About Us
Manata Homestead & Lodge is nestled in the heart of Wakatipu Basin with stunning views of Coronet Peak and the Remarkables.
Your hosts Nicky and John have a love for meeting people from around New Zealand and throughout the World. A stay at Manata Lodge is sure to be a memorable occasion that will leave an impression on you - it sure has for us!
We are conveniently located just 5 minutes drive from Queenstown Airport and 2 minutes drive to the nearest supermarket and shopping centre, 10 minutes from downtown Queenstown, Arrowtown, and the Gibbston Valley wineries.
Conveniently located in close proximity to Queenstown's key attractions, enabling you to maximise your stay with us.
Staying at Manata is just like having your own holiday home.
You have access to our extensive estate gardens & vineyard, playground, outdoor heated swimming pool and spa, sauna, outdoor patios and picnic area and our BBQ.
Washing Machine and Dryer available in both the house and the lobby of the apartments. Equipment at our guests disposal includes our DVD, book & game library, guest laundry, WiFi internet, mountain bikes and cricket set.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world and a place that people visit all seasons of the year. Manata Lodge represents the perfect base to explore what the wider region has to offer.
Learn more about the legend of Manata, whom our lodge is named after, below.
The story of Manata
and the Legend of Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu Maori legend has it that the beautiful Manata was the daughter of a local chief. Her love for the young warrior Matakouri was in vain as she was promised in marriage to another chief.
One night a terrible giant, Matau, stole Manata away. Her father the chief offered Manata’s hand in marriage to any brave enough to rescue her, only one warrior was daring enough, Matakouri.
His search led to a valley where Matau lived, here he found Manata bound. Manata begged Matakouri to free her while the wind was blowing from the east and the giant was sleeping.
Try as he could, Matakouri’s greenstone mere (club) could not cut through Manata’s magical bonds. Manata sobbed bitterly and miraculously her tears dissolved the cords binding her; the lovers fled.
The old chief Manata’s father kept his word and two were married. Matakouri knew that while Matau lived no maiden would ever be safe, so he decided to deal with the giant once and for all.
On a day when the easterly wind blew steadily, Matakouri returned to the valley of the sleeping giant and set fire to the dried bracken Matau slept on. The giant was drowned in flames, which fed by fat became so hot that they burned a huge hole in the ground and melted the snow from the surrounding mountains.
This became Lake Wakatipu, which even today is shaped like a sleeping giant. Beneath the water of the lake, Matau’s heart is still said to beat causing the lake level to rise and fall hourly.