The Lindis Luxury Lodge, New Zealand | Exclusive Villa Collection

Ben Avon Station, Ahuriri Valley, near Omarama · Otago, South Island, New Zealand · five suites and three Pods

The Lindis

A lodge of eight rooms on the 6,500-acre Ben Avon Station in the Ahuriri Valley, its timber roof following the contours of the land, with braided rivers, tussock and the Southern Alps on every side and some of the darkest night skies on earth overhead. Two MICHELIN Keys. Arranged privately by Exclusive Villa Collection on inquiry.

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The house

In stills

A first reading of the stay: rooms, light, and the quiet between them. Each still is a note, not a catalogue.

Aerial view of The Lindis, Ahuriri Valley, New Zealand: the curved, grass-coloured roof of the lodge rising out of golden tussock on the valley floor — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Lindis lodge resting low on the floor of the Ahuriri Valley, braided river channels behind it and mountains rising beyond — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Lindis lodge lit at dusk in the snowy Ahuriri Valley beneath the Southern Alps, New Zealand — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps above the Ahuriri Valley in winter, near The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The timber-ribbed roof of The Lindis sweeping over floor-to-ceiling glass, with a snow-dusted mountain beyond — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Great Hall at The Lindis: dining tables beneath a curved timber ceiling, ring pendants and a bluestone wall hung with art — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Armchairs and tables beside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Great Hall at The Lindis, looking out over the valley — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Light falling in stripes across a bluestone wall and a carved timber sculpture inside The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Two contemporary paintings on a bluestone wall above a lounge at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Low sun striping the timber floor of a Master Suite at The Lindis: two armchairs and a side table with wine, the super king bed beyond — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

An abstract painting on a bluestone wall above two armchairs with striped cushions and brass lamps in a Lodge Suite at The Lindis, framed in a round mirror — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A Lodge Suite at The Lindis: a super king bed with a fur throw and a bench at its foot, beneath a timber ceiling — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A glass-walled Pod at The Lindis alone in golden tussock at twilight, the mountains reflected in its mirrored walls — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The mirrored glass walls of a Pod at The Lindis reflecting the snowy mountains and valley — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Inside a Pod at The Lindis: the bed with fur cushions beside a wall of glass onto the valley — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The outdoor bath on the deck of a Pod at The Lindis, lit at dusk with the valley and mountains beyond — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The view from the bed of a Pod at The Lindis: three walls of glass open to the valley and the peaks — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A plated entrée of raw fish with citrus and chilli, served in the Great Hall at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A main course of seared meat with charred broccolini, pickled onion and a smooth purée at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Wine poured at a table laid for dinner in the Great Hall at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Canapés in a timber box set on an inlaid chessboard in the games room at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Black Diamond, the private dining pavilion of The Lindis, a black timber pyramid on a hillside before the Southern Alps — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A table set for lunch inside the Black Diamond at The Lindis, its glass wall open to the hillside — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Champagne on ice and a BBQ lunch laid out on a terrace above the Ahuriri Valley at the Black Diamond, The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Two riders on horseback crossing tussock beneath snow-capped peaks on Ben Avon Station, The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A fly fisherman wading the clear waters of the Ahuriri River near The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A waterfall tumbling down a mossy rock gorge reached by helicopter from The Lindis, New Zealand — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A guest drawing a bow at the archery range of The Lindis, with tussock hills behind — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Two walkers on a guided hike through tussock and wild grasses in the Ahuriri Valley near The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The outdoor hot tub of The Lindis in frosted tussock, morning mist lying across the valley below snowy peaks — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The spa treatment room at The Lindis: a massage table beneath warm timber walls and soft concealed light — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The gym at The Lindis, its glass doors opening onto a timber deck and the valley — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Milky Way arching over the glowing windows of The Lindis on the edge of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

A guide at a telescope beneath a sky full of stars during a stargazing evening at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Lindis lodge in a winter landscape of snow and tussock with the Southern Alps behind, New Zealand — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Two riders crossing winter tussock beneath the snow-covered mountains of the Ahuriri Valley, The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The Experience

How the days feel

The Ahuriri Valley was carved over millions of years by the glacial waters of the Ahuriri River, and it remains one of the great empty landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island: golden tussock, wetlands and beech forest, braided channels of clear water, and mountains on every horizon. Much of it lies within the 49,000-hectare Ahuriri Conservation Park, and its edge meets the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

The Lindis rests almost undetectably on the valley floor, within the 6,500 acres of Ben Avon Station, a high-country run whose wool shed dates to the 1870s and which still grazes merino sheep and Angus cattle. A slatted timber roof rises and falls with the contours of the land; inside, spotted gum panelling, bluestone masonry and floor-to-ceiling glass bring the valley to every room, from the five suites to the Great Hall and its bar.

