Huka Lodge Waikato Taupo Relais & Chateaux
Charming Irishman Alan Pye founded Huka Lodge on the banks of the Waikato River in the 1920s. The fame of this simple fishing camp soon spread all over the world, and soon it became one of the most popular. To this day, more than 90 years later, the hotel remains true to the values that defined its iconic reputation.
- On the shore of the lake
- Michelin Chef’s Restaurant 2*
- Wairakei International
- Golf Course
The cottage is located in a secluded location on 17 acres of manicured grounds on the banks of the mighty Waikato River, just upstream from where the water accelerates through the gorge before plunging into the famous Huka Waterfall. The Wairakei International Golf Course, which is also a wildlife sanctuary, is a five-minute drive away.
Huka Lodge looks like a country dwelling of a fabulous, slightly dissolute uncle. The common areas are decorated with antique furniture and art objects collected from all over the world. On the walls are hung historical portraits of Maori subjects Gottfried Lindauer and Charles Goldie, as well as a selection of oil paintings depicting Edwardian rural pursuits.
The color scheme is rich and bright in dark green and blue tones: the Barclay Scottish hunting carpet, referring to New Zealand’s close relations with Scotland, as well as to the original sports purpose of the lodge.
On the extensive and beautiful territory of the hotel, guests can use
True retreats in every sense, harmonious and deliberately simple. Designed in such a way as to allow the beauty of the landscape to dominate while providing luxurious amenities and comfort.
The rooms are decorated in a simple and elegant style, furnished in muted tones and decorated with whitewashed wooden panels. French doors open up the entire coastal landscape and open onto a wooden terrace overlooking the hypnotic deep turquoise-green waters of the Waikato River or a beautiful private courtyard garden, and a mosquito net gives a safari feel.
The private cottages, built using the best quality heritage materials – cedar, heartwood, stone and brick, are based on architectural elements of the 1920s and 1930s with a reference to the refined elegance of the English arts and crafts movement. This influence in the modern interpretation clearly permeates both external and internal design. The color palette is deliberately muted with soft cream and caramel shades of the walls and bleached oak parquet floors to create an atmosphere of calm relaxation.
The tasting menu of the British-born chef Paul Froggatt, awarded two Michelin stars, is an impressive series of dishes prepared from the best high-quality and environmentally friendly ingredients. True gourmets will appreciate the Southland lamb loin fried in mustard pesto and the neck glazed with organic romanesco lemon puree and wild garlic.
The main building of the lodge attracts guests like bees to honey. It is from here, having had a good breakfast, you can go in search of adventures or sit comfortably with a book in a comfortable armchair by a cozy fireplace. Enjoy excellent cuisine and exceptional wines in a romantic candlelit setting as the evening approaches.
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