Step inside this 5-star, award-winning lodge, and immediately feel at home. Staying here is like staying with friends and family, yet with all the amenities you expect, and some you don't: Complimentary beers, wines and soft drinks, complimentary pre-dinner drinks & hors d'oeuvres, complimentary high-speed internet service, and complimentary shuttle service to local restaurants.
Breakfast specialties include Ham & Parmesan Baked Eggs served on English Muffins, Buttermilk Waffles served with fresh fruits, homemade yoghurt and bacon, Becky's famous Huevos Rancheros (poached eggs in a mildly spicy Mexican tomato sauce), French Toast, and of course the KKB (Kiwi Klassic Breakfast): Bacon, sausages, garlic mushrooms, Vinaigrette-marinated tomatoes, plus eggs and toast. Home-baked breads, muffins and toasted muesli are also a specialty.
By special request and with advance notice, candlelight evening dining with a three-course meal and fine wines is an optional extra on Fridays and Saturdays, at a cost of $NZ80.00 per person including wines. We also offer the option, by special request and with advance notice, of more casual dining at the lodge: For instance, Rob's home-made pizzas fresh from his wood-fired pizza oven, or steaks on the BBQ. (Think of this option as like having a barbeque at a friend's house - very relaxed and easy going.) Pricing including drinks is $50 per person for this option. A lovely bar and restaurant is located just 2 minutes away, and a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and bars are less than 8 minutes away in Taupo. We offer a complimentary drop-off service, and a taxi ride home is generally less than $NZ20.00.
Each of the guest suites has its own en-suite, and floor-to-ceiling windows to capture the lake and mountain views. The White Cliffs King Suite and Lake Taupo Queen Suite are separated by a large kitchenette, with a fully stocked refrigerator, facilities for making tea and coffee and a library of DVD's. All guests have access to the lounge/reading room, with log fire, computer with high-speed internet access, and a library of books to enjoy. (If you find a good paperback, you may take it with you.). All guests also have access to the extensive patio - a great space to relax with a good book and perhaps a glass of wine - as well as the hot tub, from which you can enjoy glorious views both day and night. And, if you could use some extra pampering, why not enjoy a relaxation massage from Becky, who received her qualifications from the prestigious Lauterstein-Conway School of Massage in Austin, Texas.
Pillpot, the lodge cat taking it easy by the fire
Your hosts Rob and Becky are happy to suggest and book activities matched to your interests. The Taupo region is reputed to be the trout fishing capital of the world, and Tauhara Sunrise can arrange guided fly fishing and boat fishing experiences. Taupo is literally an adventure playground, with bungy jumping, tandem skydiving,
jet boating, quad biking, horseback riding, parasailing, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and many more adrenalin-pumping pursuits available. There are also ample leisure activities to enjoy, including golf, tennis, mineral pools and spas, boutique shopping, sidewalk cafes, romantic lake cruises, thermal parks, eco-tours and many hiking options.
Taupo's central location makes it an ideal hub from which to explore the North Island's major tourist attractions:
Rotorua - Maori culture, thermal parks, buried village, etc. 1 hour
Hawke's Bay - wine district. 1 1/2 hours
Tongariro National Park (a World Heritage Park) - the famous Tongariro Crossing, a 7-hour hike, plus multitudes of shorter hikes and skiing in the winter (July - October). 1
1/2 hours.
