New lodge offers unique accomodation

Possibly the jewel in the crown is Waipa district’s latest accommodation facility.

Recently opened Lakeview Lodge at the head of Lake Karapiro offers a unique self-contained accommodation in a private rural and lake setting.

Designed as an ideal place for corporate, family, sporting or special occasions, it’s also a place just to get away and enjoy some country living.

The lodge is 15 minutes from Cambridge. Tirau and Hobbiton are ideally placed nearby.

The lodge is owned by dairy farmers Joanne and Jonathan Leigh, who purchased the property then called Lake Farm in July 2015.

Six months later the Leighs left their own home in Tirau and set up camp on their new property, living in tents, while they worked on converting the large farmhouse into two accommodation lodges.

Having completed the project, they have now returned to ‘‘normal living’’ but have appointed Rae Guard who will manage the luxury facility.

Guard, with 20 years experience in travel and tourism, is a good fit for the lodge.

‘‘We had some practice guests in first, to ensure when we had our first ‘real’ guests we had everything sorted,’’ she said.

She said the lodge had spectacular views of the lake from almost every room. It’s country setting was just the place to unwind, relax or launch a few day trips.

The Huntington lodge sleeps up to 12 people with its two bedrooms and bunkroom.

The other is a Hamptons-styled lodge with four king-sized rooms and a twin room which can sleep up to 10 guests.

Both lodges come with three bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, laundry, dining and lounge areas as well as decks with barbecue.

Ideally set up for bigger groups, Guard said there was nothing a guest would want for, where everything was supplied.

‘‘When our guests are here the place is theirs to enjoy and we want people to feel that way.’’

Guard described it as ‘‘country hospitality, we want it to be real’’, but stopped at the idea of rustling up a batch of scones for guests.

‘‘Apart from scones, there’s nothing else we can’t do.’’