Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
3836 Galatea Road Galatea, Murupara 3079 New Zealand
Full view
View all photos (103)103
Dining (9)
Pool & Beach (3)
About
#1 of 1 lodge in Murupara
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Surrounded by lush farmlands and forestry, Kohutapu Lodge overlooks the pristine Lake Aniwhenua - teeming with Rainbow and Brown trout. Accommodation options range from self contained units, lodge cabins, powered and non-powered sites set in expansive gardens, with large well equipped communal kitchen, lounge with sky TV, and pool table, BBQ area, private lake access & boat hire. Aside from the myriad of hunting a fishing experiences right on our doorstep, guests who are interested will also have the opportunity to hear our stories, taste our food and be hosted by our whanau (family) – all of this within a landscape that is breathtakingly beautiful, in a region untouched by the hand of commercialism. Guided cultural tours are also provided. As visitors are welcomed into the rohe, a karakia (prayer) is offered to protect them while they are in these lands, as our guides escort visitors to and past sites of historical significance, sharing tales en route to Kohutapu Lodge. Owned and operated by a local Maori family, we are delighted to share with you our stories, our culture, our kai (food) and the warmth of our manaakitanga (hospitality).
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Wifi
Hiking
Fishing
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Location
3836 Galatea Road Galatea, Murupara 3079 New Zealand
Getting there
Car HireSee all Murupara car hire
80Reviews2Q+A11Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
- 74
- 4
- 1
- 0
- 1
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
This was the richest experience that we had during our entire trip to NZ. We were on a small group National Geographic tour, and it felt as though Kiri and Kelly were allowing us into their Maori family as we hiked with them, shared a traditionally prepared meal with them, and learned as much as we could in our short time with them of their history, goals, and wonderful sense of care for their world. This day will resonate within me (and likely our entire group) for years to come.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
This was such a rich experience, we learnt so much more than you could ever learn in books or online and it was amazing to spend the day with people who were so willing to show us their culture. We were welcomed in with open arms where they told us the stories of their tribe and their people, cooked us an amazing hangi lunch (they even catered for vegans) , and took us on a guided tour around Whirinaki Forest, telling us about the land that they and their ancestors call home. Beyond our experience, we learnt of all of the work they do for their local community and you could tell from the way that they spoke so passionately about everything that these people are amazing. If you ever find yourself anywhere in NZ, travel as far as you need to to spend some time at Kohutapu Lodge, you will not regret it. Ngā mihi nui! …
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
The whanau at Kohutapu lodge are amazing people. They are very welcoming and lovely. The room was clean and had a nice relaxing atmosphere, We are already planning our next trip to the Lodge. Thank you to you Nadine and your beautiful whanau. Arohanui Pura Waters and whanau xxx
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
When we toured New Zealand, we were so interested in learning more about the Maori indigenous people, we searched for just the right experience. And we found it at the Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours based in Murupara NZ on the north island. We toured ancient caves with rock carvings from early ancestors, beautiful rich woodlands and the lodge itself. We were treated to an extraordinary lunch that had been buried, smoking in a pit of hot rocks. Nadine (who I called the lady of the lodge) told us stories of their unique modern challenges, and her young relative Tez shared stories of their long standing culture Tez and his lovely wife also performed the traditional war dance. After returning to the USA, we have spread the word about these wonderful people and the beautiful area they call home. Check them out!…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: The drive through the mountains to the lodge is absolutely gorgeous.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
A superb cultural experience from a narrated walk in Whirinaki podocarp forest to watching a group learn the haka to a delicious hangi dinner. Nadine, Carl and even young son Beaudy are so passionate about their culture, their community and sharing it so fteely with visitors
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Stayed here for one night as part of the organized tour. Not really a lodge person but usually a hotel person. But the tour organized it. Anyway this property is good for what it is. Clean, central and friendly. Family business owners are friendly, hospitable and generous. We visited as part of the Māori cultural experience with Māori culture, Haka dancing and hangi dinner (a dinner cooked underground to create an earthy flavor). Post dinner activity includes camp fire. It was a good experience. They also have farm animals for you to pat, which is a bonus for an animal lover like me. Bathroom is a bit tired though but they are family business and don’t have much money to upgrade and I get that. Overall I enjoyed my stay.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Nadine ToeToe, Owner at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
Responded 16 Nov 2022
Kia ora Daniel! Thanks so much for your lovely review, we are glad to hear you enjoyed your stay with us!! We look forward to one day hopefully being able to upgrade our bathrooms again. It has been a tough 2.5years without our tourism income (we were 98% reliant on the international market). Fingers crossed more wonderful people like you are able to come and visit us, so we can do much more not just with our site here - but also within our community and for our people. Thank you once again for your kind words, from your Kohutapu Lodge Whanau
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wow - what a truly beautiful place they have here. My family and I just got back from a really amazing holiday here. My 2 year old felt right at home and we all felt so welcome from day one, the communal facilities were always clean and we felt very part of the lodge by the end of our stay. We had a lake view cabin, but regardless of where you sleep you still can see the beautiful view from their wonderful outdoor set up. It’s very much a place where we reset and recouped after big days at Whakatane or Rotorua. Will most definitely be coming back, and very much are looking forward to our family holidays here in the future. Thankyou to your family for welcoming us in with open arms.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
What an amazing venue. We stayed for a 60th birthday and wow! The hangi and desserts, the hospitality, the cleanliness of the place, comfort of the rooms and the warmth of all of the staff WAS SECOND TO NONE. Beautiful location on the side of lake Aniwhenua, volleyball court for the kids with a range of sports equipment. The bar and kitchen overlooking the hangi pit, lake and communal areas was just picturesque. Thank you again to your amazing staff, who made us feel like family. Nga mihi nui!
