Whakaroa Retreat – Spacious Garden Getaway Near Taupo

We had the most wonderful stay at Whakaroa Retreat over Easter Weekend. It’s such a special place for families, especially with young kids. There’s so much space for them to run, explore, and just be kids — from the fantastic outdoor play area to the beautiful, sprawling gardens where we could all relax and spend time together. What really made our stay unforgettable was the incredible effort from the host. They went above and beyond by setting up an Easter egg hunt and extra activities for the kids, which absolutely made their weekend. It was such a thoughtful touch and brought so much joy. The animals were a huge hit too — the pig and chickens added a fun, unique element that the kids couldn’t get enough of. They also loved riding their bikes safely around the driveway, which kept them entertained for hours. The house itself is perfect for larger groups. It’s spacious, thoughtfully set up, and has plenty of areas to gather together as well as spots to retreat to for a bit of quiet when needed. A special thank you as well for the delicious cookie pie — such a thoughtful surprise and definitely a highlight for the adults! We couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend a family Easter — highly recommend and would love to come back!

A gorgeous home surrounded by farmland. Plenty of room to park 4 or 5 cars with trailers. A true 14 minute drive to taupo that does the seem that long. We’ll definitely be coming back to this one!! Thanks to the hosts for a great spot and the HUGE welcome cookie!!