The world-renowned, luxe stay of choice for rockstars and royalty, reopened on 1 March 2025 with significant enhancements designed to preserve the iconic lodge’s remarkable 100-year heritage and rich Taupō history.
Prestigious Forbes Travel Guide has recognised Huka Lodge among the world’s best hotels, describing the luxury lodge as “sustainable luxury in the New Zealand wild” and a thrill seeker's paradise.
The beautifully-executed new features begin with a grand new reception with views over the emerald-blue Waikato River as it flows down to the Huka Falls. The floor to-ceiling windows in the new River Room are a signature Baillie Lodges design theme where clever architecture connects guests with stunning natural surrounds to create a breathtaking arrival moment.
Newly expanded, the Dining Room and bar overlook the river and the parklike gardens, while upstairs private lounging areas include The Loft and Piper Room, ideal for intimate dinners, special celebrations and exclusive meetings.
Outdoor areas have also received considerable attention. The River Room steps onto the outdoor terrace via large French doors, where a double-sided open fire warms lounging areas and tables for al fresco dining and drinks, framed by mesmerising views of the river beyond the lawned banks.
A pathway of special stepping stones via a peaceful, secret garden leads to the new wellness centre where a series of huts — inspired by the traditional ‘Kiwi bach’ holiday house — house a gym, two spa treatment rooms, sauna, surprise ice contrast shower and a steaming plunge pool.
The lodge’s 20 spacious guest suites and two owners’ residences — the Alex van Heeren and Alan Pye cottages — have also received a stylish contemporary refurbishment.
The refurbishment, under Baillie Lodges founder James Baillie, is the work of Auckland-based Christian Anderson Architects, New Zealand-born interior designer Virginia Fisher and landscape designer Suzanne Turley.
Guests planning their stay or making the drive to Huka Lodge can tune in to the Baillie Lodges Luxury Redefined podcast for a virtually guided journey and introduction to the people who have made the property such a special place to visit and return to over the past century.