Treetops Lodge

What Treetops Lodge does

Treetops Lodge & Estate is a privately-held, owner-operated luxury 5-star wilderness lodge situated on a 2,500-acre private estate in Rotorua, New Zealand. Founded by John Sax — who began acquiring and ecologically restoring the land in 1986 and opened the lodge in 2001 — the property holds capacity for a maximum of 36 guests across 13 villas, lodge rooms, a lodge apartment, and Pheasant Cottage. The core offering comprises estate-to-plate dining, a Forest Spa featuring traditional Māori therapies (Mirimiri, Romiromi), and guided wilderness activities (fly fishing, trophy hunting, horseback riding, 4WD safaris, hiking on 70 km of private trails, helicopter tours, and a Wild Food Cooking School). A signature technical and operational backbone includes a micro-hydro power system with grid-export capability, on-site organic food production (game herds, trout streams, Manuka apiaries, foraging gardens), deep natural spring water supply, and reforestation offsetting all guest carbon emissions.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, quote-based luxury hospitality model with concierge reservations, supplemented by Preferred Supplier status in the Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network luxury advisor ecosystems. Published pricing is concentrated in three structured packages: Signature Weddings (NZ$79,539-NZ$98,135 for up to 52 guests), Elopement Weddings (NZ$6,510-NZ$8,690 for two), and Day Delegate corporate packages (from NZ$220 per person). The lodge is reciprocal-partnered with the owner-adjacent Kinloch Manor & Villas and The Kinloch Club (Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, NZ's #1 golf course per 2022 World Golf Awards), enabling multi-property "Forest to Fairway" itineraries under common ownership by John Sax's Southpark Corporation. The business has received four consecutive World Travel Awards Australasia Responsible Tourism Awards (2016-2019), multiple Condé Nast and Elite Magazine recognitions, and operates with a long-tenured core team of 16 employees including Estate Manager (9 years), Head Chef (6 years), and Guest Relations Lead (7 years).

Name

Treetops Lodge

Legal name

Treetops Lodge & Estate

Website

https://treetops.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Treetops Lodge & Estate is a privately-held luxury 5-star wilderness lodge on a 2,500-acre private estate in Rotorua, New Zealand, accommodating up to 36 guests in 13 villas and suites with estate-to-plate dining, Māori spa therapies, fly-fishing, hunting, and reciprocal access to sister property Kinloch Manor & Villas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Wilderness Lodge Hospitality

NAICS

All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ), Community-Based & Indigenous-Owned Nature Lodges (THAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Luxury wilderness lodging
• Boutique eco-lodge hospitality
• Destination wedding venues
• Estate-to-plate dining
• Wilderness retreat experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Luxury Accommodation: Revenue from lodging in 13 private villas, luxury lodge rooms, lodge apartments, and Pheasant Cottage. Properties feature fireplaces, private terraces, and nature immersion.
2. Wedding Packages: Signature Wedding Package (NZ$79,539-NZ$97,860) and Elopement Package (NZ$6,510-NZ$8,690) including multi-night accommodation, dining, and coordination
3. Dining Experiences: Estate-to-plate gastronomy featuring estate-reared game, trout, and foraged ingredients. Four-course dinners, wine cellar selections.
4. Outdoor Activities: Revenue from guided experiences including 4WD safaris, fly fishing, hunting, horseback riding, helicopter tours, and hiking expeditions
5. Forest Spa Services: Wellness treatments including Manuka honey scrubs, Mirimiri and Romiromi massage, and thermal mud facials
6. Multi-Property Golf Access: Reciprocal access to Kinloch Manor & Villas and The Kinloch Club Jack Nicklaus golf course
7. Corporate Retreat Services: Day delegate packages from $220 per person, team-building activities, and multi-night corporate retreat packages

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Treetops Lodge & Estate operates a luxury 5-star wilderness lodge on a 2,500-acre private estate near Rotorua, New Zealand, offering intimate accommodation in 13 villas, lodge rooms, apartments, and Pheasant Cottage alongside estate-to-plate dining, a Forest Spa with traditional Māori therapies, and a portfolio of guided outdoor activities including fly fishing, hunting, horseback riding, 4WD safaris, helicopter tours, and hiking across 70 km of private trails.

