River Birches Lodge

The Lodge

Within the main lodge area, French doors open onto a large expansive deck area where guests can enjoy the wider views of the lush Tongariro riverside environment, listen to bird songs and feel at peace. Our beautiful lodge has been awarded first place in a prestigious New Zealand Architectural competition, testimony to the quality and style of our accommodation and its surrounds.

The Admiral’s Room
The Admiral’s Room offers a soothing cedar hot tub to soak in after a long day’s hiking, trout fishing, or sightseeing. Gaze at the stars, sip a glass of wine and completely unwind. This room also has Netflix, Sky TV, DVD player, tea and coffee making facilities, and a minibar stocked with fine New Zealand wines, artisanal sparkling water, and a micro-brewery beer selection.

The Major’s Room
Standing apart from the main Lodge, the Major’s Room offers privacy and peacefulness within a lovely garden setting, as well a soothing cedar hot tub to soak in after a long day’s hiking, trout fishing, or sightseeing. Relax and enjoy the comfort of this beautifully appointed room featuring a bathroom with its own private garden, tea, and coffee-making facilities, and a minibar stocked with fine New Zealand wines, artisanal sparkling water, and a micro-brewery beer selection

The Duchess’s Room
Cozy, welcoming, and relaxing, the Duchess Room enjoys a superb vista of the garden areas with both the room and bathroom looking out onto a private garden setting. This room enjoys the morning sunshine and features tea and coffee-making facilities.

The Cottage at River Birches

The Cottage at River Birches is architecturally designed and set within its own superb garden complete with a historic pond – first developed in by the original owners in the 1930s. And just meters away is the Tongariro River where you can enjoy fly fishing and the many scenic walks, which meander alongside the river.

The Cottage has been designed to make your stay truly memorable with modern and thoughtful features incorporated throughout to maximize your comfort and enjoyment.

The Cottage at River Birches is single-party accommodation, which is self-contained and self-catering with a range of servicing options. The Cottage features a well equipped kitchen as well as a cedar hot tub nestled in a native fern garden.

The Ruapehu Room
Walk into a spacious, charming, and conveniently sited downstairs bedroom. This room features a super king-sized bed, ensuite with a large walk-in shower, walk-in closet, and underfloor heating. Relax and enjoy.

The Tongariro Room
Upstairs on the east side of the house, this beautiful bedroom receives early morning sun and a lovely garden view. It also features a walk-in closet. It’s the largest of the Cottage bedrooms and has two king-single size beds which can be formed into a super king-sized bed if preferred.

The Ngauruhoe Room
This bedroom faces west and enjoys the afternoon sunshine. It also features two king-single size beds or can be formed into a super king-size bed. This room provides a glimpse of Mount Pihanga, to the east of the Tongariro National Park. Both The Tongariro Room and The Ngauruhoe Room share a large beautifully appointed bathroom featuring an over-sized bath, large walk-in shower and underfloor heating.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is regarded as one of the world’s finest walks. Beginning in the glacially formed valley on the western slopes of the mountain and climbing up along the rocky volcanic track into an incredible mountainous realm, the walk finally culminates in glorious panoramic views from the summit. Unsurprisingly, summer often finds the Tongariro mountain tracks filled with walkers.

Fly Fishing
A few minutes’ walk or a short drive will take you to the Tongariro fishing pools that are internationally renowned: The famous Major Jones pool, The Duchess (named after the Duchess of York) and many others, immortalized by fishing writers are still fished today by a variety of anglers from all over the world. Whether you’re new to fly fishing or an experienced angler, the Tongariro River is a superb environment to catch trout. The Tongariro River is unique in that it is open year-round and supports the taking of up to six fish a day.
Maori Cultural Horseback

To the east of Turangi lies the vast, unspoiled Kaimanawa Ranges, a deep and rugged chain of mountains that stretch from Lake Taupo all the way to Wellington. It has been through consultation and agreement with local time members that we now have the privilege of offering a one-of-a-kind mounted fly fishing expedition into the Waimarino River, and the dozens of streams and pools that lie entirely in privately held tribal lands.

The Blue Duck Conservation Experience
The experience is a boutique journey of up to 6 people of a single party to ensure the safety of this native species, as well as the personal and purposeful touch of this adventure. The crew will ensure that you’re fully equipped and outfitted for an exciting morning on the 13 kilometer stretch of the Tongariro river/ As a grade 3 rated trip, the journey is ideal for multigenerational groups and first-timers, full of thrills with 60 different rapids to chart and explore. Along the way, through this unforgettable journey in New Zealand’s volcanic heart, your guide will stop to introduce you to one of our most unique animals, in addition to demonstrating and explaining the various systems of conservation that are in place, and give you a hands on experience with trap setting and placing.