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Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
Te Awanga, New Zealand · Rosewood · Grand Luxury
Perched atop a 6,000-acre working sheep and beef farm in Hawke's Bay, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers opened in 2007 after hedge-fund billionaire Julian Robertson purchased the property in 2004 and commissioned Tom Doak to design the clifftop golf course. Doak's par-71 layout — ranked consistently in Golf Magazine's top 50 courses worldwide — sits on ridgelines above 500-metre cliffs dropping to the Pacific. The lodge earned Two Michelin Keys in 2025 and Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia's #1 Best Country Hotel and Lodge in New Zealand the same year.
- 23 rooms
- Opened 2007
- Neighborhood: Te Awanga 4180
- Rooms from 506 sq ft (47 m²)
- Architect: Andrew Patterson (Patterson Associates); Paul Rosnell, Roger Langley (VLRA Architects)
- Interiors: Linda Bedell
About Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
- Tom Doak's golf course at Cape Kidnappers sits on ridgetop peninsulas above Pacific cliffs, offering what Golf Magazine ranked a top-50 course in the world — and one that is entirely inaccessible to the public without staying at the lodge.
- Julian Robertson, the legendary Tiger Management hedge-fund founder, first visited New Zealand in 1979 and later built three of the country's most celebrated luxury lodges: Kauri Cliffs (2001), Cape Kidnappers (2007), and Matakauri (2010), all three of which transferred to Rosewood in December 2023.
- The Cape Kidnappers headland was named by Captain James Cook in 1769 after local Māori attempted to take a Tahitian cabin boy from his ship — making the lodge's dramatic clifftop address one of the more historically loaded settings in New Zealand luxury.
- The smallest published suite or villa start at 506 sq ft (47 m²).
History
Set atop 6,000 acres of working sheep and beef farm in Hawke's Bay, edged by dramatic cliffs with vast Pacific Ocean views and rolling hills. Designed to evoke a traditional New Zealand farmstead with rustic stone and timber exteriors. Purchased by Julian and Josie Robertson in 2004, opened late 2007 after two-year construction.
The setting
23 km from hiking trails around Te Mata Peak.
Restaurants and bars
- The Dining Room — Restaurant
- Nature’s Dining Room — Restaurant
Experiences
- Shepherding Tour — Led by the shepherd, witness traditional sheep shearing and mustering with New Zealand Huntaway dogs.
- Golf at Cape Kidnappers — Golf course on a ridge-and-valley landscape with sea views, perched on dramatic cliffs.
- A New Zealand Farming Way of Life — Embrace a rural pace of life among open pastures, grazing animals and countryside traditions.
- Cape Sanctuary Tour — Tour of the Cape Sanctuary to spot native birds and see conservation in action; a night tour is also offered.
- Gannet Colony — Viewing migration patterns and nesting routines of what is described as the largest, most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world.
- Epicurean Garden Workshop — Forage fresh garden produce, then enjoy a farm-to-table evening menu inspired by nature's bounty.
Amenities
- spa
- world-class golf course
- farm tours
- private beach access
- Can-Am tours
- Cape Sanctuary
- butler service
- heli pad
- Infinity pool
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia #1 Best Country Hotel + Lodge NZ (2025)
- Two Michelin Keys (2025)
- Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific #3 NZ Country Hotel Lodges (2024)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2022)
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