Huka Lodge

Why book?

To experience New Zealand’s original and much-loved luxury lodge in its latest reincarnation.

Set the scene

An antipodean version of a Scottish hunting lodge meets Ralph Lauren. Think cosy tartan blankets and pillows, regal, rich colours like striking red curtains and teal sofas, gilt-framed oil paintings and roaring double-sided fireplaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors open to the emerald-green Waikato River and hectares of manicured gardens. Scattered throughout the property – terrace, tables and walking by the river – are well-dressed guests in boots, collared shirts and pressed jeans, and many returning visitors.

The backstory

Founded as a fisherman's camp in 1924 with white canvas tents pegged by the Waikato River, and just upstream from the gushing Huka Falls, Huka Lodge was an in-the-know spot for trout-catching anglers. In 1984, Alex van Heeren took over the property and transformed it into a luxury lodge that welcomed rock stars and dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II. Now, the handsome digs have changed hands and are part of the Baillie Lodges portfolio, which owns luxury lodges in some of the most jaw-dropping locations around the world, from Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Longitude 131 in Uluru, to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island and Tierra Patagonia in Chile. The first move by its latest custodians was a $NZ 25 million (approximately £ 18 million) makeover for the famed lodge. Hiring the same team is becoming a Baillie trait (they re-hired the same architect for the Southern Ocean Lodge rebuild), so for Huka Lodge, Virginia Fisher, the interior designer behind the 1984 renovation, was enlisted 40 years later. Now, after a nearly year-long renovation that includes newly expanded main dining and lounge areas, such as the peaceful River Room terrace on the edge of the trickling river, the handsome property is ready for its latest stage.

The rooms

Following the renovation, 20 supersized riverside suites remain, each featuring floor-to-ceiling bifold doors that open onto the manicured lawns and the Waikato River. Moss-colored chaise longues in the living area, piled with pillows and wool blankets, are perfectly positioned to take in the view, as are the four-poster beds with wool-blend mattresses and willowy gauzy curtains. Each suite also has a terrace, generous walk-in wardrobes and large bathrooms with rain showers and tubs. There are also two ultra-luxurious owner’s residences, the two-bedroom Alan Pye Cottage and the four-bedroom Alex van Heeren Cottage, with its own pool overlooking the gushing river.

Food and drink

All-inclusive and generous. The menus try to be locally sourced and while breakfast and lunch are a la carte and feature crowd-pleasing favorites like steaks, burgers and salads, the four-course dinners – in various locations around the lodge from the main lodge dining room to the 4500-bottle stone cellar, or the romantic manicured orchard – take it up a notch and might be yellowfin tuna tartare and roasted duck, or ceviche of snapper followed by a saddle of lamb, all perfectly plated with chef foams and smears. Plus, there are plenty of pre-dinner drinks, canapes and a fully stocked minibar replenished daily.

Neighbourhood

On the banks of the Waikato River, 350 meters upstream to the overflowing Huka Falls and part of the broader Lake Taupō region in the central North Island of New Zealand. This is an outdoorsy way of life with fly fishing (its original drawcard), mountain biking, hiking, lake cruising and white-water rafting on the doorstep of Huka Lodge.

The spa and gym

The Huka Spa in the newly added Wellness Grounds is a brand-new addition. Tucked behind the main lodge and accessed via pebble-covered steps and surrounded by well-maintained gardens of native tree ferns and flowering Amelanchier trees, the wellness area includes a gym with high-spec equipment, a spa with two treatment rooms (where guests can be slathered in local Manuka honey and balms made from local plants), a cedar sauna, cold bucket showers and a warm plunge pool for immersion therapies, where I happily spent half-a-day going from hot to cold.

The service

Baillie Lodges prides itself on the ‘first name attitude’, but that’s as casual as it gets. All the staff are trained in luxury service, and many of them are seasoned hospitality professionals, so it’s friendly yet not too chummy and very professional.

For families

No children under 10 in the main lodge and lodge suites. However, the two cottages accommodate families with children of all ages.

Eco effort

Huka Lodge has initiatives dedicated to ensuring the very best practices for the local community, environment, and energy. Essential to the vision are initiatives designed to preserve pristine waters and the broader environment, conserve energy through recycling, and support the Taupō community. You can read more about Huka Lodge’s sustainability here.

Accessibility

Lodge Suite No. 4 is located close to the main lodge and features a separate wheelchair- and mobility-accessible level bathroom with aids, including a barrier-free shower, a shower seat, handrails, and a wider entranceway to the connecting en-suite. The suite is accessed via an ascending pathway, and a portable ramp may be fitted to the porch on request for further ease of access. The main restaurant is over two levels joined by two long depth stairs; guests with limited mobility or in a wheelchair are seated in the upper dining room as the lower dining room is not accessible. Similarly, the outdoor terrace is tiered over two levels; only the top deck is wheelchair accessible, as the lower deck has a few stairs down to it.

Anything left to mention?

It’s hard to leave the grounds, but try to adventure out and take in the natural surroundings. There are various activities like hikes, bushwalks, fly fishing, canoeing and cruising the nearby Lake Taupō, plus helicopter excursions to Rotorua or to the Hawke’s Bay winery Craggy Range for a two-hour tour of the estate, including wine tastings and a five-course lunch, all of which can be arranged by the lodge.