Solitaire Lodge is a luxury lodge on a private peninsula at 16 Ronald Road, Lake Tarawera, near Rotorua, with nine suites set in native bush. The lodge was recently awarded a Michelin Key for 2026, and it is run by hosts the site describes as warm and friendly.
Full board is included, with daily pre-dinner drinks and canapés, a five-course evening meal, a full country breakfast and a light lunch. Each suite has a complimentary mini bar with a range of snacks and drinks. Guests can take a private launch to Lake Tarawera's natural hot springs, a helicopter flight over the volcanic landscape, a 4WD trip and hike to the summit of Mount Tarawera, or a walk to a 65-metre waterfall. Private boat trips for fishing, kayaking and E-bike tours are also offered. One guest said it gave them the wow moment they had been looking for on a New Zealand holiday, praising the rooms, the food and the views.