A Farm Chic Retreat: Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

Lauren Ho checks into Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, a Hawke’s Bay clifftop retreat where farm‑chic elegance meets sweeping ocean views, award‑winning wine country, and one of New Zealand’s most important wildlife sanctuaries.

Review: Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

Perched high on a 6,000‑acre private peninsula in Hawke’s Bay, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers commands one of the most dramatic positions in New Zealand. Part working sheep and cattle farm, part luxury lodge, it blends rural authenticity with refined comfort. Built by American philanthropists Julian and Josie Robertson in 2007 and now part of the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts portfolio, the property sits at the end of the region’s celebrated wine trail, surrounded by rolling pastureland that drops away to sheer cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. It is also home to Cape Sanctuary – New Zealand’s largest privately funded wildlife restoration project – making it as much a haven for rare birds and native flora as it is for guests.

STAY

The approach itself sets the tone. A winding eight‑kilometre drive takes you through forest, gullies and farmland before the lodge reveals itself on the ridge, a cluster of farm‑inspired buildings in stone and timber that seem to grow out of the land. Inside, high‑beamed ceilings, exposed macrocarpa walls and expansive windows frame views of sheep‑dotted hills rolling into the Pacific. The interiors mix antique workbench tables and vintage tractor seats with deep sofas and contemporary New Zealand art.

The 22 suites, some within the main lodge and others housed in cottage‑style buildings scattered across the grounds, carry the same farm‑chic DNA. Each has a private balcony with panoramic views, a fireplace, a walk‑in dressing room, and a generous bathroom with a deep soaking tub. The four‑bedroom Owner’s Cottage is ideal for families or groups, with a great room for communal dining and a terrace looking out over the cliffs.

DO

Cape Kidnappers is as much an experience as a place to stay. Golfers make the pilgrimage for the Tom Doak‑designed course, a par‑71 masterpiece perched on cliff tops 140 metres above sea level, with fairways running along vertiginous drops and views that stretch for miles. For a closer connection to the land, join a guided Can‑Am tour across the property, stopping at the gannet colony – the largest and most accessible mainland colony in the world – or head out after dark on a Cape Sanctuary night tour to spot kiwi in the wild and watch glowworms light up the forest.

Farm life is woven into the guest experience. The shepherding demonstration is a highlight, where farm dogs and stockmen work in seamless unison to muster and shear sheep. Hike or bike the trails, arrange a heli‑tour over Hawke’s Bay, or simply retreat to the spa, where treatment rooms overlook the ocean and gardens. In summer, the infinity pool is irresistible; in winter, the fireside beckons with a glass of local syrah in hand.

EAT

The kitchen makes the most of Hawke’s Bay’s status as the ‘fruit bowl’ of New Zealand, alongside vegetables, fruit and herbs from the lodge’s own gardens complemented by the region’s growers and fishermen. Dinner at Cape Kidnappers is built around a daily‑changing menu that runs alongside a variety of all-day options, allowing guests to dine as formally or as casually as they wish. Dishes might include Te Matuku oysters with lemon and shallot mignonette, or Hawke’s Bay lamb with rosemary and confit garlic, while the wine list is a celebration of Hawke’s Bay alongside standout bottles from other regions. The kitchen is equally happy to go off‑menu and with notice, the chefs can source specific ingredients and create a dish to order, whether that’s spanner crab linguine or a favourite cut of meat.

FINAL WORD

Whether you’re here for the golf, the wine, or the wildlife, Cape Kidnappers offers a stay that is grounded in the landscape and deeply connected to its surroundings.

Rates at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers start from NZD 2,950 (approx. £1,400) per room per night, including breakfast, pre‑dinner drinks and canapés, and a la carte dinner.

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