On a high-country estate near Twizel, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat looks across Lake Pukaki towards Aoraki Mount Cook and the Southern Alps. The private villas use stone, timber, fireplaces and generous living spaces, with terraces framing the expansive landscape. A wellness centre, tennis court, observatory and farm experiences extend across the estate, while meals draw on produce grown on the property and sourced from the region. Low stone buildings sit among tussock, lavender and open fields, leaving the turquoise lake and snow-covered ranges as the dominant view.