• The Ariari Lodge homestead has two spacious upstairs queen-size bedrooms with private bathrooms with great views and complimentary welcome pack including tea, coffee and biscuits
    Homestead

    The Ariari Lodge homestead has two spacious upstairs queen-size bedrooms with private bathrooms with great views and complimentary welcome pack including tea, coffee and biscuits

  • Kahu Chalet

    A favourite luxurious escape with french doors that open to stunning views

  • Luxury Surroundings

    Enjoy a roaring fire in the evening or relax in the extensive interior and exterior surrounds of the main homestead

  • Family Friendly

    Ariari Lodge is a great place for families to spend quality time together

  • Lake Rotorangi is bordered by native trees and bushland, where the call of native birds are heard
    Amazing View and Vistas

    Lake Rotorangi is bordered by native trees and bushland, where the call of native birds are heard

  • Ariari Lodge has the latest in conference facilities, including boardroom, high speed internet, projector screen, entertainment system and breakout rooms
    Business & Conference Facilities

    Ariari Lodge has the latest in conference facilities, including boardroom, high speed internet, projector screen, entertainment system and breakout rooms

  • Spacious Modern Accommodation

    All of our luxury chalets are spacious, private and modern with all the creature comforts, including a great view

  • The team at Ariari Lodge pride themselves on delivering a personal and professional service, where no request is too hard
    Personalised Service

    The team at Ariari Lodge pride themselves on delivering a personal and professional service, where no request is too hard

  • Queen Room

    Luxury Queen Room with great views of the gardens. Private bathroom with complimentary welcome pack

  • Ariari Lodge is the perfect location for hosting your event or function, whether an intimate wedding, conference or corporate retreat
    Functions & Events

    Ariari Lodge is the perfect location for hosting your event or function, whether an intimate wedding, conference or corporate retreat

  • The extensive grounds are perfect for weddings and functions with capacity to hold even the largest events
    The Grounds

    The extensive grounds are perfect for weddings and functions with capacity to hold even the largest events

Be Inspired at Ariari Lodge

Ariari Lodge is a hidden gem, overlooking the beautiful Lake Rotorangi. The unique blend of nature, culture and luxury allows to you to relax, put life on hold, stop the watch and enjoy the breathtaking surrounds for a romantic getaway, corporate retreat or time to reflect and re-energise.

As you wind up and over the Mangamingi Saddle, through Mangamingi settlement to Aorere Road (Aorere means “fly away”) with stunning vistas of rolling hills and native bush, you will instantly connect with what inspired us, our family and grandchildren to move here.

The luxurious chalets are perched on a ridge overlooking the peaceful flowing Lake Rotorangi in eastern Taranaki with views to inspire. You will experience exquisite privacy and nature at its finest. Relax and unwind with a bottle of wine in the spa, talk a leisurely walk down to the lake through native trees, enjoy a spot of fishing or perhaps something a little more adventurous is on the cards.

Our Story

Ariari Lodge is an original Boon and Goldsmith architecturally designed lodge built by Colliers in 1985, landscaped gardens and manicured lawns. Their son Cameron Collier still owns, resides and operates the surrounding valley farm.

The lodge with 100 hectares was purchased by Maureen and Jean Gauvin, who realised the potential tourism opportunities, built four chalets overlooking the lake and began Caniwi Lodge and Chalets, Lake Rotorangi. The name Caniwi means “Can” Jean is a Canadian and “Iwi” because Maureen is a Kiwi.

Our journey began with our vision to purchase, rename, operate the lodge as a whanau (family) business, acknowledging that we are only nga kaitiaki o te whenua (guardians of the land) so that our future generations can enjoy it.

“Plant a tree to shade our future generation”
Part of our journey was to meet with our Ngati Ruanui and Ngaruahine kaumatua, inform them of our acquisition of the lodge, and together highlight our aspirations, vision and the significance of renaming the lodge.

Our kaumatua’s research included reviewing the original land maps, identifying that the land was within the Ngati Ruanui rohe, the history behind the formation of the lake. The original name of the landblock and meaning was “Tutaeariari” stand tall – 11th day moon, undisturbed view, gleam, fence in, exposed, cloudy. Staying at the lodge you can understand why and what inspired it’s name and significance.

Ariari Lodge, Lake Rotorangi
Karakia was held on the 2nd March 2012 with Aroha Wharemate, John Hooker and Te Pahunga Davis and supported by many whanau to bless the land and buildings, to commemorate the occasion the planting and naming of 12 New Zealand native trees supplied by Ki Tahi, Waverley.

We are proud of who we are, our origin and the gifts that we can bring to people in everything we do everyday. Ariari Lodge, Lake Rotorangi is our vehicle portraying our unique talents, and hospitality through sharing and caring for people that come through our doors.

Nga mihi

Steven and Cathy Katene

Tohu

The tohu was designed by Te Arawaka Hamana, specifically for our wedding and whanau

Hover over different parts of the image to find out more

  • The tohu consists of two Manaia, lead by myself, Steven(as parents) protecting our whanau.
  • The whanau line connecting myself, Steven, our four children, and three grandchildren.
  • Hemaima, our eldest daughter.
  • Adrianne with her two sons either side of her.
  • Rochelle with her daughter.
  • Darryl, our son.