Awakino River Lodge

At the landing of a once thriving river port, stands Gillian and Declan's spectacular Awakino River Lodge.

Formerly the area's general store, warehouse and grand home, it dates back to 1884. Standing on the riverbank, it's not hard to imagine a coastal sailing scow tied up at the landing, not twenty metres from the door. At that time, this iron and native timber building would have been the social and commercial hub for loggers and settler farmers of the district, arriving by river and sea as there were no roads.

Not so today, Awakino River Lodge is a luxurious place where modern convenience dominates bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen, without detracting from the sense of history. The great room, with its lofty, vaulted ceilings is furnished with Euroasian pieces, evocative of those early settler collections.

Awakino is a jewel.  Set off the beaten tourist track it offers mild bush or coastal walks through to serious track and bush tramping. There's river and sea fishing, kayaking and hunting with local guides. Take a river cruise; the skipper's knowledgeable commentary will paint a picture of past and present.

Back to the Lodge, Declan's your chef: "Mediterranean style, using good fresh produce, is my forte," he enthuses.

Getting here, either from north or south, the scenery is bush and river or jumbled farm and coastal seascape.  Either way, take some time, Taranaki is special.