$7150 a night Kiwi lodge world's best

FIT FOR A KING: Diana Moore says the lodge provides exclusive accommodation and seclusion for discerning guests.

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A luxury Rotorua lodge, chosen as the world's best of its type, has only three bedrooms, no cellphone coverage and costs more than the average annual salary to stay a week.

Lake Okareka Lodge took away the award as the world's best luxury country lodge at the Luxury Hotel Awards held in Thailand.

Lodge manager Diana Moore said the award was recognition for providing exclusive accommodation for discerning guests who could treat it like their own home.

The award was judged from guest feedback, including a "mystery guest", and by the travel industry.

"We are pretty chuffed to have won as we have only been operating after major refurbishment for 12 months," Ms Moore said.

"There are many beautiful lodges in New Zealand and overseas but few provide guests with exclusive use of the facilities."

Lake Okareka Lodge is one of only nine New Zealand luxury lodges to be awarded the Qualmark "exclusive" rating by Tourism New Zealand. Guests can treat the lodge as their own home, or a staff of 10, including a 24-hour on call butler service, is available.

The room rate is $7150 a night for two people, $9350 for four, and $11,550 per night for six. A week's stay during summer would set a couple back $50,050, more than the average salary of $49,500.

The guest list is highly confidential and includes Hollywood's rich and famous, and high-ranking politicians.

Most guests came from overseas, with few from New Zealand.

Most stayed two to three nights, although a Russian family once stayed six months, she said.

It was important that the lodge charged a premium rate for guests who expected top service and food.

"We aim for the top 1 per cent of high-worth individuals in the world. Our guests are discerning, they will not compromise on quality. They are attracted by the lodge's seclusion and privacy."

The menu features New Zealand lamb, beef and shellfish. Guests can either cook for themselves or have the chef prepare meals.

The lodge promotes its lack of cellphone coverage. "We have wives of top businessmen staying who like the fact their husbands cannot be distracted by work calls while they are on holiday."

The five-year-old lodge has three double bedrooms, each with bathroom en suite, plus breakfast, dining and living areas, a kitchen, library, gallery, gym and massage room. The 2500-square-metre site includes a helipad, stream, waterfall and spa pool.

- © Fairfax NZ News