The 21‑room, Category 1 Historic Place dates back to 1919 when it was commissioned by sheep farmer Stephen Spain, who had amassed a fortune running a rabbit‑canning factory in Alexandra that at its peak processed 15,000 rabbits a day for export to overseas troops.
Spain’s ambition to create a sprawling country manor – described by Heritage New Zealand as a display of “conspicuous consumption” and locally dubbed “Spain’s folly” – was halted by the post‑World War I economic slump and poor financial decisions, leaving the property derelict for a century.
In 2022, New Zealand investors Ryan Sanders and Marco Creemers purchased the neglected estate and embarked on a four‑year restoration project. The work not only repaired the original structure but also completed architect Edmund Anscombe’s vision by adding a formal dining room, library and ballroom while preserving the building’s heritage character.
The newly opened lodge offers seven individually styled en‑suite rooms in the main house, including the Spain Suite – named for the original owner and featuring a carved French antique bed, rich blue interiors and balcony views of the Fraser River and Old Man Range – plus additional accommodation in a restored Coach House that raises total capacity to 20 guests.
Guests can enjoy a swimming pool, sauna, spa, ice bath and optional exclusive use of the entire castle for up to 14 people. On‑site amenities also include croquet lessons on the lawn, hand‑feeding of Valais Blacknose sheep, and the option to arrange a private chef, driver or helicopter transfer.
Earnscleugh Castle joins a small cadre of high‑end lodges in the South Island, such as Otahuna Lodge, Huka Lodge and Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, and sits on roughly 12 hectares surrounded by Central Otago’s vineyards, orchards and tussock‑covered hills, offering easy access to the region’s renowned Pinot Noir wines and nearby cycling trails like the Otago Central Rail Trail.