Lake Karapiro Lodge

Really nice lodge between Hobbiton and Hamilton gardens, both brilliant visits. We stayed in the Sir Tristram - huge room with everything you could want - v comfy bed. Magnificent view. Great breakfast. Colin and Jan very friendly. Helpful with visits and local restaurants. Lovely swim in pool - it was a hot day!

Colin and Jan are excellent hosts. Our room and the lodge are like treasures out of a magazine. This is truly a unique and wonderful place to stay. The view from our room was incredibly spectacular of New Zealand’s longest river. The bed was extremely comfortable, and we slept well. This lodge is highly luxurious. Breakfast was amazing and an excellent start to our day of exploring. We would have liked to stay longer.

This is quite a difficult review to write as the new owners have been there since May last year. However, they bill themselves as a 5-star property, so I'll list what I think are pros and cons and you can make up your own mind. Pros: - hearty breakfast - spacious rooms - cute dog (Goldie) - swimming pool (not heated) and spa - close to Hobbiton - comfortable bed - nice views - a LOT of interaction with the host Cons: - hearty breakfast that does not change, so if you're there for more than a couple of days, you may choose to skip breakfast - walls are thin; you can hear the room next door and the room above - swimming pool (not heated) - nice views but you can hear the traffic from the highway below - a LOT of interaction with the host (more than you would expect/imagine at a "5-star" Lodge with prices to match) I don't generally have a problem with interaction with the host but when they are standing at the breakfast table next to you while you are seated and having breakfast and they are talking with you throughout the whole breakfast, that can be a bit much. Some guests come to difficult-to-find lodges to get some peace and quiet.

We loved our stay with Jan and Collin at Lake Karapiro Lodge. Such a beautiful setting! The scenery from our first floor room was exquisite. The accommodations were spectacular. And yet best of all was the generous hospitality of Jan and Collin. They made our stay truly special.

Colin and Jan were extraordinary hosts! The breakfasts were excellent and the view of the river from our room was stunning! Well appointed rooms and conveniently situated for our plans to visit Hobbiton and the glow worm caves. It is a beautiful property and we hope to stay again! Our family also fell in love with their dog, Goldie 💛

We stayed at Karapiro Lodge for two nights and biked the first section of the Waikato River Trails as a Christmas present to my husband. I chose the lodge for its luxurious, English traditional look and it was perfect. The lodge and gardens are beautiful and the view is wonderful. Ed and Ann are lovely, unobtrusive hosts and Ann cooks a wonderful dinner and breakfast.