Set in lovely gardens on the banks of the mighty Tongariro River in Turangi, to the south of  Lake Taupo.   River Birches is in the heart of an area renowned for its fly fishing and hiking.

A small luxury lodge with just three guest rooms.   It features spacious living areas and a large open deck where you can enjoy the peace of the riverside.    It’s an idyllic retreat after a day of fly fishing, hiking, white water rafting, skiing or mountain biking and the perfect place to just sit back and relax.

This Turangi lodge was recently awarded first place in a prestigious    New Zealand Architectural competition, testimony to its understated elegance. French doors open onto a large deck where you can relax and enjoy the serenity of the Tongariro riverside environment.

The Cottage at the River Birches is set close by to the award winning River Birches lodge and offers a superb living environment. This architecturally designed; cedar-clad three- bedroom home provides the privacy and convenience of self-catering,  For something special, the chef at the lodge can create a delicious dinner from fine local produce.

Taupo is on the shores of Lake Taupo and has its own selection of geothermal areas but the lake itself gives more clues about the volcanic history of the area.

Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest lake and is the flooded caldera or collapsed volcano that last erupted in 181AD. It is the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history – the blood red sunsets that the eruption caused were noted in Chinese and Roman chronicles of the time.

The lake is peaceful now and offers relaxed cruising and some of the best trout fishing in New Zealand. The lake also feeds Huka Falls which is just north of town and is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in New Zealand, draining Lake Taupo into the Waikato River in a huge torrent of water.

South of the lake is one of the most scenically impressive locations in New Zealand. Tongariro National Park is home to three major volcanoes, Mounts Tongariro, Ngaurohoe and Ruapehu, and this dramatic volcanic landscape was used to create the kingdom of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Mount Ruapehu is the highest point on the North Island standing at 2,797m and is one of the most active volcanoes in New Zealand, last erupting in spectacular fashion in 1997.