Read more
Date of stay: December 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: All rooms are located close to all facilities.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Some time before coming, I had a long kōrero - discussion - by email, about my journey, and what I was seeking to achieve. As well as arranging a tour with their own guide Erina around the rohe - territory - they arranged for me to meet with two traditional healers from Waihou. Erina pointed out the dams on the Rangitaiki, and the tension between the Maori viewpoint - and practical matters. What happens, for example, if a dam is in a culturally unsafe area, but will be structurally safe and not fail, versus putting it in an area that doesn't disturb taniwha - guardians - and other spiritual entities, yet risking the dam failing as it isn't in the right place? The pouri - hurt - on the land is not just from the dams on their beloved river - I got the feeling that they could have dealt with that, as power after all, must be generated somewhere, and Maori like electricity as much as everyone else. It was the lack of consultation that caused such hurt, and continues to do so. She also showed me the first kaupapa Maori school - that is, instructing primarily in the Maori language, in Murupara. We went to some very old Maori rock carvings, which I won't say where they are, they are tapu - sacred/forbidden - and you go there with a local who knows the right prayers and the right way to do things. Another time I went out with Willie to Whirinaki Forest, where he pointed out Rongoa - the traditional medicine, a creeper whose name I cannot recall is used for toothache, and a ground cover is good for wounds if it is soaked in hot water and packed in. An ordinary bandage holds it in place. The inside of Rimu bark was used to staunch wounds with heavy bleeding. So much lunch was provided that I had enough for snacks for the next three days... Then there were the healers. A lot of what was discussed is too private to talk about here. It began as an inquiry into what Rongoa actually was and how it is done. It turned into more of a consultation with a lot of things that had been bothering me, some for many years. We also discussed - can people who are not Maori practice Rongoa? The healers had conflicting feelings - yes and no, they said, as if you are not brought up in the Maori world, you don't have the spirit guides and the support from kaumatua to do the deep wairua - spirit workings required. As an article I read said - and they fully agreed with - anyone can boil up leaves, and keep a list on what to use on what. Yet, the knowledge needs to be passed on, so they are prepared to teach non-Maori who are sincerely interested and wish to learn. They then put kawakawa leaves over my face, read the results, and made recommendations. What is more to the point was how safe and cared for I felt, during the administration of treatment. They never left my side. One of them held my hand. One of them sang. I was firmly wrapped up in a blanket. I felt peace and rest that I had not felt for many years. And if it were not for Nadine and Carl, I would never have met them. There are also the animals, Pango the cat is quite a character, he has a very piercing yowl, and like most cats, believes himself to be a poor, starved, mistreated, ignored, and unloved creature... They also have two dogs. And they have two lchildren, both of whom have beautiful manners. The unit had everything I needed, a small kitchenette, a bathroom, a comfortable bed, and a dining table. The dinner served on the first night was a buffet of ham and salad, put on for the local community, and the next night, I had my first taste of kina... never again.... and of venison which I really liked, during dinner with the healers. So they really go the extra mile. And they contribute to their local community too, giving leftover food from buffets etcetera to people who need it, amongst other activities. Even in the room compendium, after the legal things they have to write to limit liability, they note that while they are not liable for guests belongings, they are concerned for them, will care for them, and will help them as much as they can. Other people write of their hunting and fishing, and guided tramps. I write of a very particular experience, that perhaps, not many people would be interested in. But I go into such detail to try and repay such kindness as I have received, and to note that while luxury is not on the menu here, that there are other forms of comfort - kindness, hospitality, help, and support, and that all of these are supplied in large quantities.…
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Nadine ToeToe, Owner at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
Responded 4 Nov 2020
Kia ora Chris, thank you so much for your lovely review of your experience with us here. We are so glad you felt the warmth of our manaakitanga, and we were able to assist you in your life journey by connecting you to people who are experts in their realm. It was a pleasure to host you, and we look forward to one day welcoming you back. Take care, and keep following your passions. Arohanaui, your whanau from Kohutapu Lodge
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carl and Nadine offer a great experience for families and groups wanting to get away and experience life a bit different from the city. They're avid hunters and always keen to share a story, or an insight or offer some guidance to young ones out on their first hunt. It was the start of duck shooting season so they had visitors from around NZ enjoying their spot right on Lake Aniwhenua at the edge of Te Urewera. Their facilities are very reasonably priced, communal kitchen, even a bar and fire pit. They are happy to work with guests to provide experiences that will leave an indelible impression and often put down hangi for their guests and community. If you want to experience true manaakitanga in a family friendly spot and support a business that truly gives back to their community - don't go past this whanau.…
Read more
Date of stay: May 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Nadine ToeToe, Owner at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
Responded 4 Nov 2020
Kia ora e hoa, nga mihi nui for your kind review of our place, and the manaaki we share. We can't wait to welcome you back home, soon. Arohnaui xox
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Lake Aniwhenua Lodge
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionMurupara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingKOHUTAPU LODGE & TRIBAL TOURS - Reviews & Price Comparison (Murupara) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
Which popular attractions are close to Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours?
Nearby attractions include Rangitaiki River (6.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free parking, kids activities, and free internet access.
Is parking available at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are pets allowed at Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.
Is Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.