On the eve of her 2024 centenary milestone, New Zealand’s iconic Huka Lodge at Taupo is set to lead a new era of luxury travel in the nation renowned as the home of luxury lodging, as plans for a significant and considered renovation by Baillie Lodges are revealed.
Affectionately known by Kiwis as ‘the grand dame of luxury lodges’ and as the preferred holiday lodgings for the world’s rich, famous and royal over the decades, Huka Lodge is part of the esteemed Baillie Lodges collection. The substantial redesign and build will unfold over several months and the new-era Huka Lodge is slated to reopen in March 2025.
No of suites 20
No of cottages 2
Catering to 59 guests
Project investment
NZ$20 million
Reopening timing March 2025
Design
Baillie Lodges founder James Baillie leads the renovation project, partnering with esteemed New Zealand-born interior designer Virginia Fisher, first appointed by Huka Lodge’s previous, long-term owner Alex van Heeren in 1984 to direct the lodge’s look and feel.
Since then, Virginia has led the distinctively grand style of Huka Lodge with its traditional lodging spirit, intimate interior spaces, private nooks for lounging and dining and furnishings. Another key member of the team is Auckland-based architect Christian Anderson who has previously worked with Virginia on the design of the Alan Pye Cottage, one of the two ultrapremium owner’s style residences at Huka Lodge.
Main lodge features
Guests arriving at the new look Huka Lodge will notice some considered enhancements to the property from the moment they drive into the garden-lined porte cochere to check in. A new entrance with reception and adjoining boutique welcomes guests with a fitting sense of a grand arrival.
Inside, the main lodge will undergo a transformation to open its interior spaces while floor-to-ceiling windows and wide doors will make the most of the lodge’s riverside setting. The newly spacious River Room features a double-sided fireplace and traditional luxury furnishings in a warm space for guests to meet for convivial drinks and conversations on the hearth of the riverfront. A cleverly designed bar is a welcome addition to the lodge and will be stocked with all the premium essentials.
The Dining Room will be extended to offer more amenity, with a new light-filled dining area with high ceilings and windows welcoming in delightful views of the river and gardens positioned a step down along the slope of the lawns. Designs for the dining space combine a more contemporary feel while retaining its original heritage elements. Upstairs, private areas include The Loft and Piper Room, suitable for private dinners, special celebrations or an intimate meeting.
Upgrades to the outdoor areas are integral to the plans for the new-era Huka Lodge. The expansive north facing outdoor terrace will be substantially expanded in a stylish integration between the indoors and out. The addition of a feature outdoor fireplace and glass roofed pergolas will create more outdoor lounging space for guests and a seamless connection with the chequered green lawns which run to the banks of the Waikato River.
Dining
Showcasing New Zealand’s finest, often sustainably produced ingredients, guests can look forward to regional delights like Tora Crayfish, Lake Ohau Wagyu, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon and Southland Lamb on the innovative menus, complemented by native ingredients such as peppery kawakawa, kumara bread and paua served as an amuse bouche in its kaleidoscopic shell.
Cuisine at Huka Lodge is designed to reflect the seasons and the four-course menu changes daily. Guests may also select homestyle favourites from the Baillie Classics menu. A sophisticated wine list is on offer and guests also have the option of making a personal selection from the Wine Cellar, housing some 4,500 bottles of wine including an extended range of labels from New Zealand’s rich wine growing regions, hard to find vintages and iconic cuvees (additional cost applies). The bar at Huka Lodge is stocked with premium spirits –many of them locally distilled small-batch labels – perfect for a range of cocktails and mixed drinks.
The Huka Lodge team is renowned for its reverential, world-class service.
Ever respectful of the property’s ‘mana’ (meaning authority and prestige in Māori), the team strives to deliver an unforgettable experience that reflects a distinctly New Zealand sense of place. Guests dine in the sumptuous surrounds of the main lodge often concluding dinner with a cheese selection and nightcap enjoyed by the fire.
A stay at the lodge is generously inclusive of a full country breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés and four-course dinner with daily changing menu. Note, a light à la carte lunch menu is available for guests at an additional cost.
Signature dining
Huka Lodge offers guests the opportunity to dine in myriad private spaces, each ideal for a special occasion or simply to share an unforgettable meal with a loved one. Locations include the open-air River Deck overlooking the Waikato River; The Library housing an eclectic book collection warmed by an open fireplace; the heritage Piper Room; the Cypress hedge-walled Green Room; The Orchard set among heirloom fruit trees and the splendor of the underground Wine Cellar.
