Chatham Islands Exploration – Christchurch Departure

Nestled on the dramatic South Coast of Rēkohu/Wharekauri, Awarakau Lodge offers comfort, tranquillity, and sweeping ocean views — the perfect base for your Chatham Islands adventure. Your hosts, Rosemary & Greg Horler, bring warmth and genuine island hospitality to every stay, ensuring you feel welcomed the moment you arrive.

Awarakau Lodge features six beautifully appointed bedrooms, each with its own private ensuite, quality linen, and electric blankets to keep you cosy on cooler evenings.

Just a short one-minute walk from the main house sits the lodge’s charming two-bedroom cottage, ideal for travelling companions. Both bedrooms feature king beds that can be configured as two singles, with a shared central lounge offering a relaxing space to unwind.

The main house includes four thoughtfully furnished downstairs bedrooms and a cosy central lounge — perfect for evening gatherings. A crackling fireplace creates the ideal atmosphere to share stories from the day’s adventures.

Main House Bedrooms:

• Bedroom 1: King bed
• Bedroom 2: King bed (converts to two singles)
• Bedroom 3: Queen bed
• Bedroom 4: King bed (converts to two singles)

Every detail at Awarakau Lodge is designed to offer comfort, serenity, and a true sense of Chatham Island homeliness, making your stay both memorable and restorative.

Upon arrival at Chatham Islands’ Tuuta Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your accommodation on the island’s stunning South Coast, approximately 40 minutes drive.

And when the time comes for that inevitable farewell, you’ll be comfortably transferred back to the airport, ensuring you connect seamlessly with your homeward-bound flight.

After a full day exploring the Chathams, the upstairs lounge at Awarakau Lodge becomes your haven. Order a glass of wine or perhaps a refreshing gin, sink into a comfortable chair, and watch the waves crash against the South Coast shoreline. On some days, you’ll spot local fishermen cruising past as they head out to check their craypots — a true slice of island life.

Meals at Awarakau are part of the experience. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style, creating a relaxed, homely atmosphere.

Your continental breakfast includes cereals, fresh fruits, toast, muesli, tea, and coffee — simple, wholesome, and just what you need before heading out for the day.

Lunch is a packed picnic, thoughtfully prepared each morning. Every day is different, ranging from sandwiches to croissants to wraps — always accompanied by homemade cake or biscuits, plus tea and coffee. And because Awarakau always goes the extra mile, out from the back of the minibus comes a folding table and chairs, turning even the most remote stop into a charming picnic setting.

Be sure to bring your drink bottle — in line with Travel With Lesley Whyte’s commitment to reducing waste, you can refill your bottle each day from the lodge’s fresh spring water container that travels with us.

Evenings at Awarakau are deliciously memorable. Dinner is a full three-course experience, and no two nights are ever the same. Rosemary’s specialties are always a highlight — her pāua dishes and smoked eel are unforgettable favourites.

Your main course often features locally caught fish, served alongside a variety of fresh salads and vegetables. And on one night, guests are treated to the ultimate classic: beautiful, freshly made fish and chips.

And of course… dessert. Homemade cheesecake, comforting rhubarb sponge, or chocolate brownie with custard — each one the perfect finish to a wonderful Chatham Islands day.

Warm, generous, and authentically local, the hospitality at Awarakau Lodge is as memorable as the landscapes you’ll explore.

We are pleased to cater for a variety of dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and coeliac requirements. Our hosts take great care to ensure your meals are thoughtfully prepared to suit your needs wherever possible.

Please note, however, that this is very much a seafood-focused experience — after all, you’re on the Chatham Islands. If you do not eat seafood or fish, evening meal options will be limited due to the island’s remote location and reliance on local, fresh ingredients.

Closer to your departure, we will send you a link to confirm your dietary requirements, ensuring everything is arranged well in advance for a seamless and enjoyable dining experience throughout your tour.

Awarakau Lodge offers a curated selection of wines, beers, and spirits for you to enjoy during your stay, along with mixers available for purchase. As part of the lodge’s hosting policy, no BYO alcohol may be served with meals. You’re warmly invited to relax in the lodge’s comfortable spaces with a drink of your choice, knowing everything you need is provided on-site for an enjoyable and seamless experience.

Rosemary provides a guest laundry service for your convenience at $6 per load. As there is no dryer available, the laundry is best suited to lighter items such as underwear. Larger garments can be washed and then hung on the outdoor clothesline to dry naturally in the island breeze.

