Aro Hā
NEW ZEALAND
THE PERSONALITIES
Soul searchers. Minimalists. Quiet achievers. Reset artists.
MOMENTS
Transformative experiences. Awe-inspiring landscapes. Reconnecting with the wild. The simplicity of being. Feeling light and alive. Panoramic view of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Silence broken only by wind and birdsong.
Strength found through stillness.
BEST VISITING MONTHS
Late spring through early autumn (November to April) offers the most balanced experience at Aro Ha, when alpine trails are open, days are long, and temperatures support outdoor movement, lake immersion, and open-air mindfulness practices. Winter brings snow-dusted peaks and deeper solitude, ideal for those drawn to intensity and introspection, though access is more weather-dependent and programs are more physically demanding.
COST
WHY STAY
Set high above Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, Aro Hā is a mind, body, and soul wellness experience occupying a dramatic alpine shelf where mountains rise sharply and the lake mirrors sky and stone. This is raw New Zealand geography at its most elemental: glacial valleys, beech forests, and vast open air that immediately recalibrates the nervous system. The remoteness is intentional; arrival feels like leaving the world behind and stepping into a landscape designed for clarity.
Accommodation is deliberately restrained. Purpose-built eco-suites and shared lodges are constructed from stone, timber, and glass, drawing directly from the surrounding terrain. Interiors are calm and uncluttered, prioritizing sleep quality, natural light, and thermal comfort. Architecture does not compete with the view; it frames it. Every space reinforces the idea that less allows for more: more rest, more presence, more awareness.
Wellness at Aro Ha is rigorous, immersive, and science-informed. Founded by Damian Chaparro, the retreat integrates functional fitness, yoga, breathwork, mindfulness training, and plant-forward nutrition into a structured daily rhythm. Cold-water immersion in the lake, guided movement in alpine air, and intentional recovery periods work together to support metabolic health, mental resilience, and long-term vitality. The experience is challenging but deeply restorative, offering a full-system reset rather than passive relaxation.
Why Wander
Guided hikes through Mount Aspiring National Park reveal landscapes shaped by ice, time, and weather. Trails move from dense forest to exposed ridgelines, encouraging both physical endurance and quiet reflection. Movement becomes a form of meditation, with the land setting the pace.
Lake Wakatipu invites cold immersion and contemplative stillness. Entering its glacial waters sharpens awareness and strengthens mental resolve, while the vastness of the lake restores perspective. These moments are about relationship with body, breath, and place.
The wider Glenorchy region offers a sense of frontier calm rarely found elsewhere. Open valleys, braided rivers, and minimal human imprint create space for unstructured wandering, photography, or simply sitting with the landscape. Exploration here feels internal as much as external.
Indulge In
Nutrient-dense, plant-based cuisine designed to support physical performance and recovery. Meals emphasize organic vegetables, clean proteins, medicinal herbs, and fermentation, prepared with precision and intention. Food is functional, grounding, and quietly refined.
Getting There
Fly into Queenstown, then travel by road through Glenorchy to the retreat. The final approach winds through valleys and along the lake, marking a gradual transition from urban pace to alpine stillness.
Wild Initiatives
The purpose of Aro Ha is to transition people to a more awake and sustainable approach to life and relationship with the environment. The buildings and landscape, gardens, permaculture, extraordinary environment and activities on retreat all come together to educate and create this change. Aro Ha was designed to be used as an example of living sustainably. Aro Ha has established an infrastructure that treads lightly on the environment and is strongly self-sufficient. To do this Aro Ha minimises energy use through exceptionally high insulation levels, airtightness, careful solar design and low energy lighting and appliances. The buildings were built using Passive Huas Techniques.
Aro Ha also has a commitment to onsite renewable energy generation and was New Zealand's first renewably sourced distributed heating Scheme. Aro Ha uses:
5 kw photovoltaic panels and thermal solar panels.
Wood-boiler feeding large thermal store supported by solar panels feeding a district hot water scheme.
40kw Micro-hydro generation from mountain stream combining with PV arrays to feed back to the grid and allow for self-sufficiency when grid not available, which can happen in harsh winter conditions.
Vegetable Gardens and greenhouses, coppicing, nut and fruit trees, irrigation systems, rainwater collection and reuse, Vermiculture wastewater treatment.
Landscape and building providing specifically focused environment to support the vision of the retreat center.
Predominantly locally sourced materials and labor.
Aro Ha’s contributions to local and the wider community:
Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand is supported through ongoing contributions.
The Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust is a local conservation organisation dedicated to trapping introduced predators to protect native bird species. The Routeburn Track is frequently walked by guests, making the commitment to preserving the surrounding bush and wildlife deeply meaningful.
Community-based fundraising initiatives are supported throughout the year, including local fairs, primary schools, kindergartens, and neighbouring businesses, strengthening ties within the region.
Monthly donations are directed toward local classes run on a volunteer basis by staff members. These sessions range from yoga and movement practices to nutrition education, extending wellness beyond the retreat into the wider community.
The scholarship programme is a point of pride. Throughout the year, individuals facing financial barriers are offered the opportunity to experience a full retreat, contributing only the GST portion of the standard retreat price.
The Work Scholar Programme supports those seeking experience in the luxury wellness industry. Over eight weeks, participants volunteer across multiple departments, gaining hands-on insight into retreat operations before completing the programme with a full retreat experience.
*Images property of Aro Ha, C Stoddart