Cottage guests are offered access to signature dining locations every night of their stay, while Lodge Suite guests may reserve the signature dining experience on one night of their stay, subject to availability (additional nights considered when availability permits).
”As Huka Lodge enters her centenary year, it’s timely to have our much-loved grand dame readied for a next generation of global luxury traveller.”
Alex van Heeren
Accommodation
Huka Lodge’s 20 generously proportioned luxury guest suites and two owners’ residences will undergo a stylish refurbishment in keeping with Virginia Fisher’s elegantly timeless aesthetic.
Alex van Heeren Cottage
Set overlooking the Waikato River, the Alex van Heeren Cottage may be more aptly described as a New Zealand version of a Hamptons mansion. Distinguished by sumptuous furnishings, textiles and artworks, the living room sprawls beneath a vaulted ceiling, inviting relaxation beside the open hearth. The river-facing terrace is a private suntrap, home also to a heated infinity-style plunge pool and spa while other nooks offer seclusion amongst beautiful gardens. Four generous king bedrooms (two bedrooms offer optional twin beds) feature a fireplace, dressing room and opulent ensuite bathroom, creating the ultimate residence for a get together with family and friends.
Alan Pye Cottage
Named after Alan Pye who established the original fishermen’s camp on the banks of the Waikato River in 1924, the Alan Pye Cottage is decorated in vibrant shades of teal and layered with contemporary and antique furnishings and objets d’art. The magnificent living area opens through floor-to-ceiling doors onto a terrace inset with swimming pool and a courtyard with lounge pavilion and heated spa secreted among its manicured gardens. Two king bedrooms (one bedroom offers optional twin beds) feature a fireplace and walkthrough dressing room leading to an ensuite bathroom with a deep bath, perfect for soaking in the river views.
“This is a real opportunity for us all to act as custodians of the Huka legacy while taking the opportunity to enhance the intimate luxury and further embrace the riverside setting.”
Virginia Fisher
Lodge Suite
Designed to flow harmoniously with the natural landscape outside, the Lodge Suite is a true retreat in every sense. Sleep royally in king or twin beds crowned by high raked ceilings. The lounge space offers guests a serene place to contemplate the view with French doors opening onto a deep verandah and rolling green lawns. A dressing room connects to a light-filled bathroom boasting a deluxe rain shower and bath artfully set before a garden-fringed bay window creating a perfectly private sanctuary.
Other options
Available on request, three alternative floorplans offer flexibility for extended families and friends travelling together.
Other enhancements
The award-winning show gardens at Huka Lodge provide a serene backdrop. The 17-acres of park-like grounds offer quiet, shaded paths for exploring, rolling lawns framed by ancient willows, towering Californian Redwoods and high hedges providing a natural border for pastimes such as croquet, pétanque or a hit of tennis on the newly converted multi-purpose court, also suitable for pickle-ball. The quaint Jetty Pavilion set on the river’s edge will be reimagined as an open-air lounge making it an ideal afternoon spot for tea or sundowners.
New wellness grounds
The Huka Spa Huts are another addition to the guest offering, taking design inspiration from the traditional Kiwi bach or holiday shack. The new wellness grounds will include a series of rustically cool and contemporary huts that house the gym along with two spa treatment rooms, plus a sauna, contrast ice shower and a steaming hot pool tucked into an intimate forest locale.
Sustainability initiatives
Huka Lodge is committed to a dedicated path of initiatives to ensure best practice for the environment, the local community and the planet. Building materials used in the renovation incorporate the latest energy-efficient fittings including LED lighting, double-glazed insulated glass and roof and wall insulation reducing overall energy use. Low VOC paints and natural timbers limit the use of harmful chemicals and ensure the lowest environmental impact at end of life. Two electric Mercedes Benz passenger vans are a welcome arrival to the lodge fleet of vehicles.
Child policy
Huka Lodge welcomes children ten years and over.
What’s included
• Full country breakfast
• Gourmet four-course dinner
• Pre dinner drinks and canapés
• Selected in-suite bar replenished daily
• Return Taupō Airport transfers
Part of the family
Huka Lodge is part of the Baillie Lodges collection of luxury lodges with sister properties in Australia, Canada and Chile.
For more information visit baillielodges.com.au
”Plans have been considered in such a way to embrace the heritage of the iconic luxury lodge while taking her carefully into the future, led by our esteemed General Manager, Kerry Molloy.”
