A wonderful weekend in a beautiful spot
We wished to do something special for our wedding anniversary - and this certainly did not disappoint. Our host and the staff were welcoming and informative. The room was lovely with a beautiful view over the garden to the lake. The service was great - drinks & canapes in the evening and the breakfast was amazing. The amount of food served was very generous and delicious.
A slice of luxury in paradise
We celebrated our honeymoon at Lake Taupō Lodge and it was gorgeous. Such warm & welcoming hospitality we immediately relaxed in the unique beauty of this Frank Lloyd Wright slice of heaven. Beautiful gardens. Stunning views to the Lake and beyond. And a wonderful home cooked breakfast with fresh coffee at a table set for two (I loved the cutlery & crockery and linen napkins). Our suite was clean and warm with a balcony, walk in wardrobe and en suite bathroom with a spa bath. The mattress and bed linen gave us both the best sleep. Located in Acacia Bay and with easy proximity to everything It felt tucked away, private and peaceful. We would stay there again and again. Such warm hospitality is a treat. We left feeling calm, peaceful and relaxed.
A timeless luxury gem in Taupō
What a find!! If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just wanting to get away in luxury The Taupō lodge is just perfect. Timeless, beautiful & luxurious Thank you ❤️
Mediocre
This lodge is highly rated on TripAdvisor so I am hesitant to share our experience. Not sure what all the buzz is about. We booked the premium lake suite, which is basically an upstairs bedroom in a private home. Everything was a bit awkward for us and we almost felt like we were intruding in their space. Nothing was remarkable or special about the decor. Circa 1990’s. Maybe booking a room in the separate building is better? Sorry, it was our least favorite experience in NZ.
While we recognise that your experience and expectations differed from the style of Lake Taupo Lodge, we understand that the atmosphere of the property may not resonate with every traveller, particularly for guests seeking a more conventional hotel experience.The Lodge was intentionally designed as an intimate luxury lodge experience, inspired by the architectural philosophy of Frank Lloyed Wright, with its emphasis on warmth, craftmanship, natural materials, and residential-style spaces that connect with the surrounding landscape. Rather than a modern resort aesthetic, the property reflects a more timeless and personal lodge character.The Lake Suite is designed to reflect the intimate and residential nature of a traditional luxury lodge, offering guests a private upstairs retreat with elevated lake views and a quieter, more personal atmosphere. As with many architecturally inspired lodge properties, each suite and location within the estate offers its own distinct character and experience, which many guests enjoy as part of the individuality of the lodge.We wish you all the best - Gary and Shirley Akers
Rochelle F2026.04.24
Verified
This small luxury lodge is a Wow!
Amazing lodge designed in the Frank Lloyd Wright style- would give it 6 stars if I could (and there are only a few places worldwide that I would do that). The owners are so hospitable. Their home and this lodge has every detail a traveler could want. Upon arrival, Cliff showed us around. The house is gorgeous. We were staying here 4 nights and they upgraded us to the Lloyd suite, a large, airy room with a balcony overlooking the lake and a spectacular garden. At 6:15 there was a complimentary drink with homemade canapés every night. Breakfast with the other guests was at a shared table. It was wonderful and delicious. A spread on the counter of fruit and granolas etc; then the chef prepared a hot meal for us. The hospitality made us feel so welcome; the staff was amazing; the lodge was a delight to stay in. It was one of the best, if not the best place we stayed in during our 2 month trip to New Zealand.
A beautiful place to stay!
What a wonderful stay! Gary, Shirley and Chris make you feel like this is your home. But better! The rooms are very well appointed with a view of the beautiful manicured gardens and the lake. Chris’ breakfasts and happy hour hors d’ouevres were tasty and always beautifully presented. Gary took care of dinner reservations at local restaurants. Their home/lodge has a wonderful history well worth taking the time to ask Gary about. We loved our stay there!
My husband & myself , had 2 wonderful nights at this beautiful Lodge in March . The service we received from Gary, the owner, Chris, the chef & Victoria, the hostess was amazing ! The room was soo well equipped, extremely comfortable , with amazing views. 10/10 for two of the most loveliest nights in NZ. Thank you .
Best place to stay
We felt as if we were welcomed into a beautiful home. Gardens were spectacular! Breakfast were 10/10! Thank you Gary, Victoria and Mike!
Place in heaven
Lake Taupo Lodge is an elegant property designed in the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright, situated above the lake with magnificent views and a wonderful garden. During our stay, we occupied one of the suites in the annex. The room was generously sized and stylishly furnished, and the bathroom was also very spacious. The highlight, however, was the warm welcome by the owner. Gary showed us around the lodge and went above and beyond to make our stay as pleasant as possible. Since we had no dinner plans, he assisted us with restaurant recommendations and took care of the table reservations immediately. In the late afternoon, guests gather for a glass of wine and canapés, which further contributes to the personal atmosphere. In the morning, a rich breakfast is served that leaves nothing to be desired. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and felt it was a privilege to have been guests in this house.
