New Zealand’s Poronui Lodge has been awarded top honours in the prestigious annual Andrew Harper Travel Awards.

The lodge, close to Taupo, is the recipient of two awards bestowed by the travel organisation in its 2017 rundown of the world’s best hotels and travel experiences.

To be considered for the awards, properties must be relatively small in size, possess strong individual personalities, offer relaxing atmospheres and demonstrate a consistent devotion to personal service.

Poronui, which won both a Grand Award and a Special Recognition Award, is honoured in the January issue of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report alongside boutique hotels in the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, South America and the United States/Canada.

Says Editor-in-Chief Andrew Harper: “It takes more than a luxurious room and a lavish bath to make a great hotel. Of course, a charming staff, a fine restaurant and an exceptional location are usually part of the package.

“But just as a beautiful face is more than a collection of perfect features, the world’s finest hotels possess an elusive character that is mysteriously more than the sum of its parts.”

Nestled in the secluded Taharua valley 40 minutes east of Taupo, Poronui is a world-class, boutique wilderness retreat.

To discriminating anglers it’s an historic fishing lodge where they can fly-fish for superb resident brown and rainbow trout in pristine waters. To the outdoor enthusiast it’s about the great outdoors, the opportunity to explore 16,000 acres of timeless private wilderness by foot, horse or mountain bike. To others, Poronui is the ultimate luxury wilderness retreat, a place to simply relax.

Andrew Harper, who travels anonymously and pays full rate for all lodging, meals and related travel expenses, described the view from his room as “so aesthetically satisfying that it seemed more like landscape art than scenery”.

The travel expert applauded not only the lodge’s accommodation and top-class facilities but also its cuisine (“utterly delicious and graciously served”) and personnel, awarding Manager Eve Reilly the title Hotel Manager of the Year.

Says Poronui General Manager Steve Smith: “We are honoured to be recognised with these two awards. The most frequent feedback guests give us is that they feel incredibly welcomed at Poronui by Eve and her team. We’re thrilled that Andrew Harper has chosen to highlight this aspect of his stay at Poronui as being exceptional.”

The full list of 2017 winners is also published on andrewharper.com.

Read Andrew Harper’s report here: https://www.poronui.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ga-2017-poronui.pdf