Rosewood CapeKidnappers
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers occupies 6,000 acres of working sheep and beef farmland on the cliffs above Hawke's Bay, where the land ends abruptly at the Pacific Ocean and the horizon runs uninterrupted for miles.
- Ceremony
- 10 seated
- Reception
- 200 seated
- Nearest airport
- NPE · approx 30 min by car
- Open season
- February – October
- Price range
- $$$$
- Rating
- 4.8 /5 · 117
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers is a estate destination wedding venue in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, hosting 10 to 200 guests in the $$$$ price range, reached from Napier Airport (Hawke's Bay Airport) (NPE), approx 30 min by car. Best months: February, March, April, October.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay, open February–October.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers occupies 6,000 acres of working sheep and beef farmland on the cliffs above Hawke's Bay, where the land ends abruptly at the Pacific Ocean and the horizon runs uninterrupted for miles.
Ceremonies and receptions take place across three distinct spaces: a converted woolshed Clubhouse with exposed timber and a rural pastoral scale, a Four Bedroom Villa with panoramic coastal outlooks and open living volumes suited to intimate gatherings, and a stone-and-wood Wine Cellar lit by ambient candlelight for seated dinners of a more private character.
The surrounding landscape — dramatic cliff ridgelines, rolling farmland, and New Zealand's premier wine country — is not incidental backdrop but the actual texture of the experience, informing everything from the bespoke menus built on Hawke's Bay produce to pre-ceremony shepherding tours and rounds of golf at one of the world's most vertiginous courses.
Full lodge buyouts are available, giving wedding parties exclusive access to the entire property, its suites, villa, spa, and kitchens — a level of containment that turns the estate into something closer to a private country house than a hotel.
OMG!! I cannot say enough about this place. We’ve stayed at many Rosewood properties before, but this is certainly the best!! Beautiful rooms and common areas. Amazing service. So many special touches. I only wish we had more time Good excuse to go back!! Worth every $$$
4 notes, from the desk.
The Clubhouse: a converted woolshed set apart from the main lodge
Four Bedroom Villa with cliffside ocean views for intimate ceremonies
Wine Cellar dining room with stone walls, wood detail, and ambient lighting
Full lodge buyout available for exclusive-use wedding weekends
Best held in February, March, April.
The months the weather — and the local rhythm — is kindest to a stay at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers.
Check availability.
Choose a day from the calendar.
We hold dates in pencil. A first note comes back within two business days.
How the weekend usually runs.
Yours will be different — nothing below is required. Every planning begins with the three meals you most want to eat, and builds outward.
- 5:00 PMWelcome reception at The Clubhouse with Hawke's Bay wine and seasonal canapés as guests arrive and settle into the lodge
- 10:00 AMShepherding tour of the working farm with the estate's shepherd and Huntaway dogs for guests; golf at Cape Kidnappers Course for others
- 4:00 PMCeremony at the Four Bedroom Villa lawn or clifftop setting with Pacific Ocean views
- 6:30 PMReception dinner in The Clubhouse with bespoke tasting menu and regional wine pairings; dancing into the evening
- 11:00 AMFarewell brunch at the main lodge dining room with full breakfast; optional spa treatments or Cape Sanctuary conservation tour before departure
Things worth knowing.
NPE · approx 30 min by car
Guests fly into Napier Airport (Hawke's Bay Airport). The desk arranges every transfer.
approx USD 200,000–350,000 for a 3-day, 80-guest celebration with full lodge buyout
Full lodge buyout packages typically bundle accommodation, venue fees, and F&B minimums, but florals, entertainment, and third-party vendors are additional.
approx USD 3,000–6,000
A one-time licence and setup fee, paid to the venue.
approx USD 300–500 per guest / head
A seated dinner with wine and service, by headcount.
approx USD 1,200–3,500 per room or suite per night / night
A standard room in the wedding window. Group rates on request.
February – October
4 viable months. Shoulder dates soften the light and the rates.
Asked along the way.
What is the maximum guest capacity for a wedding?+
The property does not publish a single hard capacity figure, but based on the scale of The Clubhouse (a converted woolshed) and the lodge's overall footprint, receptions of 80–120 guests are well within scope. Intimate ceremonies in the Villa or Wine Cellar suit parties of 10–40. For larger events approaching 150–200, a full lodge buyout with use of all venue spaces is the appropriate structure. Rosewood's wedding team will confirm exact setup capacities for your guest count at enquiry.
Are exclusive buyouts available?+
Yes. Rosewood Cape Kidnappers offers a full lodge reservation package that gives the wedding party exclusive use of the entire property — all accommodation, venues, dining spaces, and facilities. This is the most common structure for destination wedding groups and ensures complete privacy across the 6,000-acre estate for the duration of the event.
When is the best season to marry here?+
Hawke's Bay sits on New Zealand's east coast and is one of the country's sunniest regions. The prime window runs from November through April, with the height of summer (December–February) delivering the most reliable warmth and long evening light. The harvest season from late February into April adds particular character to the food and wine program, when the region's vineyards and orchards are at their most active. Spring weddings from October–November are also viable and typically quieter.
What's the food and beverage approach?+
The culinary program is built around Hawke's Bay's exceptional produce — the region is designated a Great Wine Capital and is New Zealand's primary fruit and vegetable growing area. The kitchen team constructs bespoke menus for each wedding, tailored to the couple's brief and the season. Wine-paired tasting dinners are a signature offering, and the Wine Cellar functions as a dedicated private dining space. Canapés, aperitifs, and full breakfast programs are all standard components of the wedding packages.
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Hold dates at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers.
A note to the desk with a rough season and guest count. We hold dates in pencil for three weeks before confirmation. A reply comes within two business days, from a person by name.