Koru Lodge is a boutique self-catering lodge at 51A Whaanga Road in Raglan, on the Waikato coast. It sits above Whale Bay at the foot of Mt Karioi, with views over the Tasman Sea. The lodge has five self-contained apartments: four two-bedroom apartments, each with its own private spa pool, and a Surfer's Studio for solo travellers. The website says the surf breaks at Manu Bay and Whale Bay are minutes away, and that Green Wave Raglan Surf School is a short trip for lessons. Private yoga sessions can be arranged in the bush setting. The lodge is about two hours' drive from Auckland. Guests quoted on the website praise the quiet, the hosts, the spa on the deck and the kitchen equipment, including a barbecue. Our pick in Raglan for a spa with a sea view after a day on the waves.