Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / New Zealand / Featherston / Wharekauhau Country Estate
Wharekauhau Country Estate
Featherston, New Zealand · Independent · Grand Luxury
A Relais & Châteaux lodge on a working sheep station that has run since the 1840s, one of New Zealand's oldest Romney studs, on cliffs above Palliser Bay where the Rimutaka Range meets the sea. The Shaw family built the Edwardian-style shingle-roofed lodge in 1997; American vintners Bill and Carol Foley of Foley Family Wines bought the 3,000-acre estate in 2010.
- 16 rooms
- Opened 1997
- Rooms from 753 sq ft (70 m²)
About Wharekauhau Country Estate
- The estate sits on a working sheep station that has run since the 1840s, one of New Zealand's oldest Romney studs, on cliffs above Palliser Bay.
- The Māori name Wharekauhau means 'place of knowledge'; the Shaw family built the Edwardian-style lodge in 1997 before the Foley family acquired it in 2010.
- Its rowlock emblem originated in 1876 when a ship's captain suspected rock-padded wool bales, prompting the crew to brand their wool with a longboat rowlock and paint to prove their integrity.
- The Relais & Châteaux property spans some 3,000 acres with 17 cottage suites and a Hauora Spa rooted in Māori healing.
- Entry-level rooms start at 753 sq ft (70 m²).
History
Wharekauhau Country Estate stands on a working sheep station that has run since the 1840s — one of New Zealand's oldest Romney studs — on the dramatic cliffs above Palliser Bay in the Wairarapa, where the Rimutaka Range meets the sea; the Māori name means 'place of knowledge'. The Shaw family began farming here in the late 1970s and opened their home to farm-stay guests, building the grand Edwardian-style, shingle-roofed lodge (constructed in 1997) and freestanding cottage suites.
In 2010 the American vintners Bill and Carol Foley made it their own. A Relais & Châteaux member spanning some 3,000 acres, it offers 17 cottage suites with open fireplaces and New Zealand wool, and a Hauora Spa rooted in Māori healing.
The setting
31 km from Lake Wairarapa.
Restaurants and bars
- Country Kitchen — Restaurant · farmhouse
- Palliser Room — Restaurant
Experiences
- Guided farm tour of the estate — Guided farm tour of the estate included in a sample three-night incentive itinerary.
- Coastal horseback musters — Coastal horseback musters with firepit picnic lunches, listed among past creations.
- Stargazing picnics — Stargazing picnics with astro-photographers, listed among past creations.
- Helicopter trips to Pukaha Wildlife Sanctuary — Helicopter trips to Pukaha Wildlife Sanctuary for private, early-access tours.
- Guided geology and cultural experiences — Guided geology and cultural experiences with expert hosts and local Māori elders.
- Wine tastings with lodge sommelier — Wine tastings with the lodge sommelier, plus exclusive tastings at Te Kairanga or Martinborough Vineyard.
Amenities
- Tennis
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open Wharekauhau Country Estate in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.