Whakaipo Lodge

My apologies as this review is WAY overdue….We stayed at Garth & Angie’s Whakaipo Lodge back in January 2026. It was the last week of a 4 week adventure to Australia and New Zealand. Staying at the Whakaipo Lodge was an AMAZING experience. Angie & Garth were so warm and welcoming. The rooms were perfect and quiet. The food that Angie & Garth prepared was delicious… I was equal to a Michelin star restaurant….Angie so sweetly shared some of her recipes with me…Think of her and Garth every time I make them….. They also arranged a Fly Fishing guide for one of the days we were there. Peter was wonderful. Knew all of the hidden spots to fish. Even though we did not catch any of the 20# trout we saw it was still a great experience…. They had great recommendations for restaurants and coffee house in town. We ate at The Bay which was casual and delicious.. All in all our stay at Whakaipo Lodger was fabulous and we will stay again if we come back to New Zealand….

Waikopo Lodge From the minute you pull into their driveway, you feel the warmth of home. Angie & Garth are lively hosts with an exacting attention to detail that puts their guests instantly at ease. From the made to order breakfast with Garth manning the espresso machine to the lovely canapés and wine in the evening, the stay is delightful, relaxing, and fun. My husband and I had been on the road for 7 weeks in NZ, enjoying the great hikes & bike trails, we were worn out when we arrived at the lodge and a bit dirty! Within an hour, our laundry was being sorted, showers all around, and we were sitting in front of fire, with a lovely red wine in our hands. Garth can arrange bikes, right out of the garage, and you are mountain biking on the W2K, within minutes of their home. They both are very knowledgeable on sightseeing, dining, and outdoor activities on the North Island. Everything they suggested was spot on! We left refreshed and ready for our last 2 weeks in NZ. Armed with their knowledge of Rotorua, we had a wonderful 4 day stay there as well!

The most fantastic hosts of anywhere we stayed in New Zealand. Treated like family and had a wonderful time.