River Birches

Turangi has drawn anglers to the Tongariro River since trout were introduced to Lake Taupo in the 19th century, and the fish still run upriver to spawn past River Birches. The lodge stands on the riverbank itself, a short walk from the Major Jones pool and the Duchess, both named and fished long before this address existed. It is a compact stay: four rooms in the main house, plus a separate three-bedroom cottage with its own kitchen and deck. The Admiral's Room has a cedar hot tub for after a day on the water. The Major's Room and the Duchess's Room sit apart in the garden, each with a private outdoor outlook and morning or afternoon sun. Staff arrange rods, waders, licenses and a guide, whether the angler has fished before or not, and can just as easily point guests toward the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, skiing on nearby fields, or white-water rafting on Grade 1 water. Trout caught during the day can be cooked for dinner. You can hear the river from the garden, and depending on the season, the call of native birds through the trees. It is a quiet base for a place built around one river and its long fishing history.