Luxury Hotel · New Zealand
Huka Lodge
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
One of the world’s most celebrated luxury lodges, freshly redesigned for its centenary and sitting on the banks of the Waikato River in Taupō.
Huka Lodge has been welcoming guests for over a century, counting Queen Elizabeth II among them. After closing in 2024 for a carefully considered redesign, it reopened in March 2025, refreshed without losing any of the character that made it legendary.
Twenty guest suites and two private cottages are scattered along the riverbank and through the gardens, each opening onto rolling lawns with birdsong and the sound of the river as a constant backdrop. The interiors are comfortable and well-designed throughout the lodges
Taupō’s volcanic landscape, world-class trout fishing, and proximity to some of the North Island’s most dramatic scenery make this a compelling base. For Out Of Office guests, Huka Lodge is simultaneously one of New Zealand’s great historic institutions and one of its most exciting current openings.
Highlights
- A double-sided fireplace lounge with premium spirits and views over the Waikato River.
- Private dining across four venues including a subterranean wine cellar and open-air river deck.
- A full spa with sauna, hot pool, ice shower, and two treatment rooms.
Accommodation
Lodge Suite
At 60 square metres, the Lodge Suites open directly onto the Waikato River and are designed to feel as connected to the landscape outside as they are comfortable within.
An open-plan bedroom and lounge features king or twin beds dressed in monogrammed linens and feather pillows, while the bathroom delivers every indulgence including a deep bath, separate shower, heated floors, and twin basins.
A generous dressing room rounds out a suite that feels genuinely easy to settle into.
Alan Pye Cottage
Set above rolling lawns on the banks of the Waikato River, the Alan Pye Cottage is a beautifully considered retreat centered around a magnificent lounge with a wood-burning fireplace, antique furniture, and museum-quality Maori artworks. Floor-to-ceiling doors open onto a terrace with an infinity pool, while a courtyard garden houses a heated spa pool and outdoor pavilion.
Two bedrooms with king or twin beds, walkthrough dressing rooms, and en-suite bathrooms with deep baths and monogrammed linens complete the picture.
Alex van Heeren Cottage
Perched on a private bluff above the Waikato River with views downstream toward the thundering Huka Falls, the Alex van Heeren Cottage is as exclusive as it gets.
Four king or twin bedrooms, each with a fireplace, dressing room, and opulent en-suite, surround a vaulted living room that opens through floor-to-ceiling glass doors onto manicured gardens and a river-facing terrace with a heated infinity plunge pool and spa.
Further information
Spa and Wellness
The Huka Spa Wellness Grounds draw on the remarkable natural resources of the Waikato region, where geothermal activity has shaped the landscape for centuries. Inspired by the traditional Kiwi bach, a collection of rustically cool contemporary huts houses a gymnasium, two treatment rooms, a sauna, ice contrast shower, and a steaming hot pool set among lush gardens.
Treatments exclusively feature verité, a New Zealand skincare range handcrafted in small batches from organic plant extracts, while signature therapies incorporate manuka honey, greenstones, and thermal mud for a wellness experience that feels as rooted in Aotearoa as the lodge itself.
Dining Experience
Dining at Huka Lodge is a cornerstone of the experience, with daily changing menus built around New Zealand’s finest seasonal and sustainably produced ingredients, enjoyed in an elegant dining room overlooking the Waikato River.
Breakfast sets the tone with a hearty country spread of fresh eggs, free-range bacon, local produce, and proper coffee, while lunch offers a light a la carte menu served fireside or on the sun-drenched terrace. Dinner is the main event, beginning with drinks in the lounge before a menu that showcases North Island beef and lamb, Tora Crayfish, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, and native ingredients including kawakawa and paua served as an amuse bouche in its iridescent shell.
New Zealand
New Zealand sits in the South Pacific, roughly four hours flying time east of Australia. It comprises two main islands: the North Island, which is warmer, more volcanic, and home to the country’s two largest cities; and the South Island, which holds the fiords, the Southern Alps, the glacier country, and the luxury lodge scene that draws most international visitors.
Our Experts
New Zealand is one of the most magical places in the world. If you love out-of-this-world landscapes, this island nation is definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
Breathtaking landscapes, awe-inspiring environments - New Zealand impresses at every turn. The vibrant Māori culture on display here is also so special.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
Featured Itineraries
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.