Huka Lodge. What a name! One hundred years of charm, and the sound of the Waikato River doing its thing nearby. It’s the grande dame of New Zealand’s luxury lodges, the kind of place that’s quietly confident in its ability to dazzle. No need to shout when your history does the heavy lifting, right? But now, after a careful (and frankly, dazzling) NZ$25 million refurbishment, Huka Lodge has reopened, opening its elegant doors to a new generation of travellers who appreciate the finer things be that heritage, design, or beds so comfortable you forget where you put your jet lag.

The work was meticulous a loving restoration of its iconic DNA, led by Baillie Lodges. They wanted to keep the history alive, of course (don’t worry, no bulldozers or gaudy overhauls happened here), but they also introduced these wonderful little modern touches that whisper, “Yes, you’re in the lap of history, but also… isn’t this practical and gorgeous?”