A hearty country-style breakfast set up in the main lodge at Huka is a wonderful start to the day, whether it’s planned as full of adventures or for relaxing in the gardens by the Waikato River. Guests can look forward to fresh eggs, free range bacon and local tomatoes, mushrooms and greens, along with fresh juices, steaming pots of loose-leaf tea and espresso coffee.
A light à la carte lunch menu is available at Huka Lodge and may be enjoyed fireside in the main lodge or on the sun-drenched terrace overlooking the gardens and Waikato River. Local organic and free-range produce including chicken and beef are complemented by fresh greens, lodge baked bread and fine wines.
When Chef Paul Froggatt took the helm in the kitchen at Huka Lodge in 2013, he brought a classical European influence from years of training and experience, with foundations steeped in traditional, fine hospitality. Dinner starts with a relaxed drink in the lounge, and proceeds to a finely balanced five-course menu bringing fresh local flavours to the plate. Guests can look forward to regional delights like Te Matuku oysters, Matangi Beef, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon and Southland lamb on the daily-changing menu.
Begin the day with an espresso or pot of expertly brewed leaf tea, or enjoy fresh drinking water drawn from the Waikato River. As the day progresses, world class wines, premium spirits and local beers are on offer, and as the dusk draws in and fires are lit French Champagne or a fine whiskey are enjoyed in traditional lodging style.
The bar at Huka Lodge is stocked with premium spirits – many of them locally distilled small-batch labels – perfect for the base of a range of cocktails and mixed drinks. A fresh gin and tonic marks the start of an enjoyable evening, while a fine scotch served over ice may be best enjoyed fireside.
A vast underground labyrinth housing some 4500 bottles of wine, the Wine Cellar at Huka Lodge is an attraction in itself, prompting some dedicated time to peruse its collection of fine vintages. The wine cellar is also a wonderful venue for private or special occasion dinners for two or up to ten guests.
After a delicately balanced five-course dinner, many guests retire to the bar or lounge to enjoy a digestif or nightcap. The friendly team at the bar is always ready to help with a drink, with a selection of premium liqueurs, spirits and hot beverages available.
The Huka Lodge dining experience is orchestrated by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt, who has been at the helm of the culinary team at the luxury lodge since 2013. A note visible to all who enter the kitchen explains his mantra: “The tradition is a perpetual motion. It advances, it changes, it lives”. For nearly a century, the kitchen has delighted guests who first came to catch trout in the luminescent blue-green Waikato River.
Guests now come from around the world to experience the culinary legacy led by Chef Froggatt. With his classical European training, the UK-born connoisseur brings a refreshing blend of tradition and locally produced organic, free-range, natural ingredients to its daily-changing menus. Paul chooses to work with premium New Zealand producers who share the Huka Lodge commitment to sustainability.
The work by Chef Paul Froggatt and his team to produce an original menu every single day of the week is something that deserves serious respect.Kelli Brett Cuisine
The challenges of a lodge chef are unique: not only does the five-course menu change daily, but so do all key ingredients, right down to the vegetables, ensuring there is no repetition for the duration of a guest's stay.Sarah Nicholson Cuisine
Huka Lodge delivers the kind of understated elegance that befits such an august establishment.Madelin Tomelty Luxury Travel
A five-course meal in the Wine Cellar or Trophy Room is an extraordinary experience. The team choose fresh and local produce for the menu and each plate arrives presented like a work of art.Andrea Block New Idea
Taupō's seasons offer reason to visit year-round. Summer brings long warm days and mild nights – perfect for outdoor adventures – while the cooler seasons offer snow sports and time for red wines and crackling open fires.
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With easy access to both lodge-based activities and the range of adventures on offer around Taupō, guests at Huka Lodge can choose to try fly fishing, whitewater rafting, sky diving, tennis, yoga and pétanque.
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A stay at Huka Lodge is refined and relaxed, with the intimate main lodge and guest suites providing luxurious interiors and opening on to verdant gardens and the deep turquoise Waikato River.
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