Eco-friendly luxury!

Being both eco-friendly and gaining a 5 star luxury rating may sound a little like a contradiction in terms.

Claremont Luxury Lodge, however, combines the two effortlessly and successfully, with a commitment to maximise the sustainability of our environment as well as minimising the impact of tourism on our planet. In other words, there is far more to Claremont than meets the eye.

The environment at Claremont is tranquil, beautiful and historically important and the owners, Rosie and Richard Goord, want to make sure that coming generations can continue to enjoy its pleasures while contributing to the planet’s sustainability.

They believe that balancing the demands of protecting the planet’s environment and running what is a tourism business requires a true partnership between business interests and nature.

So, Claremont undertook many practical measures while refurbishing the luxury lodge. These include:

• Increasing the thermal insulation using a natural insulation product made from NZ wool.
• Installing a “clear water” septic tank sewage disposal system with our waste water re-cycled for garden irrigation.
• Fitting all new window casements with draught proof rubber seals.
• Fitting double glazing to the additions to the historic homestead.
• Using energy efficient 12v lighting throughout.
• Encouraging guests to retain and re-use bath towels through the use of heated towel rails in all bathrooms. Our towel rails are connected to the hot water system, not the central heating. It means that not only are they available year round but are effectively heated as a by product of hot water hearting.
• A central heating system that employs individual thermostat valves on every radiator as opposed to using a central thermostat.
• Fitting 100% natural wool carpets throughout.
• Providing 100% natural cotton towels and bathrobes for your use

As well we:

• Grow organic seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables that are served whenever possible, or sourced from local organic growers when not available from our own gardens.
• Favour the use of other fresh organic ingredients (such as herbs and eggs etc) in our kitchen for preparation of all meals.
• Re-cycle domestic waste with degradable waste composted and other waste separated into glass, plastic cardboard etc and taken weekly to the local re-cycling station.
• Use of eco-friendly bio-degradable detergents and domestic products.

Reduce your carbon footprint and plant a tree!

Of course, it is not possible to eliminate totally the carbon footprint created every time someone stays at Claremont Luxury Lodge.

However, we have developed a solution which may contribute towards lessening the carbon footprint by funding and planting a tree at Claremont Country Estate. We will provide a roll of honour with your name and address in our Tree Planting Guest Book as a permanent legacy of your commitment to reducing your carbon footprint.

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We can do this in one of two ways. You can make a small donation and we will buy and plant the tree or, alternatively, you can buy the tree while you are here and help us plant it yourself which can be fun! If you are not able to help plant your own tree, we will e-mail you an image of your tree being planted. In either case you will have the pleasure of knowing that it is contributing to the “Greening Waipara” programme” as well as to the “Greening Claremont" programme which we introduced more than five years ago.

The “Greening Claremont” programme commenced with the creation of a lagoon and “wetland” area on the estate surrounded by plantings of natives and was designed to be a wildfowl habitat. Similar plantings have been established along the boundary with Ram Paddock road. In the year 2007 around 1,000 new plantings have already taken place on the Estate and there is plenty of scope to add your tree to our landscape.

" In my view, Claremont is one of the most magnificent resorts in the world. The location, house, farm, geology and of course, the 4WD tour combine to make what has to be one of the most unique experiences on earth."
Matthew US