Huka Lodge

The place

Seventeen acres along the banks of the Waikato River, near Taupo on the North Island. Huka Lodge keeps to the water's pace.

Twenty suites and two multi-bedroom residences, all open-plan and breezy. French doors open wide onto a furnished veranda; inside, elegant furniture and a deep soaking tub.

Days arrange themselves — the outdoor pool complex, a tennis court, the gym and spa, a lawn set aside for yoga and meditation. Taupo offers the rest: fly fishing, hiking, golf, a cruise on the lake. The kitchen holds to seasonality and sustainability — fresh organic dishes, wine curated to match.