Hospitality and tourism may be in the blood for Robynne Peacock, but it took sheer hard work with late husband and fishing guide Ron to make a success of Te Anau’s most successful, high end luxury lodge.

The 10-suite, rustic-style mountain lodge with its three massive stone fireplaces, five-star restaurant and bar overlooking Lake Te Anau’s South Arm is mostly booked out from October to April with mainly overseas guests.

Robynne and business partner Andy Cunningham have just sold the five-star operation to the Australian-owned Imperium Collection which took over yesterday (6 Oct).

Demand has been that way since Robynne, a daughter of renowned Fiordland tourism legends Les and Olive Hutchins, and husband Ron were first forced to open the lodge, 5kms from Te Anau, before the building was completely finished in 2002.

“We had bookings, so we had to open,” Robynne says.

“One of us slept up there at night, on the floor, chairs or a sofa.”

The lodge had been three years in the making, probably five in the planning, and they cleverly started marketing at TRENZ – New Zealand’s largest travel show, in 2000.

“The first year we went with concept plans and the second year it was under construction, so we took photos,” she says.

“We started building in May 2002 and opened five months later."

"It was phenomenal.”

It was a learning curve from Day One – Robynne, a trained medical lab assistant and Ron, a former National Park ranger-turned hunting, fishing and hiking guide, neither with any lodge or hospitality experience.

“Ron was very strong on natural history being an experienced fishing guide and guided a lot of specialist groups.

Ron Peacock in 2014. Photo: Supplied

When he first started guiding, he’d book his clients into the best local rooms and when we got there, they’d bumped our clients off the list, so we decided to build a log cabin.”

American log builder Norman Rhyne built the cabins on a site they owned on the other side of town.

“We were driving through Luggate and saw a log house we loved, and the owner had just enough logs left.”

Norman built the cabins and also designed the lodge.

Unfortunately, he passed away before the project was finished and a Geraldine log building specialist stepped in.

They’d originally planned to develop 10 log cabins, but Robynne was studying business and did her thesis on building the cabins versus a lodge.

“The lodge won hands down. It was more feasible to build a really nice place, so we bought the current site with lake views and moved our first cabin there.”

Arrow International came on board and chose the architect.

“Then the Twin Towers terrorist attacks happened and we were like, ‘What’s going to happen to tourism?’,” Robynne says.

Construction of Fiordland Lodge began in May 2002. Photo: Supplied

“The same week the quantity surveyors came in at double what we thought, so we delayed building for a year.”

The Douglas Fir logs had been cut from Earnslaw Forest, near Tapanui, and were being stored on a friend’s property to dry.

“They came over in four big articulator trucks.”

Stones were collected from the Upukerora River down the road for the fireplaces, the main one reaching two and a half storeys, some 9m high.

There was no high-end accommodation in Te Anau at the time.

“The Holiday Inn built in the 70s was the best and the market was hanging out for something upmarket. It was ready for a luxury lodge.”

Neither Robynne nor Ron had ever employed people, but that Hutchins entrepreneurial spirit shone through.

“Staff would come to us and ask if we’d pay their holiday pay and we didn’t know what to do."

"Employing people and marketing were my weakest areas but you put more effort in if you don’t know,” she says.

Fiordland Lodge has become a 5-star destination for weddings and celebrity retreats. Photo: Supplied

“We made a profit the first year. We never made a loss.”

They employed experienced, high-end staff, including a chef from one of the NZ’s best fishing lodges.

“They taught us about the industry."

"I got called up once as there were three specks on a sheet, but that chef said, “10% of your guests will be like this, Robynne, but if you treat them right, they’ll be friends for life and that’s what happened.”

The North Americans, especially fishermen, and UK/European markets loved it.

They still do, many returning year after year.

Occupancy continues to run at pretty much 100% from October to April, usually booked out with 30% North Americans, 30% UK/Europeans and 30% Australians and 10% Kiwis and other nationalities.

With room rates now averaging $1900 the lodge has hosted an impressive roster of A-Listers over the years from Hollywood icons to A-list celebrities and the lodge continues to be an exclusive retreat for those higher profile clients seeking that exclusive retreat when visiting the area.

The GFC [Global Financial Crash] was tough, especially during winter, and they started closing during the off-season.

Perks of the job. On the final night of Harrison Ford’s stay in 2019, he (middle), his wife Colista Flockhart (right) and son Liam (far left) went into town for pizza and beer with Andy (far right) and his wife, Noeleen (left). Photo: Supplied

“It wasn’t until we came out the other end of that that we realised how tough it had been.”

In 2010, now business partner Andy Cunningham, an experienced specialist hospitality manager who grew up in Gore, took over as manager.

He was a Godsend, with Ron passing away in 2015, and more tumultuous economic times ahead.

Andy was offered a partnership in 2013, becoming a part owner and from the 1 April 2020, a week after lockdown he bought the remaining leasehold off Robynne, who continued to live in the family home she and Ron had built on site.

“Covid was very tough, especially for Andy, with 95% of the lodge clientele international and airports closing he had to entice the domestic market.” Robynne says.

“We saw him right, but it was a torrid time for him."

"He’s run the lodge for 15 years and I’m in my 70s so it was a joint decision to sell.”

Andy, who brought UK experience to the role, is ready for a break, his brother James who’s now been managing the lodge since 2022, is staying on in that capacity under the new ownership.

It’s been a 24/7 role and while it was a sweet and sad day yesterday (6 Oct), Andy said he was most looking forward to having the summer off and will plan his future after a well-deserved break.

Hot tubs under the stars are just one of the treats awaiting guests at Fiordland Lodge. Photo: Supplied

“I can count on one hand all the Christmas Days I’ve had off in the last 30 years,” he says.

“Over Covid we never stopped."

"We pumped out enticing packages to the Kiwi market, and we got absolutely hammered and we had no staff."

"They’d all gone home overseas."

"It was very stressful."

"My son, at nine or 10, was helping and my daughter, now 19."

"They’ve both worked at the lodge helping in some capacity since they were about five."

"My wife Noeleen, who was already busy at the local pharmacy, also assisted,” he said.

Both Andy and Robynne are satisfied that they’re handing over a “really good product”.

From left, Robynne, Madeleine, Amanda and Boyd Peacock, Isabel and Liam, Christie and Fraser Wilson with Angus and Hamish, celebrate the handover at the lodge last weekend (4 -5 Oct). Photo: Supplied

That was obvious from the high level of interest in the sale which went to a multi offer.

Australian company Imperium Collection, which owns the plush Eichardt’s Hotel, The Spire and Pacific Gem in Queenstown, and Queenstown hospitality entrepreneur Vicki Onions, won the bidding.

“It’s a really nice property, a beautiful lodge that’s been really well looked after,” Imperium managing director Andrew Cox says.

“They’re really good people and wonderful custodians."

"We’re very impressed with the chef and the team,” he says.

The property has a great synergy with their Queenstown operations.

Andy (far left) and Noeleen (far right) Cunningham and there 2 children Niamh and Ronan (both left), when they hosted Indian Cricket Captain Virat Kohli and his wife Bollywood actress and movie producer Anushka Sharma. Photo: Supplied

“There’s a very good link between our Queenstown experience and this wilderness Milford Sound experience."

"Many of our guests are guests of Fiordland Lodge.”

It will be business as usual with a continued focus on fishing and hiking and maybe even encouraging more locals and visitors to Te Anau into the restaurant.

Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.