The trust that operates Borland Lodge, near Monowai, fears it may need to close the doors permanently as lost bookings and mounting costs start to take their toll.

Borland Lodge has been providing unique outdoor education and leisure activities to schools, New Zealanders and their families and overseas visitors for more than 50 years, but as Covid-19 impacts on everyone’s way of life, it is now in a position where the ability to provide this unique experience for the next 50 years is placed at serious risk in the immediate and mid-term future.

Trustee of Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust, Brendon Wallace, said as the revenue dried up due to lost bookings and ongoing bills, and fixed costs kept coming, anxiety was rising.

“We are hanging in there for now, but the uncertainty of what the future holds, including how the Lodge will be able to operate under the different Alert Levels, is causing serious concern. It may be a significant length of time before the Lodge can get back to normal operations and revenue,” he said.

“The arrival of the global pandemic forced the lodge to close and cancel all bookings for the end of March, April and May. While schools have kept their bookings for later in the year, we anticipate that there are likely to be cancellations closer to the time depending on what happens between now and then. While we operate the Lodge year-round, bookings are very seasonal so cancellations in peak season put us under even more pressure,” Mr Wallace said.

“It would be heartbreaking seeing it go like this especially when you take into account the massive effort that the community has put into maintaining and improving Borland Lodge over the years, and the impact that it has had on our young people and wider community. We are hoping it won’t come to closing the doors but the threat is very real and we are trying everything we can to keep it afloat”. 

Occupancy at the lodge was critical to maintain the infrastructure and, without it, urgent relief and local support was needed keep the Southland hot spot afloat.

“We have lost a significant proportion of our revenue, there is no tourism and currently nobody is able to travel. It would be a sad day for Southland if we had to close – everyone has a 'Borland Story' to tell, or a magical memory from the place,” Mr Wallace said.

One of the biggest worries for the trust was how long it may be until things were able to pick back up after the lockdown. The “new normal” was not going to be like our “old normal” so nobody knew what that was going to look like, he said. To that end, a Givealittle page has been established to receive donations to help.

“We are grateful to have community-minded managers who are doing all they can to see the lodge survive this difficult time, and we hope that when it’s possible we will have an influx of locals visiting the lodge”.

If you would like to donate to help save Borland Lodge, please visit the Givealittle page

About Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust

Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust is a local non-profit organisation that began life as the Pig Creek Hostel, providing accommodation for the power project workers in 1969. On completion of the project the buildings were left behind to become a valuable base for school, youth, family and community groups for years to come.

Borland Lodge is set against New Zealand’s largest National Park, just off the Southern Scenic Route between Lake Manapouri and Lake Monowai South of Te Anau. There is ample scope for adventure and activities that include, bivy making, eeling, burma trail, caving, night drop, fire pit, team building but to name a few.

Borland lodge can accommodate up to 150 people, offering a convenient, comfortable and affordable base. Borland Lodge welcomes groups, weddings, functions and retreats as well as couple and individual travellers.

More information can be found at the Borland Lodge website.