The Headwaters Eco Lodge leads the way in sustainability
The Headwaters Eco Lodge is a business ahead of its time, leading the way in sustainability by operating to world-class regenerative design principles since it opened in 2018.
It all started when American philanthropists Paul and Debbi Brainerd fell in love with Glenorchy more than 20 years ago and one day spotted a ‘For Sale’ sign on the former Glenorchy Camping Ground.
Their vision from the outset was to create a thriving and regenerative business model that was environmentally and financially sustainable, giving back to its local community and the wider world. And its achievements in the six years it’s been open are impressive, including recently being named a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards in the environment category.
The Headwaters Eco Lodge is the first-ever accommodation facility designed and certified to Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards, the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive sustainability guidelines. It’s certified by the International Living Future Institute for its inspiring and regenerative approach to energy, water, materials and beauty.
Its passive design and state-of-the-art technology reduce water and energy consumption to 50% less than similar accommodation businesses. Water optimisation is achieved through an innovative closed loop water system, plus timed showers and compostable toilets saving 400,000 litres of water a year.
The lodge generates its own energy onsite thanks to one of the South Island’s largest solar gardens (589 solar photovoltaic panels spread around the property) and ground source heating throughout to achieve Net Positive Energy certification.
That energy fuels its state-of-the-art buildings including the impressive main lodge plus14 eco-chalets for guests. There’s enough left over to comfortably power nearby Mrs Woolly’s General Store and its busy café, gift store and art gallery.
Celebrating nature
The Scheelite Shelter is a covered outdoor space that’s perfect for gathering around a roaring fire, pinot noir in hand, surrounded by three constructed wetlands with native plantings that process greywater from sinks, showers and washing machines. The hundreds of native plants support local biodiversity through pollination levels and seed dispersion.
Every detail has been thought through to deliver an invigorating blend of hospitality, beauty, sustainability, restorative experiences and educational opportunities, a new type of guest experience for New Zealand’s visitor accommodation sector.
The Living Building Challenge uses a flower metaphor to reflect a healthy living entity. The building is rooted in place and generates its own fuel, collecting its own water, supporting its local ecosystem and community (via pollination), and becoming food for the local ecosystem at the end of its life. Vital aspects (petals) of the flower are woven throughout the guest experience.
Community benefits
Community input, interests and concerns formed the foundation of the lodge design. Over two years’ consultation and 400 community conversations throughout the design and build process helped understand needs of neighbours, locals and visitors.
In contrast to a typical building project which blends a team of architects, designers, and engineers, The Headwaters Eco Lodge approach also included artists, craftspeople and energy management specialists.
Nearly 100 Glenorchy residents took part in its creation by providing labour, craftsmanship, business services or as volunteers, and it now employs around 25 locals.
All profits from operations are donated to the locally-administered Glenorchy Community Trust to help increase the vibrancy and resilience of the community. Within the past year, the Headwaters commissioned New Zealand’s first community composting facility in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, which has diverted about 26 tonnes of organic waste from landfill so far.
There’s now a kerbside waste collection by e-bike, and compost is donated to the local Glenorchy community nursery, and also back to commercial and residential users who donate waste.
Thoughtful food and Christmas menus
The Lodge mitigates its food miles with its Chef’s Choice menu in The Dining Room focusing on local, seasonal produce grown in its kitchen garden and solar greenhouse.
Already hugely popular with guests and locals, renowned Executive Chef Pete Gawron (formerly of Arrowtown’s hugely popular Saffron restaurant) helms the kitchen team, proudly showcasing freshly-prepared garden-to-table each day with ‘just picked’ produce from the gardens and beautiful ingredients from Central Otago providers.
Local businesses with sustainability at the forefront of their staff celebrations can choose to enjoy a delicious two-course Christmas lunch with a menu designed by Chef Pete, or Scheelite Grazing Plates served in front of the roaring fire in the Scheelite Shelter (both are minimum groups of 10 with bookings required). Those who like some adventure thrown in with their staff functions might consider the Paradise Adventure package which includes ziplining with Paradise Ziplines and a three-course Chef’s Choice Dinner. For smaller groups a Cooking Class including lunch might tempt the tastebuds.
Bookings at events@theheadwatersecolodge.co.nz
