Lake Karapiro Lodge — Hotel in North Island

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...

When our flight out of NZ was cancelled we stumbled upon the Lake Karapiro Lodge. We felt so lucky to have had the opportunity. What a great spot! The Lodge itself is charming and homey in a very special way, the property is amazing with beautifully tended gardens, fruit trees and a swimming pool bordered by a sheep meadow, all with spectacular views. Our room was decorated in a lovely old fashioned way, clean and comfortable enough for a long stay. The bathroom and shower were great. The room opened up onto a lovely terrace with that special view out over the Lake and grazing meadows beyond. Sunset didn't disappoint! To top it off, our hosts, Colin and Jan were lovely, Colin had all sorts of interesting stories to tell and great knowledge of the area, Jan cooked and presented an amazing breakfast, and Goldie their beautiful dog was so friendly it me want to take her home with us. So thank you Air New Zealand for giving us one last wonderful day and night in your...

The lodge is beautifully decorated in and out. The building looks like a heritage style house featuring lots of wood throughout, floors, trim, doors, and mostly all the furniture. Cutlery, cups and plates contained beautiful details. Overall a homely feel. The reading room contained tea and coffee making facilities where you'll need to go if you wish to make a cup of tea or coffee. The reading room is a comfortable area to sit or have a drink. The lake view room is spacious with a spacious bathroom. I like the details of the window and the door that opens out to the patio. Overall, it is pleasant. The ability to make a coffee in the room would have been favourable, but using the reading room was still very much okay. For longer stays and for those who depend on coffee to function, might become a little tedious. The cat Acacia was lovely. Enjoyed being curled up on our laps. Parking was okay - we ended up not parking in a designated spot due to no...