Your Air Chathams flight includes one checked bag, with a maximum weight of 23kg. You may also bring one carry-on bag and one small personal item, with a combined total not exceeding 7kg.

Please note that all hand luggage is weighed prior to boarding, so we recommend checking your bag weight before arriving at the airport to ensure a smooth and stress-free check-in experience.

The Chatham Islands have a unique and fragile ecosystem with many native plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Because of this, strict biosecurity measures are in place to protect the islands from invasive species that could cause serious harm.

One key point to note is that the Chatham Islands are one of only three places in the world that are disease-free for bees. For this reason, the bringing in of raw honey, honey products, bee suits, and any apiary equipment—whether new or secondhand—is strictly forbidden. This protects the local bee populations and helps maintain the islands’ healthy environment.

We want every guest to experience as much of the amazing Chatham Islands as possible, and we accommodate all levels of fitness. However, it is important that you are able to manage your own luggage when checking in at Air Chathams and retrieving it from the luggage carousel.

The terrain and walking distances around the islands vary widely. Some locations require only a short stroll of 20 to 50 paces, while others involve climbing over a stile followed by a 10-minute walk. Certain sites, like the Basalt Columns, involve clambering down a rocky path to get close, though you can also enjoy spectacular views of these formations from the top of the hill if you prefer.

Walks can range from just 5 minutes to up to 45 minutes, over a variety of surfaces including solid ground, grassland, or boardwalks.

We always aim to get the coach as close to each location as possible. If walking into a location isn’t comfortable for you, you are welcome to stay on the coach or walk only as far as you feel comfortable. Our hosts are there to support you every step of the way to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.

While visiting the Chatham Islands, you will be under the care of New Zealand’s medical and health system. The island has a small hospital with just three beds, staffed by a doctor and nurses who provide essential medical care.

However, medical facilities are limited, and in the event of a serious injury or illness, patients are typically airlifted to the mainland for advanced treatment. It’s important to come prepared with any necessary medications as there is no chemist on the island.

Layered clothing is essential – regardless of the time of the year, the Chathams are famous for “four seasons in one day.” We recommend packing a beanie, windproof jacket and a waterproof parka, and clothing you can layer for changing conditions.

Dress is casual for the entire tour, so there’s no need for anything formal.

Important: There is no pharmacy on the island. Bring all essential medications, including extras in case of weather-related delays.

Bring your own hairdryer, soap, shampoo, and conditioner for your stay. While some basic toiletries may be provided, having your preferred products ensures you’re comfortable and can maintain your usual routine. This also helps reduce waste and supports sustainable travel practices.  If you have any special needs or require specific products, packing them is the best way to guarantee you have exactly what you need during your visit.

The General Store, just a 15 minute drive away annd offers a limited selection of essential household items and basic groceries for purchase. Please note, there is no full supermarket on the island, and facilities such as a chemist or clothing stores are not available.

For clothing, you’ll mainly find tourist-oriented items like t-shirts, beanies, and souvenirs rather than everyday apparel.

In the unlikely event that the tour is cancelled by us, you will receive a full refund, including your deposit, to your nominated bank account. Alternatively, you may choose to transfer your booking to another tour within the Travel With Lesley Whyte group of brands.

Please note that refunds may take 4–6 weeks, as we work with our suppliers to recover costs.

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on the tour.

Once we receive your $1,500 per person deposit, your booking is confirmed and your room will be allocated. This also allows us to begin making the necessary arrangements to ensure your experience is seamless from start to finish.

We recommend paying your deposit early, as places are limited and tours often fill quickly.

We will issue an invoice for the final balance, which can be paid via credit card or bank transfer.

Full payment is due 8 weeks prior to the tour’s start date. Please note that once paid, the final balance is non-refundable if you choose to cancel — unless we are able to re-fill your place, in which case a refund may be possible.

We recommend securing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.

Please note: Your deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel after making your final payment, we will refund the final payment only if we are able to fill your spot. If the spot remains unfilled, unfortunately, no refund can be given and we suggest you claim from your travel insurance.

There is no charge for a name change, therefore you can transfer your place to a friend if you wish.

In the unlikely event that the tour is cancelled by us, you will receive a full refund, including your deposit, to your nominated bank account. Alternatively, you may choose to transfer your booking to another tour within the Travel With Lesley Whyte group of brands.

Please note that refunds may take 4–6 weeks, as we work with our suppliers to recover costs.