Why an Eco-Lodge - The Knapdale Eco Lodge Philosophy

Knapdale Eco-Lodge is a 32 ha sustainably managed, semi permacultural operation with a variety of sustainable agro-forestry projects. Knapdale Eco-Lodge started 16 years ago with closed canopy plantings of Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus radiata and Acacia melanoxylon to combat rampant soil erosion on the steeper areas of our farm. At present about 10 ha of the farm is in forest with a variety of species and offering a very attractive mosaic of green colours on a formerly denuded and actively eroding landscape.

Our eco tourism venture includes visits by Waka Toa, a local Gisborne Maori cultural performance group to our two historic Maori sites in the forest on the farm. Waka Toa is an active partner in developing authentic Maori experiences for our overseas visitors to these historic sites.

The Knapdale eco lodge is recognised by the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association, Forest & Bird and the Gisborne Regional Council as an example of outstanding environmental protection and Knapdale Eco-Lodge were awarded the 2003 Rural Environmental Awards by the Gisborne Regional Council, in cooperation with DoC. During April 2006 Knapdale Eco-Lodge were awarded the prestigious Farm Forester of the Year Award, North Island, 2006 by the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association.

The luxury lodge itself was completed in 2004 and built of materials with as small an ecological footprint as possible. Most structural timber was sourced within a 20 km radius and was milled by a local two man operation sawmill.

The timbers used were non native and not imported but were sustainably grown in a forest park. 90% of the timber used was Lawson’s cypress which is naturally durable. Other wood species used were Macrocarpa and Douglas fir. Ply cladding was of sustainably managed Radiata pine but was treated to provide durability.

Knapdale Eco-Lodge use exclusively rainwater which is collected in three large underground tanks. Drinking water is filtered but even without filtering is of an extremely high purity and clarity. Hot water is provided by a large solar panel in summer and a wetback fire stove in winter. For 8 to 9 months a year we are disconnected from the electrical grid for our hot water needs. The electricity we do consume from the grid is produced at the nearby Tuai hydro plant which means the Eco Lodge is almost entirely run on renewable resources.

Knapdale Eco-Lodge have a passive solar under floor heating system which does not draw any electricity barring a very small water circulation pump. A small sewage treatment plant produces grey waste water which irrigates a small native tree plantation at the bottom of our garden. Knapdale Eco-Lodge were awarded Gold and the Supreme Award during the 2006 House of the Year Awards as well as the Pink Batt Insulation Award by the Master Builders Association.

As a practising forester Kees (the owner) is very well suited to work with Landcare and the Forest Research Institute Scion, as well as East Coast / Tairawhiti landowners, to restore degraded native forests. We are presently investigating how we can connect our top inbound tour operators to these restoration practises to mitigate the effects of long distance travel.