Rua Awa Lodge is a self-contained lodge on 20 acres in the quiet rural village of Kakahi, at 83 Noho Street, just off State Highway 4. The property has expansive lawns, gardens, orchards and native bush, and it borders a Department of Conservation reserve. Cattle and sheep graze the land, and the lodge looks out to Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro. Guests have private access to the Whanganui and Whakapapa rivers, and the website mentions fishing, swimming and walking. The lodge sits between National Park, the gateway to Tongariro National Park, and Taumarunui. The owners say everything they provide is New Zealand made and earth friendly.
Guests describe a peaceful, cosy and luxurious stay, with a fire inside and an outdoor shower or bath. One couple who spent their anniversary there loved the birdsong and the quiet. A bride who got ready there before her best friend's wedding found the space relaxing and clean. Guests say the hosts are wonderful and welcoming, and the website includes guests who mention homemade breakfast foods and the glow worms down the road. For a quiet, private stay near the mountains and rivers of the King Country, it is a special place to stay.