Kourawhero Lodge - a highly professional family

Kourawhero doesn't really fit in any pigeonholes.  Run by a family, but a family of top-grade professionals and achievers.  A top lodge, but without top lodge pricing.  Suitable for overseas FITs, but also Auckland corporates.  Luxurious, but very relaxed and welcoming.  

I'm embarassed to say it took me a year from opening to go and see Kourawhero, despite living only an hour down the road.  The upside of that is that I was able to discuss the last year with GM Michael Shah.  The lodge is busy, busy from a standing start,  Normally this would take a couple of years or more, but the absolute lack of quality small group venues for top-level corporates in Auckland has created an overhanging demand which was cleverly identified and met by Michael and family.

A senior hotelier, Michael is over-gunned for this lovely lodge.  His father-in-law, Gordon Mann (a successful businessman, bluewater sailor and senior with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) is over-gunned for hosting.  The chef is of similar quality, and the decor and setting would normally be priced a lot higher.  A very clever operation all round, and not surprising that they're already enjoying success.  Underpricing and overdelivering has that effect!

Our recommendation - only just over an hour from Auckland Airport, an excellent place to stop or start a trip around New Zealand.  A place to relax and unwind.  A place to sink into a real rural feel of a part of New Zealand not normally on the luxury tourism circuit.  A place to leave the big fiords, big lodges, big crowds behind and go to the local farmers markets for a low-key discovery of some authentic, exciting and low-key tastes.

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