There are only eight places to sleep: two Master Suites and three Lodge Suites within the lodge, and three glass Pods set apart in the tussock. The days are as wide as the valley: a morning on the Ahuriri River with a fly rod, a ride out from the lodge’s own stables, lunch at the Black Diamond, an evening soak in the hot tub as the light leaves the peaks, and then the Milky Way.

Your Exclusive Villa Collection advisor arranges the stay directly with The Lindis, from a single Pod for two to the whole lodge for family or friends, and shapes the arrival, the experiences on the station and the journeys beyond the valley around the days you want.

In motion

Walking the high country

Trails lead out from the lodge into the tussock and the ridgelines of the Ahuriri Valley.

Why EVC loves it

Why we would send you here

Eight rooms, one valley Five suites and three Pods on 6,500 acres of Ben Avon Station, with the Ahuriri Valley opening in every direction from the glass.
A Pod in the tussock Three architect-designed Pods, out of sight of the lodge, with mirrored glass on three sides, a private deck and a bath beneath the open sky.
The darkest skies The valley borders the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve; guided stargazing and astrophotography begin a few steps from the door.
The Black Diamond A private dining pavilion hidden in the valley, for Champagne and a three-course BBQ lunch by your own chef, reached on horseback if you wish.
River and saddle World-renowned fly fishing on the Ahuriri River a short walk from the lodge, and private treks from the lodge’s own stables of twelve horses.

Accommodations

Five suites and three Pods

Eight rooms in all, every one turned to the Ahuriri Valley through floor-to-ceiling glass: suites within the lodge, warmed by spotted gum, bluestone and a fire, or Pods alone in the tussock with a bath beneath the open sky.

Room 01

Master Suite

Super king bed · About 65 m² (700 sq ft) · Up to 2 guests, or 3 with a rollaway · Fireplace & bathtub

The two most generously proportioned rooms of the lodge, with expansive views across the valley from more than one vantage point. A double-sided gas fireplace, a deep bathtub and a spacious private outdoor seating area frame the landscape; the super king bed is dressed in fine linens, with heating and air conditioning and access to the lodge gym and hot tub.
Room 02

Lodge Suite

Super king bed · About 50 m² (540 sq ft) · Up to 2 guests, or 3 with a rollaway · Fireside lounge

Three suites within the Main Lodge with a calm sense of space and floor-to-ceiling windows onto views that shift with the light. Each has a fireside lounge, an ensuite with bathtub, private outdoor seating and a super king bed; a king-single rollaway can be added for a third guest or a split configuration.
Room 03

Pod

King bed or twins · 18 m² (195 sq ft) · Up to 2 guests · Outdoor bath & private deck

Out of sight yet a stone’s throw from the Main Lodge, three architect-designed Pods with mirrored glass walls on three sides, so the valley is always in the room. Watch the sun light the peaks from the king bed, soak in the outdoor bath beneath the stars, and walk or take a golf cart to the lodge for dinner.

Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Inside the stay

The house, in notes

Where you sleep, what you eat, and how you arrive: the essentials, in brief.

The view from a suite at The Lindis through floor-to-ceiling glass to the frosted valley floor and snow-capped mountains — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

The suites and Pods

Eight rooms, turned to the valley

Eight rooms in all: two Master Suites and three Lodge Suites within the Main Lodge, and three Pods a short walk away.

Master Suites. About 65 square meters, with a super king bed, a double-sided gas fireplace, a deep bathtub and private outdoor seating facing the valley.

Lodge Suites. Three suites of about 50 square meters, with a super king bed, a fireside lounge, an ensuite with bathtub and private outdoor seating.

Pods. Three architect-designed Pods of 18 square meters, with mirrored glass on three sides, a king bed that can be made as twins, a private deck and an outdoor bath.

A dish of lamb with charred greens served on a speckled stone plate at The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Dining

The valley at the table

Almost everything on the table is sourced close to home, sustainably caught or picked from the lodge’s own garden, and the kitchen was named Luxury Lodge Chefs of the Year 2025 at the Cuisine Good Food Awards.

The Great Hall. Each evening begins with drinks and canapés, then a multi-course dinner: freshly baked bread with a rotating butter, a light entrée, a main and dessert, with spear-caught kingfish from Tasman Bay or crayfish from Fiordland when the season allows.

