River Lodge

Taupo & the Ruapehu Region


In a rural setting 8km from town, backing onto the Mangawhero River, this charming property has three double rooms in the house and two very cosy chalets. The chalets have private hot tubs, open fireplaces and rocking chairs on the porch. If that’s not relaxing enough, grab the hammock.

If you have success in the river – there's direct access from the property – there's also a fish smoker.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Taupo & the Ruapehu Region attractions

1. Big Carrot

2.31 MILES

Maybe not so much 'Don't Miss' as 'Impossible to Miss', this roadside tribute to Ōhakune's biggest crop was erected in 1984. Carrots were first grown in…

2. Lake Rotokura

8.56 MILES

For some peaceful moments away from the mountains, consider a walk to this bush-smothered lake, the centrepiece of the Lake Rotokura Ecological Reserve,…

3. Mt Ruapehu

13.93 MILES

Mt Ruapehu (2797m) is the North Island's highest mountain and one of the world’s most active volcanoes. One year-long eruption began in March 1945,…

4. Kawana Flour Mill

16.98 MILES

Just off the Whanganui River Rd near Matahiwi is the restored 1854 Kawana Flour Mill and waterwheel – an exercise in optimism. There's historical info, a…

5. National Army Museum

17.16 MILES

At the southern end of the town, in a large, almost-Stalinist concrete castle, is the National Army Museum. Proclaimed as ‘history without the boring bits…

6. St Joseph’s Church

17.93 MILES

Around a corner in the Whanganui River Rd in Jerusalem, the picture-perfect, red-and-mustard spire of St Joseph’s Church stands tall on a spur of land…

7. Operiki Pa

19.53 MILES

An archaeological site just off the Whanganui River Rd: what was once the centre of somewhere is now the middle of nowhere.

8. Koriniti Marae

20.06 MILES

Unless there's a function happening, you can wander around Koriniti Marae and the little white-painted Koriniti chapel, between the Whanganui River Rd and…