The Whare Kea Story

Almost 20 years ago, Martyn Myer (of the Myer retail dynasty) visited Wanaka to heliski with friends.  This simple journey would result in an ongoing passion for New Zealand and in particular Wanaka – the home of Whare Kea Lodge.

Following on from his first visit, Martyn returned to Wanaka many times with his wife Louise and their children who also embraced the wonder of the area and all that it offers.

In the summer of 1993 the Myer’s purchased the land where Whare Kea Lodge now stands with the desire to build something that would allow them to share the beauty of the area with other likeminded people.  The location offering perfect access to almost every adventure sport and outdoor pursuit possible.

Melbourne architect John Mayne was asked to design a lodge that would suit the environment and work well for both winter and summer holidays.  The vision was to provide something that, although luxurious, was more intimate and less formal than the typical high end boutique hotels around the world.  This vision reflects the types of hotels Martyn and Louise enjoy staying at when travelling

As is evident by the beautiful surrounds of the lodge, an extensive tree planting programme also commenced in 1993 to ensure both privacy for the lodge and its guests as well as ensuring the protection of the surrounding environment.