The cellar and the bar. A considered list of New Zealand and international wines, with an optional pairing each night, and a bar open all day for signature cocktails, enjoyed in the games room or by the firepit at sunset.

A guest resting in the outdoor hot tub of The Lindis, looking across the valley to snow-covered mountains — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Wellbeing

The quiet of the high country

Wellbeing at The Lindis is the valley itself: clean air, deep quiet and the light moving across the peaks.

The hot tub. A private outdoor hot tub set in the tussock, for a long soak with the mountains in view by day and the Milky Way overhead by night.

The spa room. A timber-lined treatment room for massage, booked privately during the stay.

Movement. A fully equipped gym with doors onto the valley, and walking tracks for every pace leading out from the lodge to quiet viewpoints and picnic spots.

Two riders on horseback crossing open tussock beneath the snow-covered Southern Alps near The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Experiences

Into the high country

The station is the starting point, and the Southern Alps are the backyard.

Within the valley. Fly fishing on the Ahuriri River, from a first lesson to a full day with a guide in season; private horse treks across paddocks and river crossings from the lodge’s stables; guided hikes and 4WD tours across Ben Avon Station; e-biking, archery, clay target shooting, buggy tours and seasonal rafting. Te Araroa, New Zealand’s long-distance trail, passes moments from the lodge.

After dark. Guided stargazing beneath skies bordering the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and astrophotography sessions to take the night home.

Beyond the valley. Heli-hiking in the Southern Alps, a glacier landing on the Tasman Glacier at Aoraki/Mount Cook, whisky at a remote alpine hut or a picnic at a glacier’s edge, silent gliding over Omarama, backcountry fly fishing, and crayfish on a West Coast beach. In winter, heli-skiing and private ski days.

Two guests in camp chairs with mulled wine beside a still lake beneath the mountains, The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Who it is best for

For two, or for the whole lodge

Two travelers

Travelers who want wilderness on a grand scale, with a lodge’s care around them.

Couples. A Pod in the tussock, a bath beneath the stars, lunch for two at the Black Diamond and an evening of stargazing with nobody else in sight.

Anglers and riders. One of the world’s celebrated trout rivers a short walk from the door, and twelve horses in the lodge’s stables.

Families and friends. With only eight rooms, The Lindis can be reserved in full for a family gathering, a celebration or a group of friends.

Good to know. The Lindis welcomes guests aged twelve and over, unless the whole lodge is reserved for exclusive use.

Aerial view of the braided Ahuriri River running down the valley in golden light, near The Lindis — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Arrival

Over the pass, into the valley

The Lindis lies off Birchwood Road in the Ahuriri Valley, between Omarama and the Lindis Pass in the South Island’s high country.

By air. The nearest airport is Queenstown (ZQN), about 1 hour 50 minutes from Auckland, 1 hour 20 minutes from Wellington and 50 minutes from Christchurch.

By road. About 2 hours 15 minutes from Queenstown, 1.5 hours from Wānaka and 4.5 hours from Christchurch, by private transfer or self-drive. The last stretch follows Birchwood Road, a well-kept gravel road best suited to a 4WD, to the lodge’s iron gate and a 2.5-kilometer private drive.

By helicopter. The lodge has its own helipad, with direct flights from Queenstown, Wānaka or Christchurch.

Good to know. Mobile reception is limited in the valley; Wi-Fi reaches the lodge and the Pods. Your advisor sequences flights, transfers and the stay as one plan.

The Lindis under fresh snow, its curved roof white against the frosted valley and the mountains — Photo courtesy of The Lindis Group

Seasonality

Four seasons in the high country

The Ahuriri Valley keeps four distinct seasons, and the weather can turn quickly in the high country, so layers are wise all year.

Summer. December to February is hot and dry, typically 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F), with long evenings and the fly-fishing season in full swing.

Autumn. March to May turns the tussock gold, from about 5 to 25°C (41 to 77°F).

Winter. June to August brings snow to the peaks and often to the lodge, from about minus 5 to 8°C (23 to 46°F): heli-skiing, the clearest night skies and mulled wine by the fire.

Spring. September to November, about 8 to 22°C (46 to 72°F), when the valley greens and blossoms.

Festive weeks. Christmas and New Year are the most sought-after dates; your advisor confirms availability when you inquire.

Awards & recognition

Recognition

Two MICHELIN Keys The MICHELIN Guide, 2025. October 1, 2026
Luxury Lodge Chefs of the Year Cuisine Good Food Awards, 2025. October 1, 2026

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The Lindis

The Lindis

In stills

How the days feel

Walking the high country

Why we would send you here

Five suites and three Pods

Master Suite

Lodge Suite

Pod