Our approach
A small, private residential rehab north of Auckland, run by people who have walked the road themselves. Recovery is built with you, not for you.
Who we are
Person-centred, evidence-based and grounded in lived experience.
Keystone Lodge is a private alcohol and drug rehab set on four acres of rural land north of Auckland, supporting people from across New Zealand and overseas. Our person-centred residential programme brings together individual AOD therapy, group work, recovery mentoring, holistic wellbeing and a structured 12-month aftercare pathway.
The Lodge is now owned and run by Leon and Emma, who both walked through the doors of Keystone during their own recovery. They know first-hand the courage it takes to seek change, the importance of connection, and the life-changing impact of feeling truly seen and supported. Their priority, and the priority of the whole team, is that individuality in recovery comes first in everything Keystone does.
Many of our team, including our owners, have lived experience of addiction and recovery. Our therapists are DAPAANZ-registered addiction clinicians, our nurse has more than a decade in mental health and addiction, and our recovery mentors have been where you are. That combination of professional expertise and genuine understanding is what makes Keystone different.
Keystone is an approved provider of the Kelly Foundation’s Recovery Dynamics® programme, a structured 12-Step facilitation curriculum. We combine it with traditional AA and 12-Step practice, individual clinical therapy and whole-person wellbeing, so every guest leaves with a clear, personalised pathway to long-term recovery.
Every guest receives a personalised plan built around three pillars
12-Step facilitation through Recovery Dynamics®
Recovery Dynamics® is a structured 12-Step facilitation curriculum from the Kelly Foundation. Rather than a brief introduction to the Steps, it gives guests a clear, guided method to understand addiction, learn the solution and put it into action, with a focus on life skills, personal responsibility, emotional resilience and achievable milestones. Alongside it we integrate traditional AA principles: healthy routines, self-awareness, connection and accountability, with three off-site 12-Step meetings each week.
Individual clinical therapy
One-to-one sessions with our AOD therapists, with psychological support available where appropriate. A customised plan may include CBT, trauma therapy, relapse-prevention planning, emotional regulation techniques and behavioural and motivational therapies, recognising that addiction often sits alongside trauma, anxiety, depression or grief.
Holistic wellbeing
Recovery extends beyond the therapy room. Movement and personal training, Reformer and Mat Pilates, breathwork, mindfulness, meditation, chef-prepared meals and time in nature support healing of mind, body and spirit, and build the daily routines that carry recovery home.
Recovery is best understood by those who have walked the journey themselves
What truly sets Keystone apart is connection.
Many of our team, including our owners, have lived experience of addiction and recovery. We walk alongside every guest with genuine understanding, knowing the courage it takes to choose a life in recovery.
Living and healing alongside others on a similar path, guests build a network of accountability and empathy that is crucial for long-term success. Shared meals, group sessions and peer support break the cycle of isolation, and that sense of belonging is what many guests say made the difference.
Why people choose Keystone
We treat the whole person: mental, emotional, physical and social wellbeing, not just the addiction.
- A holistic, personalised programme built around your story, strengths and goals
- A structured pathway through the 12 Steps with Recovery Dynamics®, so no one leaves unprepared
- DAPAANZ-registered AOD therapists and a registered nurse managing supported detox
- A small, boutique setting where every guest is known personally
- A supportive therapeutic community, with lived experience throughout the team
- Private bedrooms on four acres of peaceful rural grounds north of Auckland
- Family support and education alongside your own treatment
- Structured aftercare, with regular contact for at least 12 months
What our guests say
The most special place on earth!
I found Keystone on Google search while desperately seeking help for my alcoholism and I got a response almost immediately from Damo to firstly check I was okay, and then fill me in on what the lodge has to offer in terms of the start to recovery.
After a few weeks stay I now consider this place a second home and the most special place on earth, the staff are warm and welcoming, all with their own stories and journeys to share, the facilities are awesome, from a well equipped gym to beautiful outdoor views and last but not least the therapists and time taken with you to working through the twelve steps of recovery is invaluable.
