Fire crews from around Otago and Southland worked through the night and well into yesterday morning to fight a fire reported about 11.15pm on Saturday at the five-star Fiordland Lodge, on the Milford road north of Te Anau.
Former owner Robynne Peacock said she was shocked by the fire at the lodge, which she built with her late husband Ron, a fishing guide, in the early 2000s.
The couple put a lot of time and effort into establishing the hotel, including building a distinctive massive 9m-high fireplace in the hotel’s Grand Room made with stones collected from the nearby Upukerora River.
Her children were travelling to be with her in Te Anau and the family were "pretty devastated", Mrs Peacock said.
"[I’m] stunned at the moment, it’s sad."
However, she was amazed to see the building was largely intact.
"It looks terrible from the outside, and there are areas inside which are terrible, but there’s also areas which have had amazing preservation."
The lodge and Mrs Peacock’s nearby private home were sold in October to Australian investment company Imperium Collection — which owns luxury accommodation Eichardt’s Hotel, The Spire, and Pacific Gem in Queenstown — and to Queenstown hospitality entrepreneur Vicki Onions, for more than $15.25 million.
At the fire’s peak, eight fire engines, an aerial appliance, five tankers and two support vehicles tackled the blaze, and firefighters from Te Anau, Manapouri, Mossburn, Blackmount, Lumsden and Invercargill responded.
Firefighters had initially feared people were still in the building but said yesterday morning everyone was accounted for.
By 9am the fire was limited to one wing. Crews remained on the scene throughout the day monitoring hotspots, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said.
Mrs Peacock was in contact with the owners and had been shown the damage to the lodge over a video call.
Former co-owner Andy Cunningham had been on the scene on Saturday night and again yesterday morning and Mrs Peacock was preparing to walk through the site yesterday afternoon.
Some parts of the building, such as the roof, were damaged, while others had reportedly escaped largely unscathed.
"It sounds like the fire brigade have done an amazing job of bringing [the fire] under control, and limiting the damage," Mrs Peacock said.
"It doesn’t belong to me anymore, obviously, but ... so appreciative of that, because we designed it, built it, worked in it, owned it until about three months ago."
She said Ms Onions had indicated the owners would look to rebuild the lodge.
"We’re relieved that everyone — and that includes staff and guests — is safe and well," Ms Onions said in a statement.
Radio New Zealand reported Ms Onions as saying all guests had been moved to local Te Anau hotels. She was also reported as saying it was too early to determine the cause or the extent of the damage.
Fiordland Lodge has 10 suites, a restaurant and bar. It has hosted numerous celebrities, including Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, Virat Kohli and Sir Peter Jackson.
Its website advertises "bespoke outdoor experiences", such as world-class fly fishing, scenic hikes and intimate encounters with local wildlife.
A one-night stay for two adults can cost upwards of $2000.
