

Shroud<\/span>ed in dense, unspoiled green forest with snow-capped peaks visible just above, you\u2019ll enjoy a private balcony and terrace here – perfectly for listening to the call of native songbirds. New Zealand, it goes without saying, is a world leader in sustainable tourism; but even on a scene this dense with innovative retreats, this hotel stands out.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember day one when we first found the site, walking through the native bush and seeing these fantastic trees which have never been felled,\u201d says Richard. \u201cI thought, wow, building in this space is a real privilege. So we tried to keep as much of that bush atmosphere as we could.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainable and stylish<\/h3>\n

Te Waonui Forest Retreat was designed as \u201cpassively\u201d as possible, he explains; that is, every attempt was made to make it low-emission and energy efficient for its entire lifetime. This involves using low-carbon, easily available timber, overhanging and slats keeping heat from the sun out of the building without the need for air-conditioning. \u201cWe tried to have very high insulation levels, no energy heat pumps, lots of overshadowing in terms of the building design keeping the sun out,\u201d says Richard. \u201cWe were very careful about sourcing non-rainforest hardwoods and timber.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside the building, LED lighting and use of natural light keep things energy-efficient, cleaning is chemical-free and recycling policies are stringent throughout the property. Furniture and fittings make use of local materials, such as New Zealand natural wool carpets, organic cotton and even possum-skin cushioning. Sensor lights automatically shut off when no one\u2019s in the room, while water is saved via flow restrictors in showers. All staff are highly trained in sustainable methods of catering, cleaning and service.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Truly Luxurious Forest Retreat<\/h3>\n

That\u2019s not to say you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re doing a PhD in sustainability; this is a luxe holiday hideaway at heart. As well as those birdsong-filled balconies, there\u2019s a fine dining restaurant open to views of the virgin forest and peaks outside; rooms have luxury bedding and designer furnishings. And there\u2019s plenty of local character: \u201cLook out for Kiwi touches in terms of art and materials,\u201d says Hayman. \u201cThe drapes are inspired by our native alpine parrot bird, the Kea \u2012 the underside of its wing has bright oranges and reds against a khaki feather. The bar is inspired by coal and by glow worms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/span><\/p>\n

One of his favourite features are the ethically-sourced bamboo keycards, which can also be used as luggage tags. Clean and green power is also hugely important. \u201cIn New Zealand we are lucky enough to have some very clean and green electricity; ours is hydro-, wind- and solar-generated power from our provider Meridian. Where we do have to use natural gas, we\u2019re looking at ways to reduce that or increase efficiency,\u201d says Hayman. And projects are constantly reviewed, and ongoing. One recent movement saw 375 punga ferns planted around the property to restore parts of the native forest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Incredible Nature on Your Doorstep<\/h3>\n

\"Exterior<\/span><\/p>\n

This area of New Zealand is special, say the team. It\u2019s wild, it\u2019s irrepressible, and guests are given the privilege of interacting with it all, close up. \u201cTe Waonui Forest Retreat is a great place to remind you of how elemental nature is,\u201d says Hayman. \u201cOur guests can get involved in that to a greater or lesser extent depending on how adventurous they are. Bush walks, kayaking on the lagoon, spotting white herons, climbing, even helicopter flights up to the glacier. it\u2019s a chance to get up close to the most rugged environment in New Zealand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Three more Luxury Gold accommodation choices that champion sustainability:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledged by the United Nations as the World’s First ‘Climate Positive’ Hotel Brand, Inkaterra immerses guests in a <\/span>planet-friendly lifestyle. From solar panels for power to local education initiatives, as well as fittings from local craftspeople, textiles from local Alpaca wool and recycled-fabric slippers, this lodge close to bucket-list site Machu Picchu has an entirely carbon-neutral ethos.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit on: Grand South America<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pilgrimage Village, Hue, Vietnam<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Pilgrimage Village Resort (@pilgrimagevillageresort)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n