I would highly recommend Keystone to anyone crying out for help, the hardest part is to reach out but once this has done, this special place will take care of the rest for you, I promise. I will be forever grateful I found Keystone.
10/10 — Truly life-changing experience at Keystone Rehab.
My experience at Keystone Rehab was nothing short of life-changing. From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel genuinely welcome and supported.
The team is professional, compassionate, and truly dedicated to helping every person who walks through the door. The program itself is incredibly well structured — it doesn't just focus on recovery, but on real growth, understanding yourself, and building the tools to live a better life beyond rehab. The counsellors, therapists, and facilitators all go above and beyond to make sure you feel heard, valued, and encouraged.
The environment at Keystone is calm, safe, and filled with positivity. It's a place where you can be honest, heal, and actually start to believe in yourself again. Every day brought new insights and real progress — both mentally and emotionally.
I left Keystone a stronger, clearer, and more grounded version of myself. I'll always be grateful for the people there and the support they gave me through every step of the journey. If you're ready to make a real change, I couldn't recommend Keystone Rehab enough.
Thank you, Keystone — you helped me get my life back.
Best thing I ever did in my life!
When I contacted Damon at Keystone Lodge, I had been dealing with various forms of addiction since my teenage years. I had come to a point where, even though I was prepared to do anything to stop, I could not imagine living my life completely sober forever, and I could certainly not have imagined how much better my life could be if I was sober.
I had never been to a rehab before, but I can say with conviction that Keystone Lodge sits right up there in terms of the care, the quality and the efficacy of the treatment it offers.
The quality of life, happiness, and spiritual peace I have found now is beyond anything I could have ever thought of achieving. I would recommend Damon and his team to anyone looking to improve their lives through sobriety, either for those who have reached rock bottom or simply those who have just realised life is better without any substance but are struggling to let go.
Wonderful people. I will be eternally grateful!
I had been battling to put down the bottle for over 20 years when I came to Keystone Lodge. For my time spent here, I was treated with kindness and understanding. I felt accepted and not alone. I met people who had been in my shoes who shared with me how they came out the other side. I received counselling to help me understand myself, the how's, the why's and the where's.
I was introduced to AA and taken to meetings within an environment that felt safe and reassuring. I had my own personal space when needed, and positive, helpful company any time of the day. Keystone is a safe haven with built-in structures to repair and nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits. I received the tools here to embrace my sobriety.
Keystone gave me a safe, peaceful space to gather the tools I needed to rebuild my life
I found my crew there, a community of people who understood me, encouraged me, and accepted me exactly as I was. Both staff and clients became part of a family that I know will stay with me for life.
The holistic nature of the program nurtured every part of me: mind, body, and spirit. The mix of personal training, yoga, healthy meals, and time spent walking the beach or through the bush brought back a strength and clarity I hadn't felt in years. The rooms are restful and the communal spaces calm and welcoming, perfect places to reflect, connect, and heal. Even the surroundings feel like they are part of the therapy, peaceful, natural, and grounding.
What I loved most about Keystone was the gentleness of the recovery process. It's not about being told what to do, it is about being guided with kindness and understanding. There is a real feeling of safety, and of people genuinely caring. And I love that clients can bring their small dogs, the comfort of having animals around adds something truly special to the healing process.
With the support of the team, the psychology and counselling sessions, and the aftercare that continues once you leave, I have embraced a whole new life, one that feels authentic, hopeful, and connected.
If you are reading these reviews wondering if Keystone is the right place for you, please, take that as your sign. Pick up the phone and call them. I know how hard it is to reach out, but it might just be the call that changes everything. There is life beyond addiction, peaceful, connected, and full of meaning. Keystone helped me find mine, and you can find yours too.
Ready to talk?
You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Speak confidentially with our team about what's happening, for yourself or someone you care about. Every conversation is confidential and obligation-free.
- Freephone
- 0800 539 888
- James, call or text
- 021 596 159
- [email protected]
