One might think a wooden tree house would be the first thing to come crashing down in an earthquake, but Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, is made of sterner stuff. Nearby Kaikoura was hit by a severe earthquake on November 14, but the lodge mercifully suffered no structural damage – proving New Zealand’s building codes are among the world’s best. After a brief closure, this wonderful lodge is back in business, offering guests a contemporary country hotel experience in an idyllic coastal setting. Nestled in the foothills of the Kaikoura Seaward Mountain Range, with majestic Mangamaunu Bay only half a mile to the east, the lodge is the ideal base for exploring a pristine maritime environment – and a testament to coastal strong. hapukulodge.com
Image Credits: Photo by Joshua Holko.