Helena Bay Lodge — Hotel in North Island

Peaceful/private/ beautiful, lapping waves, views, walks… a great place to chill. Activities there if u want.... Walks, farm tour, kayaks, Ranger vehicles to explore the property, horse riding and golf on request.|| ||So it’s a lodge but it’s not. Its actually more like your wealthy friend invited you to stay at his luxury holiday house, its really not like a hotel or even a luxury lodge.|| ||I chose the bigger room with living area as I thought we might like to spend the day by the fire since it was early September – well in reality we could have managed in the smaller room as there are 3 large areas where you can relax and read by the fire plus a small room called then Den where we spent most of our time. It had a fire and they set it up for us to eat all our meals for the first 2 days of our stay. It was lovely. From memory there are 4 fireplaces in the public areas – they are real wood burning fires with glass doors and gas ignition and they keep them going for you if you are sitting there for a while.|| ||Pool is 25 metres and is not salt or chlorine but some amazing electrolysis system – heated to 28 degrees so we swam every day. Also by pool/spa wing is a great covered BBQ area with an enormous Kauri Table. No day spa but awesome massage therapists available every day as well as sauna and steam rooms. Molton Brown soaps /shampoos etc and Salvatore Feragamo perfume in all public area bathrooms [mens version as well]. Hand towels in bathrooms replenished as soon as you turn your back almost.||||There is also a beach pavilion on a nearby beach which you can book for the day and they will bring you lunch etc.|| ||Chef is Italian gentleman who was snatched from an restaurant in Italy. Food is fine dining and theres a new menu each night – 5 course or 3 course but if you like the main on three course they will swap it out for you. His pasta is pretty special and the pastry chef is really good. Pre-dinner drinks and canapes are included but you pay for wine with dinner. We met the head gardener – Scottish guy called Cory – they grow herbs and vegetables, tomatoes, 3 types of eggplant, citrus ad they were putting in Strawberries blueberries and even trying to grow currants. They rear Wagyu cattle for the restaurant which was gorgeous when it landed on our plates on night 2 but also as it was spring there were gorgeous new born calves everywhere you looked. Wine list and temperature controlled cellars [white and red] as you would imagine.|| ||Rugs from Asia/Middle east. Imported linen and curtains & hand polished cutlery was portguese. Every room decorated slightly different in a carefully planned classic style which will never date. Every couch/lounging chair had possum pillows… Russian artwork everywhere you look. Beds had 2 doonas – ie king bed with two overlapping oversized single doonas – so your partner doesn’t roll over and take the covers with them!! Loved that.|| ||Service was second to none and staff work as late as 2am in case you want anything. Staff – some local, some international. They really do think of everything including washing our rental car before we left!||||Seriously its a stunning spot and if you want to destress I highly...

This was our first trip to New Zealand and Helena Bay was our first stop. We spent 3 nights on property and it was amazing. We had the good fortune to be the only guests for the first two days. We took advantage of fishing off of the dock, and explored the vast property on the Polaris ATV's. We spend a couple of hours touring the property with the farm manager (Cup) and throughly enjoyed meeting the resident pets (pigs, alpaca and donkeys) as well as learning about the farm. ||The staff was outstanding and were available to tend to our every request. We enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch at the beach pavilion and the most delicious meals throughout our stay. The tranquility of the property is indescribable. ||The rooms were luxurious and very welcoming. They have thought of every detail, including access to backpacks for hiking and rain gear for the unexpected rain shower. Waking up to sunshine and still waters will be a forever memory. ||Truly a "one of a kind" property and well...

This lodge has been unbelievably well designed. Nothing is improvised - everything has its purpose and fits. We had two fantastic days and enjoyed the walks on the property as well as the farm tour. Meals are great and designed to your preferences. We loved the fact that many food items are produced on the property and organic. Service / staff are wonderful as well. One thing to be aware off - this is not one of the NZ lodges were guests socialise much together or have communal meals - seems more a place where couples or small groups enjoy their own company. Oh - re art work - I loved the collection of Russian paintings throughout the lodge, even in the gym - guess collected...