Product overview

Treetops Lodge & Estate is a luxury 5-star wilderness lodge operating as a single, unified hospitality property on New Zealand's North Island. The core offering combines intimate accommodation (villas, lodge rooms, cottages), estate-to-plate dining, and immersive wilderness experiences. Accommodation options include Forest Villas (132 sqm), Valley View Villas (152 sqm), Lodge Rooms, Lodge Apartment, and Pheasant Cottage. Signature experiences span the Wild Food Cooking School, Māori Food Trail, Estate to Plate 4WD Safari, Forest Spa, fly fishing, trophy hunting, and 70 km of private hiking trails. The lodge maintains a reciprocal partnership with sister property Kinloch Manor & Villas (offering Jack Nicklaus-designed golf), enabling multi-property stays. Event services include weddings (Signature Wedding and Elopement packages) and corporate retreats. Packages offered include Love Escape, Family Play, Pure Escape, and Forest to Fairway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Treetops Lodge & Estate Accommodation
• Forest Spa
• Wild Food Cooking School and Māori Food Trail
• Estate to Plate 4WD Safari

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon neutral status achieved through 250,000+ tree plantings offsetting all guest emissions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kinloch Manor & VillascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Both properties are owned by John Sax of Southpark Corporation. Guests enjoy reciprocal access to amenities and experiences at both properties. Treetops guests receive priority access to Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Kinloch. Multi-lodge itineraries allow check-in at one property and departure from the other.
• The Kinloch ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course located adjacent to Kinloch Manor & Villas. Guests of both Treetops and Kinloch receive priority tee times and access to championship golf facilities.
• VirtuosocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVirtuoso Preferred supplier status. Virtuoso is a network of luxury travel advisors connecting high-net-worth clients with premium properties worldwide.
• Signature Travel NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred Supplier status with Signature Travel Network for luxury travel bookings and client referrals.
• The Wedding CollectionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurated network of exceptional New Zealand wedding destinations recommended for couples seeking alternative venues.
• Tear FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTreetops supports micro-enterprise initiatives through Tear Fund, providing micro-enterprise loans to local organizations such as artisan carvers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Huka Lodge: Iconic NZ luxury lodge on the Waikato River near Taupo. Directly comparable to Treetops as a 5-star wilderness lodge in the central North Island targeting HNW travelers with all-inclusive rates, fine dining, and outdoor activities. Same target customer, similar price point, similar experiential positioning.
• Helena Bay Lodge: 5-star luxury lodge in Northland, NZ, with similar small-scale, owner-led ethos, estate-to-plate dining philosophy, and HNW target. Often cited alongside Treetops in luxury NZ lodge rankings.
• Blanket Bay Lodge: Ultra-luxury lodge on Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. Comparable as a top-tier NZ wilderness lodge offering adventure activities (helicopter, fishing, hiking), fine dining, and small-room-count intimate service for affluent international guests.
• Wharekauhau Country Estate: Luxury lodge on a working sheep station in the Wairarapa. Similar intimate-scale, estate-driven, food-forward positioning with strong sustainability ethos. Comparable target customer and price point.
• Matakauri Lodge: Luxury lodge near Queenstown under Robertson Lodges with similar intimate scale, fine dining, and outdoor activity mix (helicopter, hiking, wine). Direct competitor in the NZ luxury experiential travel segment.
• The Farm at Cape Kidnappers (Kauri Cliffs / Robertson Lodges): Robertson Lodges operates Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, and Matakauri — three top-tier NZ luxury lodges. Same HNW target market, similar all-inclusive rates, similar experiential offering combining wilderness, golf, spa, and F&B. Closest scaled competitor portfolio.
• Eichardt's Private Hotel: Boutique ultra-luxury hotel on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown. Comparable HNW positioning, similar small-room-count intimacy, and comparable fine-dining and concierge service standard. Competitor for the same affluent traveler itinerary.
• Kinloch Manor & Villas: Sister property under common ownership (John Sax / Southpark Corporation). Same clientele, shared distribution, reciprocal guest access, and complementary offerings (Treetops = wilderness/forest, Kinloch = Jack Nicklaus golf and Lake Taupo views).

Broad incumbents

• Singita Grumeti (Tanzania): Ultra-luxury African safari lodge brand with conservation-led ethos, similar small-capacity intimate lodges, and parallel HNW traveler segment. Comparable as a global benchmark for conservation-luxury positioning though in a different geography.
• Aman New Zealand (if/when launched): Aman is the global benchmark for ultra-luxury resort brands. Should Aman or similar ultra-luxury brand (Rosewood, Six Senses) launch or expand in NZ, they would compete directly for the same HNW traveler seeking remote luxury. Represents the strategic ceiling on Treetops' positioning.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KinochManor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/treetops-lodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Treetops Lodge