Appearing between two craggy peaks, The Black Diamond restaurant is a welcome sight to those arriving on horseback or hiking in the Ahuriri Valley of Aotearoa New Zealand (a private car transfer is also available). It’s available to book for private groups, who have passed along a track in the rugged Canterbury region.
The Black Diamond offers a personalised three-course meal with wine pairings, courtesy of head chef Dane Archery
Champagne and canapés welcome guests, along with sweeping views of the Ahuriri Valley and beyond. Head chef Dane Archery prepares a personalised three-course meal with wine pairings, which come from high-country farm stations and riverside vineyards.
The Black Diamond is a purpose-built experience for those staying nearby at The Lindis luxury Lodge. Both properties from The Lindis Group take inspiration from their striking natural surroundings. A sizeable rock to the left inspired the Diamond's monolithic form, designed by Tony Butel of Ground Up Studio.
The restaurant’s interior footprint is a mere 12 sq m, but it feels surprisingly spacious, with deep in-built benches and recessed lighting.
The materials for its construction had to be sturdy enough to withstand the environment yet light enough to be carried in by the team at JB Building when their four-wheel drives had to stop short of the site. Black-stained larch creates a rain screen over a corrugated iron base. Engineered timber, left over from another project, finishes the interiors.
The Ahuriri Valley is named after the Ngāi Tahu chief, Tu Ahuriri. Māori used to pass through here to find pounamu greenstone on the coast. The practice of manakitanga hospitality is still present – with the vast yet intimate setting demanding the utmost care and respect.
The Black Diamond leaves a lasting impression on its visitors, but not on the natural world. The off-the-grid structure catches water, while solar panels generate power, ensuring the Ahuriri Valley remains as untouched as it is treasured.
-
Curtains up, Kid Harpoon rethinks the sound of Broadway production ‘Art’He’s crafted hits with Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus; now songwriter and producer Kid Harpoon (aka Tom Hull) tells us about composing the music for the new, all-star Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza’s play ‘Art’
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekHere in the UK, summer seems to be fading fast. Moody skies and showers called for early-autumn rituals for the Wallpaper* team: retreating into the depths of the Tate Modern, slipping into shadowy cocktail bars, and curling up with a good book
-
To celebrate 50 years in business, Giorgio Armani is opening up his extraordinary archive to everybodyLaunched at the Venice Film Festival, Armani/Archivio is a digital archive charting 50 years of Giorgio Armani through the house’s most memorable designs
-
Be at one with nature at this bucolic luxury lodge in New ZealandFollowing a year-long renovation, the storied Huka Lodge in Taupō reopens its doors with a fresher, more contemporary edge, still attuned to its surroundings
-
Waiheke Island is a must-visit for oenophiles and aesthetes alikeDiscover what to do during this New Zealand destination's annual Walking Festival and beyond
-
Naumi Hotel — Auckland, New Zealand -
Avani Metropolis — Auckland, New Zealand -
QT — Queenstown, New Zealand -
Hugo’s Bistro — Auckland, New Zealand -
Sherwood — Queenstown, New Zealand -
Scrubby Bay — Akaroa, New Zealand
