For when only the very best will do…
If you consider yourself a luxury hotel aficionado, then Huka Lodge needs no introduction. At 90 years old this retreat might be in its golden years, but this beautiful, timeless lodge continues to be favoured among A-listers and coveted among aspiring travellers year in, year out, with no end date in sight. Today, international celebrities and luxury-seekers continue to flock to the quiet, pretty town of Taupo in New Zealand’s north island to experience the unparalleled sense of luxury, awe-inspiring service, and picturesque, breathtaking scenery this incredible property has grown a global reputation for.
In case your arm needs twisting (we doubt it), here’s five ultra-luxurious reasons to stay in this riverside haven…
1. Absolute, no-one-will-know-you’re-there privacy
Remember when we said celebrities are particularly fond of Huka Lodge? This is one of the reasons why. Just 25 guest suites are available on a sprawling 17 acres of manicured grounds, and adding to all this sense of privacy and isolation is the absolute discretion of the staff at Huka Lodge – one of its hallmarks. It’s commonplace for the Lodge’s housekeepers to intuitively know the best time to slip in and service the guest rooms, disappearing before the guests even know they’ve been, or for guests to discover their favourite magazines or treats appear almost out of thin air, despite no mention to the staff. This is just a touch of the magic that happens at Huka Lodge.
2. A choice of 21 sublime dining locations, all on Lodge grounds
At Huka Lodge, not only does the menu change daily, but if your heart so desires, the dining location can, too. Executive Chef, Paul Froggatt, serves up cuisine made from some of New Zealand’s finest and freshest local, seasonal produce, that can be devoured in over 20 deliberately romantic private dining venues both indoors and outdoors throughout the property. Perhaps you fancy a table for two bathed in candlelight, beside the river and under the stars? Or in the wine cellar? Or at the jetty pavilion? Or beside one of the numerous outdoor fireplaces? You get the idea…
3. One-of-a-kind, intimate events
Huka Lodge began putting on special events in 1991, and they were such a hit that they have continued every year since, such as the Lodge’s iconic Big Red Dinner. In the chillier months of May to September, guests will find themed weekends, high profile guest chefs, celebrated winemakers, artists, musicians and celebrity presenters. A series of Fireside Experiences, introduced last winter, involves pre-dinner drinks with local artisans, historians and personalities, who share their life experience and specialist knowledge with the lucky guests. Intimate occasions of no more than 50 guests, Huka Lodge sure knows how to do exclusive…
4. Exclusive, unique experiences
Huka Lodge works closely with the best and most experienced guides and local operators to offer experiential packages exclusive to Huka Lodge guests. These packages immerse the guest fully into the heart of Taupo local life and offer cross-cultural exchanges. Catch a magnificent Rainbow Trout then watch as the Lodge Chef slices it into fresh sashimi for your lunch or explains how to smoke it; or discover The Art of the Maori Carver, a two-night package offering a unique and authentic cultural exchange between guests and Maori tribal members of the Ngati Tuwharetoa of Taupo.
For those who like to shop, Huka Lodge has relationships with global luxury brands the likes of Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton, Karen Walker and Tiffany & Co. at its disposal. Let Huka Lodge organise a personal styling session at a Karen Walker boutique or Crane Brothers, or have a private viewing at leading art auction house Art + Object. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…
5. Simply beautiful design with no expense spared and every detail considered
Internationally-recognised interior designer, Virginia Fisher, has created the lodge of our dreams. Elegant and calming, opulent yet grounded, the 18 Junior Lodge Suites and single Lodge Suite are the ultimate romantic retreat for couples, while the four-bedroom Owner’s Cottage and the two-bedroom Alan Pye Cottage showcase unparalleled comfort and luxury, with multi-generational family holidays in mind.
Meanwhile, through the doors of each accommodation, guests can wander a secret garden sanctuary of manicured landscape, juxtaposed against the raw, powerful beauty of theWaikato River and nearby Huka Falls. It’s the stuff of dreams.