Te Awa Lodge

On the banks of the Waitangi River, at Haruru in the Bay of Islands, Te Awa Lodge occupies a stretch of parkland ten minutes' drive from both Paihia and Kerikeri. The river runs past the base of the grounds, and every suite faces north to catch the light off the water. There are four of them. The Riverside Cottage is the largest, self-contained with its own kitchen and a private deck reached through ranch sliders. The Riverside Studio adjoins it, with a separate entrance and wheelchair access. The Riverside Suite, reserved for adult guests, looks straight up and down the river from its own deck. The Tui Room sits in a quieter corner of the main lodge, named for the native bird whose call carries across the garden most mornings. A pool sits within the grounds, fed by the same calm that draws guests to the water's edge. You can hear the river from most of the rooms. Breakfast is homemade each day, built from local fruit, juice and preserves. The lodge caters to adults only, and the riverside setting is unsuitable for children under twelve. It has operated as riverside accommodation for more than 30 years, under current hosts Martin and Adilson since January 2021.