Award-winning luxury lodge on sale

The search is on for new owners for an award-winning Taupō lodge which has been a magnet for well-heeled global travellers and celebrities for nearly three decades.

Nestled in Acacia Bay, the boutique Lake Taupo Lodge wows domestic and international guests with sumptuous accommodation, world-class architecture and personalised hospitality.

The lodge offers sweeping views across Lake Taupō to Mount Tauhara and the Kaimanawa Ranges. Its reputation for luxury and tranquillity in New Zealand’s famed thermal and fly-fishing country has lured an impressive roll call of celebrated guests, including Burt Reynolds, Michael Palin, Barbra Streisand, Rachel Hunter and Sir Peter Jackson.

Lake Taupo Lodge is ranked among the top 10 percent of travel businesses worldwide in the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards. It has a ‘Superb’ 9.3 rating among reviewers on Booking.com.

The land, buildings, business and chattels behind Lake Taupo Lodge, located at 41 Mapara Road, Acacia Bay, Taupō, are now being marketed for sale as a freehold going concern by Wayne Keene, Eddie Rizarri and Alison Whittle of Bayleys Real Estate.

The property was constructed in the 1980s to an award-winning design created by New Zealand’s renowned Denniston Hodgson Turner architects, drawing inspiration from pioneering American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was originally the home of the current owners, former women’s fashion company operators Gary and Shirley Akers, who turned it into what is now Lake Taupo Lodge in 1996.

Set within luxuriant landscaped grounds, the lodge combines timeless elegance with modern comfort. The complex encompasses an impressive main residence, which is a grand reinterpretation of a traditional colonial lake house, along with stylish, spacious guest buildings. These buildings contain two premium suites and four executive suites, each with a private terrace.

The accommodation is complemented by a fully licensed dining and lounge area, plus a well-established online presence and booking channels.

The lodge buildings feature high-end materials throughout and are underpinned by a single freehold title of some 6,858 square metres.

Keene said that, in contrast to larger branded hotels, Lake Taupo Lodge thrived on a reputation for exclusivity.

“With just a handful of suites, it delivers an intimate, curated environment where hospitality is tailored to individual preferences. This boutique scale is a key differentiator, enabling the lodge to compete at the very top end of the market by offering privacy, tranquillity and discretion,” he said.

Keene said the lodge was also ripe for further development or for new operators to use versatile spaces to host events such as weddings, corporate retreats, wellness experiences, or exclusive tours.

Alternatively, a high-net-worth buyer could seize the opportunity to transform the property into an extraordinary private residence, he said.

Rizarri said strong brand presence, guest following, and tourism growth gave the business immediate potential as a going concern.

“Renowned for exceptional service and hosting notable international guests, the lodge commands premium daily rates and strong occupancy potential.

“Its small-scale, high-value model ensures sustainable margins, meaning the business can deliver consistent revenue and strong profitability,” said Rizarri.

“With a loyal clientele and immediate revenue generation, it offers a proven, profitable business platform. Strategic marketing and experiential offerings enhance its growth potential in New Zealand’s luxury accommodation market.”

Whittle said the operation drew further strength from its position in the Taupō area.

“This is both a proven location for world-renowned luxury lodges and a year-round destination that draws a steady flow of domestic and international visitors to its world-class trout fishing, geothermal attractions and adventure sports,” Whittle said.

“For a domestic buyer, Lake Taupo Lodge represents an iconic lifestyle business in a premier location. For an international investor, it provides immediate access to New Zealand’s thriving luxury tourism sector with a turnkey operation of exceptional reputation.

“With New Zealand’s tourism market continuing to grow, and Taupō’s status as a top-tier leisure and adventure destination well established, Lake Taupo Lodge offers both stability and scope for expansion,” Whittle said.

Lake Taupo Lodge is being offered for sale by way of a tender in a deadline call-to-action campaign. High-level financials are available to potential buyers upon signing a non-disclosure agreement.