Acacia Cliffs Lodge

Boutique, modern, lofty lake views

133 Mapara Road, Acacia Bay, Taupo 3377, New Zealand

(64) 7-378 1551

See Website

At a Glance

Perched on a hillside high above the town of Taupo with glorious views of the massive lake, the contemporary Acacia Cliffs Lodge has just four rooms and a comfortable shared living room and kitchen.

Indagare Loves

  • The modern architecture with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout
  • Having wine and canapés in the sleek living room with great lake views
  • The enthusiastic owners who have lived in Taupo for years and have the best recommendations.

Review

Linda Whitlock used to take her then-three-year-old daughter to a deer farm on a hillside high above Lake Taupo to feed the animals. Today, Acacia Cliffs Lodge, which Linda runs alongside her husband, Rick, stands on the very spot. And even though the Whitlocks are well-traveled (they have also lived in Auckland and all over Europe), their heart is so clearly here — in the beautiful Taupo area. Acacia Cliffs is their dream lodge, built from the ground up and opened in 2008.

Unlike many New Zealand lodges, the architecture inside and out is contemporary. Rooms are built around floor-to-ceiling windows (three of the four guest rooms face the lake) and are done mostly in white, black and charcoal with touches of red and framed photographs of native birds adding bursts of color. Bathrooms are spacious and comfortable, but only one has a separate tub. Three rooms sit on the lower floor and one larger suite is located on the upper floor besides the large living room and open kitchen.

At Acacia Cliffs, you are sharing close quarters with other guests (travelers who do not like the idea of mingling over a glass of wine at the end of the day should book elsewhere). But a personal touch is what Acacia is all about. Linda and Rick are a wealth of information about the Taupo area and happy to make suggestions based on the weather, fitness level and personal interest. Rick also happens to be a chef (he has run restaurants for 30 years), and guests can pre-arrange dinner at the lodge for one of their nights. Otherwise, Taupo is an eight-minute drive away and there are many restaurant options in the area. Anyone coming from lodges where five-course meals are the norm might also welcome the idea of having a lighter night. Rick prepares canapés every evening – while I stayed, he whipped up a gorgeous, cold-smoked trout, which was served with delicious local bread slathered in butter and a touch of wasabi. Served with a glass of crisp Sauvignon, while I sat watching the Taupo lights twinkle in the distance as the lake turned dark, this was a wonderfully local, light dinner.

Who Should Stay

Couples and independent-minded families who appreciate a personal, intimate setting. This is not a lodge with grounds where you can spend the whole day – guests here are active types who get out to explore the many offerings of the Taupo area. You also have to be comfortable self-driving since arranging taxis or drivers every time you head into town for dinner or activities will be a pain.

Getting There

The lodge is an eight-minute drive from the Taupo airport and a one-hour drive from Rotorua.

Written by Simone Girner

What's Nearby

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