Hi darling,

When I was younger, Huka Lodge was spoken about in hushed, reverent tones — the pinnacle of New Zealand luxury. I remember wondering what sort of lucky people stayed there, as my parents described it as the ultimate privilege. I’ve now been twice with my husband, and that sense of wonder has never faded. It truly is a treat. Now, under the thoughtful stewardship of James and Hayley Baillie, the lodge has been reimagined — and I find myself just as excited to return, hopefully for my birthday. Some places hold their magic. Huka is one of them.

With a $25 million renovation led by the Baillie Lodges group, New Zealand’s most iconic lodge enters its next century — beautifully. New Zealand’s most storied lodge returns, redesigned with deep reverence and graceful restraint — a sanctuary of calm, craft, and contemporary soul.

Virginia Fisher quote about Huka Lodge redesign

There are properties that shout. And then there’s Huka Lodge — which has always spoken in a quieter, more confident tone. Now, thanks to a sensitive and sophisticated redesign, this century-old icon on the banks of the Waikato River has returned to the forefront of antipodean luxury, pairing design excellence with that rarest of experiences: deep, uninterrupted calm.

Design Notes (Because We Love Them)

If there’s one thing Wise Woman notices first, it’s the feeling of a place — and Huka Lodge’s interiors speak fluently in texture, memory, and intent.

Interior designer Virginia Fisher, who shaped the original vision in 1984, has returned to set the tone for its next chapter — this time drawing inspiration from the 1920s and 30s, the lodge’s founding era. Rich, layered colour palettes have been replaced with lighter textures, a “Burberry tartan” cheekily softening the traditional masculine aesthetic. The bones remain familiar — antique centrepieces, reupholstered leather, regal brass fireplaces — but there’s a fresh ease to the atmosphere.

New wrought iron bed canopies by artisan Ian Lawler float above plush Baillie Beds, while bespoke rugs by Source Mondiale ground the interiors in warmth and quiet character. Ceramics sourced from local studios — Waiheke, Thea, and Lava Glass among them — turn each meal into a tactile, sensory ritual.

The newly introduced River Room is a particular triumph — a generous, light-filled space overlooking the water, where copper pendant lights and reimagined antique lounge chairs invite stillness. Outside, custom-designed Devon furniture creates terraces you won’t want to leave, sheltered by glass pergolas and warmed by a double-sided fire.

Gardens That Are Rooms, Not Borders

Landscape designer Suzanne Turley has shaped the 17-acre grounds into a private Eden. Expect tree-fern grottos, orchard pathways, and soft white-flowering amelanchiers designed to catch dappled afternoon light. Her philosophy? The gardens should evolve with the seasons — creating a shifting experience of time, not just place.

Whether you’re taking a cold plunge after the sauna or playing croquet at sunset with a rosé in hand, the grounds manage to feel both elegant and elemental.

The Baillie Lodges Philosophy

We’ve long admired the Baillie group for resisting the formulaic. Their properties don’t just exist in place — they belong to it. At Huka, that means working with local artists, ceramicists, and makers (hello, Ashley & Co custom scent) — and creating spaces that women actually want to stay in: beautiful, quiet, and completely free of performance.

This isn’t luxury as theatre. It’s luxury as ease.

The Wellness Grounds

Tucked behind lush hedges in what feels like a secret garden, you’ll find the new wellness precinct: a gym, sauna, treatment rooms, and a surprise duo-bucket shower (trust us). The design echoes a classic Kiwi bach — relaxed, refined, and just a little nostalgic.

The sensory layering continues: plush Bemboka towels, handmade ceramic spa ware, and spa fragrances by Ashley & Co. Every detail whispers thoughtfulness.

A Wise Woman Note

We love design that tells a story — not one that tries to overwrite it. At Huka Lodge, the redesign does something quietly radical: it respects what came before, and invites in what’s next. It’s for women who want to check in, not just check out.

My top tip would be to pull together four of your favourite couples and make a weekend (or mid week!) and book out the Alan Pye Cottage - four king bedrooms. I would be a weekend to remember with your best mates. Perfection.

Come for the setting, stay for the soul.

Planning a visit?
hukalodge.com
Taupō, New Zealand | Part of the Baillie Lodges collection

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Huka Lodge Reimagined: Where Design Meets Stillness