River Birches Lodge, Luxury Accommodation — Hotel in North Island

River Birches is just a beautiful lodge, so comfortable and tasteful, warm and welcoming - a true 5* experience, personalised to your needs. Rebecca and Jason really do go the extra mile, maybe even mile and a half - they anticipate your needs and nothing seems to be too much trouble for them. The arranged fishing for my husband that was wonderful, and a guide for me to do the Tongariro Crossing - an unforgettable experience. But not only did they arrange it all, they facilitated everything on a practical level - for me, this included providing me with a much better backpack than the little one I'd brought from overseas, they provided walking poles, water bottles, lunch, print outs of the weather conditions, and even a lift to and from the start/end of the walking trail! All of this meant I could relax more and enjoy the day, without worrying about logistics. We stayed when the chef was on a well-earned holiday, but we needn't have worried: Jason organised dinner tables for us at local restaurants in lieu of dining in, and even the local uber driver (lovely chap) to take us there and back. The lodge itself is so tastefully appointed, filled with lovely thoughtful touches, that make your stay so smooth and comfortable - from adaptors to suit our country's electricity plugs, a wonderful steamer to remove the wrinkles in our clothing with the minimum of fuss or time spent, to lovely toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities in your room if you wish to use them, and welcome back drinks on the deck at the end of our day's activities. We stayed in The Admiral's Room - the bed and pillows were so comfortable, the bathroom was lovely - there's a hot tub dedicated to that room, which looked great, and a huge bathtub (in addition to a separate luxurious shower) that I so wished I'd had time to enjoy. The relaxing areas in the lodge are truly that, with lovely selections of books on New Zealand to browse from the comfort of deep sofas that overlook the beautiful garden. The peace and tranquility of the lodge meant we slept very well. Breakfast was delicious, and set us up well for our respective activities. We were just sad to leave after three nights - far too short a stay. We look forward to returning on our next trip to New Zealand, and next time, my plan will be to just enjoy the lodge and immediate surroundings. We cannot rate the wonderful River Birches...

Our stay at River Birches was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted at our car with the warmest hospitality from Jason and Rebecca, the owners, that made us feel truly valued and at home. The level of service here is exceptional-attentive without being intrusive, thoughtful in every detail, and genuinely caring.

The property itself is absolutely stunning-peaceful, beautifully maintained, and perfectly situated within walking distance to the river. The rooms are are immaculate and elegantly designed, with a perfect blend of comfort, style and privacy. From the plush bedding to the high-end amenities (heated bathroom floors, bath salts for the oversized tub and a heated towel rack), no detail was overlooked.

What truly sets River Birches apart, is the people. The owners went above and beyond to make our stay memorable, offering local recommendations, personalized touches, and a level of care that's rare to find. They gave us waders for fishing, provided excellent homemade breakfast every morning and made dinner reservations for us out of generosity.

If you're looking for a five-star experience that combines the beauty of nature with refined luxury and world-class service, River Birches is it. We cannot wait to return!!! Thank you Jason and Rebecca for...

Just steps away from the Tongariro river, rolling pastures, and serene nature paths, our stay at River Birches couldn't have been better. The lodge itself is beautifully designed with nature in mind, while also offering comfortable, elegant, and stylish amenities that were thoughtfully put together by the lodge's fabulous owners Jason and Rebeca. Everything has a personal touch at the lodge and the food is amazing! They only use local products, and it's all (especially the dairy) to die for. They helped us arrange a hike on the Tongariro crossing (a must-do on the north island) and offered many other outing ideas to help us enjoy all that the Turangi area has to offer. Jason and Rebeca even set up the back porch so we could watch the stars one night! We were also able to see Lake Taupo on several occasions and even found the perfect spot to see the sun set over it one evening. There were many activities we did not have time to do (fishing, mountain biking, etc) that we are looking forward to doing next time. The countless opportunities to enjoy nature here make it a wonderful place to...