Earnscleugh Castle, a grand 21-room manor near Clyde on New Zealand’s South Island, is opening as a luxury lodge after an $NZ11 million restoration.
The property, which featured on Grand Designs New Zealand, has been transformed into an adults-only bed and breakfast while retaining its historic character. Guests can expect individually designed rooms, French antiques, croquet on the lawn and evening wine with charcuterie and canapes.
Although it is known as a castle, Earnscleugh is a Jacobethan manor built in 1919. It is listed as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
The house was commissioned by sheep farmer Stephen Spain, who made his fortune through a rabbit-canning factory in Alexandra. At its height, the business processed 15,000 rabbits a day for export and employed more than 90 people.
Spain appointed Dunedin architect Edmund Anscombe to design an imposing home. The completed plans called for 21 rooms, three bathrooms, three storerooms and two sun balconies.
Heritage New Zealand described the mansion as an example of “conspicuous consumption”. Locals dubbed it “Spain’s folly”, after Spain was unable to complete the project following the post-First World War economic collapse and poor financial decisions.
Earnscleugh Castle luxury lodge completes historic vision
Ryan Sanders and Marco Creemers bought the neglected property in 2022 and began restoring it while completing parts of Anscombe’s original design. The work included a formal dining room, library and ballroom.
The main house contains a range of rooms and suites, while additional accommodation is available in the restored Coach House. The premium Spain Suite features a carved French antique bed, blue interiors, bay windows and French doors opening on to a western balcony overlooking the Fraser River and Old Man Range.
Facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, spa and ice bath. Breakfast, house wine in the evening and pre-dinner charcuterie and canapes are included, while guests can also play croquet or hand-feed the estate’s Valais Blacknose sheep.
Earnscleugh sits on about 12 hectares of Central Otago countryside near Clyde, among orchards, vineyards and tussock-covered landscapes. The area is known for pinot noir, while the Otago Central Rail Trail and Lake Dunstan Trail are within cycling distance.
The entire castle can be booked for private use, with accommodation for up to 14 guests in seven en suite rooms. The Coach House raises capacity to 20, and a private chef, driver and helicopter transfers can be arranged.
A seven-day wellness programme called Sanctum 7 is due to launch in November. Limited to 12 guests, it will combine functional testing with vegetarian and juice programmes, yoga, breath work, sound healing, ice baths, intravenous drips and daily time in the estate’s grounds.
Rooms start at $NZ899 a night in low season, including breakfast, evening house wine, charcuterie, canapes and use of the wellness facilities. A two-night minimum generally applies, while exclusive use of the castle starts at $NZ9999 a night with a three-night minimum stay.
