Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Opened
2007
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Luxe Resort LocalOutside the door
The house
RosewoodClifftop station hideaway
Rough stone walls, exposed timber beams, and roaring fireplaces anchor this working sheep station perched high above Hawke's Bay.
“The rooms are minimalist country-house chic: lofted ceilings with timber trusses, off-white shiplap, and barn doors.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Nightly pre-dinner cocktail hours, sommelier-led tastings of Hawke's Bay vintages, and bespoke farm adventures define the attentive lodge service.
Remarkable
A cliffside championship golf course, Can-Am farm tours, clay shooting, and guided kiwi encounters at Cape Sanctuary fill the days.
Remarkable
Station life features sheepdog demonstrations, visits to the mainland gannet colony, and Hawke's Bay vineyard pairings.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Forbes Four-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Australasia & South Pacific
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
The lodge itself isn’t hard on the eyes either — the building is a peculiarly modern sort of rustic, and the interiors are elegant, understated…
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Coastal trails wind across rugged pastures and headlands, leading toward one of the world's largest mainland gannet colonies.
The rooms
Suites pair lofted timber ceilings and shiplap with gas fireplaces, private balconies, and deep soaking tubs framing ocean views.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated infinity pool sits on a flagstone terrace on the cliff edge, looking out over Hawke's Bay.
The spa
Treatment rooms look across the pastures, with therapies using volcanic hot stones and locally sourced Mānuka honey.
Restaurant
The Loggia
The glass-enclosed terrace serves morning coffee and sunset dinners with views across the coastal headland.
A place of contrasts, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers is both a wildlife sanctuary and working farm as well as a luxury retreat.
At the table
Multi-course dinners in the main dining room draw produce directly from the on-site vegetable gardens and local growers.
How it began
Julian Robertson opened the lodge in 2007, expanding on his coastal championship golf course set across working farmland.
Good to know
Stay here
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
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Hawke's Bay
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.