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dventures in Paradise was born out of a love for travel, the environment, giving back and of course our beloved small village of Glenorchy. The quaint town has been attracting visitors since the first settlers arrived in 1861 and people continue to be drawn to this magical place today. Surrounded by towering mountains, braided rivers, deep-blue lakes and lush beech forests, Glenorchy is a true slice of paradise.

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The Headwaters Eco Lodge

In 2018, Adventures in Paradise founders and philanthropists Debbi and Paul Brainerd created New Zealand’s only net positive energy accommodation, the stunning Headwaters Eco Lodge. Adventures in Paradise is the next step in their journey towards inspiring, educating and delighting visitors.

Our Adventures in Paradise experiences will get you out exploring the most stunning spots, connect you to the Glenorchy community and its friendly locals and inspire you to make more conscious, sustainable choices in your daily life. This is unlike group adventure travel as you know it!

Unique Experiences

Inspiring Evening Programs

Tailored to you and your interests, these programs are hosted by local legends keen to share their experiences with you. Topics include Glenorchy cultural history, art by NZ artists, the wonders of nature nearby, photography, sustainability, food, wine - you name it!

A Chance to Give Back

The grounds at The Headwaters Eco Lodge have been extensively landscaped with native plants to invite the return of native birds to the township. You too will have the option to leave a bit of yourself behind while giving back to the Glenorchy community by planting your very own native tree or shrub at a landscape restoration project nearby.

Treats for the Body & Soul

While you're with us, you can opt to participate in gentle morning yoga classes before you start your day, or choose an optional soothing afternoon massage after your day's adventures. Your heart will thank you for making the time to decompress a bit and breathe a little deeper in Glenorchy's fresh mountain air.

Our trips

Every trip has an element of surprise but these are the things we don't waiver on

Community

Glenorchy is our home and our vision has always been to give back to our local community and the larger world. Adventures in Paradise, and more broadly ‘The Headwaters’, is part of a NZ-registered charitable organisation that was created to support the Glenorchy Community Trust. By joining us you are truly supporting local too!

Eco + Comfort

You’ll be staying at The Headwaters Eco lodge —New Zealand’s first net positive energy accommodation. When you stay with us you’ll have the opportunity to discover how warm, beautiful and welcoming a light footprint can be, as well as the standards we live up to as part of the Living Building Challenge, the highest sustainability standards in the world.

A Deeper Connection

We are driven by crafting experiences that create goodness that extends beyond us. This happens by enabling our guests to have meaningful experiences immersed in some of nature's most magnificent high mountain landscapes with people from our local community and the beauty of the land in which we live.

Environment

The land and its people are what inspire us. And when you join us on any of our getaways, you'll discover why. Each itinerary includes hours of healthy, restorative time in nature, and community-based activities. During your experience, you'll also have an option to leave a little piece of you behind for next time, knowing that your time here will be a gift to you as well as to the community of Glenorchy for years to come.

Learning & Creativity

Curiosity drives us and we believe everyone has a gift to give to the world. Beyond nature-based learning, we’ve opted to go deeper in our quest to create an expanding sense of community. Each evening on our programs there will be inspiring guest speakers, breathtaking visuals, and creative people excited to share their passion with you.

A Responsible Choice

Our choices matter. Our getaways make it easy for you to make great choices. Whether that be around the food you eat, the way you nurture your body, mind and soul or the way you connect with the environment and those around you. Our pledge is to walk our talk with the hope of inspiring others to make healthy, positive choices that nurture and sustain.