Home away from home
We stayed all too briefly with Gary and his team at the Lodge in March 2026. The Lodge is boutique and like a house or home - and Gary and the team treated us like we were home. Breakfasts were a highlight and the Lodge's location and outlook over the lake itself were amazing. If you like a more comforting and welcoming "home away from home", without all the "new hotel" bells and whistles, then Lake Taupo Lodge is it.
Great place to stay!
The facility on Lake Taupo is amazing…beautiful rooms, beautiful grounds, and beautiful people. The owners Gary and Shirley make you feel so welcome and the staff enhance all aspects of the stay!
Wonderful stay!
Our stay at Lake Taupo Lodge was truly special. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by how beautiful the lodge is — and the views and surrounding landscape somehow make it even better. The whole team made us feel genuinely welcome and cared for — nothing ever felt like too much trouble. Each morning’s made-to-order breakfast was something we looked forward to, and coming back in the evenings to wine and canapés after a full day out was such a thoughtful touch. Chef Chris was the highlight of our stay with his food, attentiveness and sense of humor! We wouldn’t hesitate to stay again, and we can’t imagine visiting Taupo without returning to Lake Taupo Lodge.
Amazing. Lovely. Proper. Stay here if you possibly can.
Can’t say enough about the first rate experience of staying at the lodge. The people, rooms, gardens and food were as good as it gets. Our trip to NZ offered an amazing array of experiences but the Lodge stands out as one of the best.
Excellent
Un lodge très agréable et très confortable qui mérite amplement ses 5 étoiles ! Les hôtes (Gerry, Victoria, le chef, etc) sont extrêmement attentionnés. Victoria nous a donné des tas d’indications sur les environs, les meilleurs choses à faire ou à voir et a réservé pour nous de très bons restaurants, les 3 soirs où nous étions là (il n’y a pas de restauration sur place, en dehors du petit déjeuner). Les suites sont grandes, avec beaucoup de rangements et elles ont toutes (sauf la pine suite) une vue sur le lac. Tous les soirs, un apéritif est offert dans le grand salon panoramique où chacun peut faire connaissance et discuter avec les autres résidents (il n’y a que 6 suites, donc max 12 personnes). On se sent vraiment « comme à la maison » avec un confort et un service de grande qualité.
Warm and welcoming
Such a beautiful place. Great accommodations, beautiful gardens and views and the greatest hospitality. I highly recommend this place
Fabulous place to stay!
What a wonderful place to stay. The lodge was beautiful as were the view and surroundings. The English gardens outside our room were perfectly manicured and home to many birds. Gary and staff couldn’t have been more accommodating and helpful. Breakfast every morning was made to order and delicious. Evening happy hour with wine and canapés was very welcoming after a long day of activities. Any trip to Taupo should include a stay at Lake Taupo Lodge.
Unfortunately this beautiful Frank Loyd Wright inspired yet grossly overpriced property is tarnished by the owner Gary’s very arrogant and unwelcoming personality.
He downgraded our room without telling us yet charged us the original category rate.
When I noticed the room was not the one we had specified, he said that that room was occupied and he was going to adjust the rate when we checked out. That is of course not good enough.
I asked him why this happened and why he hadn’t told us until we had mentioned it. Instead of an explanation or apology, he told me he did not want further discussion. We assumed he intended no adjustment to be made unless we had noticed. We decided to check out after 1st night, he very reluctantly refunded the remaining 2nights. I can tell that he takes for granted patronage.
There are lots of nice waterfront properties along the lake. There is not much point staying here unless you are ready to waste your money.
Beautiful View
This is a quirky place. It feels like staying in someone’s private home because essentially you are. Gary, the proprietor is charming and very helpful. He and his lovely wife live in the property, which is also their home. The gardens are charming and the view idyllic. They have Chef Chris who provides wonderful cooked breakfasts and evening canapés served with a glass of wine. Both Gary and Chris work well as a team and you could not feel more looked after. A wonderful place with old fashioned kindness and consideration.
Incredible visit at a special place
Wow!! My wife and I spent 2 days here and loved it. Clean beautiful room that was really nice sized. The grounds are immaculate. The best part of the lodge though is the people. Gary, the owner, is such a genuine and kind hearted man. He cared about everything and it showed. Super helpful and friendly. The chef was awesome too. Both my wife and I can be picky (she has gluten allergy) and they went out of their way to make sure breakfast and the canapes would be to our liking. It is impossible not to love them. The lake itself is spectacular as well. We did Hobbiton before driving to the lodge and the drive was stunning. The lake though is really worth seeing for a day.
Verified
