The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs

An out of this world setting and property with a most lovely set of individuals making our 30th anniversary stay absolutely perfect. A special shout out to John (a warm welcome), Constance (helpful guide for how to spend our time), Nicholas (so entertaining and engaging), Andreas (heading up the team with great care) Marina (the best start to our day), Ashish (wine expert extraordinaire).

Kauri Cliffs is, quite simply, extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we were enveloped in a level of service that was both impeccable and deeply genuine - warm, intuitive, and effortlessly refined. The team strike a rare and magical balance: making you feel completely at home while maintaining a level of polish and professionalism that never feels overdone. It’s a fine line, and they execute it flawlessly. A surprise upgrade from an ocean view villa to the Owner’s Cottage set the tone for an unforgettable stay. The cottage is exceptional - beautifully designed, supremely private, and utterly indulgent, with every detail considered. Visiting in autumn only enhanced the experience. There is a quiet magic to the property at this time of year - crisp air, dramatic coastal views and interiors that feel inviting, elegant, and wonderfully cocooning. The cuisine was equally impressive: thoughtful, seasonal, and consistently outstanding, with each meal a highlight. What truly elevates Kauri Cliffs, however, is its people. We were so beautifully looked after by Andre Miethig, a seasoned hotelier whose thoughtful, kind and quietly witty approach set the tone for our stay. Hester Yao was endlessly engaging and impressively knowledgeable across both New Zealand and Australia, while John Lewis is clearly one of the hotel’s rare treasures - there to warmly welcome you and offer the most thoughtful, tailored suggestions. Beyond the lodge itself, the experience is as playful as it is luxurious. We spent our days on the spectacular golf course, with lessons from one of the resident Pros - Ryan, who was outstanding, expert, patient, and an absolute pleasure. My husband had firmly refused to play golf, largely on the grounds that I might be better at it. One lesson at Kauri Cliffs with Ryan and he’s now completely hooked, slightly inconvenient for him, but a testament to just how good it is. Time at the spa with Susanne was equally memorable, delivering a level of care and calm that perfectly matched the setting. There were also pickleball and leisurely explorations of the property by golf buggy, which is the only acceptable mode of transport once you’ve experienced it. Evenings were equally memorable, thanks in no small part to Arish, whose knowledge of wine is exceptional and who made our final night such fun with a blind tasting we won’t soon forget. Mornings, meanwhile, belonged to the gorgeous Marina, who made breakfast feel like a daily highlight—effortless, elegant, and quite simply perfect. Kauri Cliffs provided the perfect setting to celebrate our wedding anniversary - romantic, restorative, and truly special. It is a place that lingers long after you leave, and one we will undoubtedly return to, and are already plotting out our return.

What an outstanding property and team of people. The welcome was amazing, the service incredibly professional and friendly and the lodge and villas are beautiful. While we are not golfers and this is primarily a golf resort, the whole experience including the lunch, dinner and breakfast was truly stunning.

What an utterly incredible place. The golf course is stunning with views over the ocean and the Cavalli islands. The hotel was a quiet piece of understated luxury. The staff were wonderfully helpful. The whole estate just made us want to stay longer (we added an extra night to our stay). We are looking forward to returning next year

Not what it used to be before Rosewood took over the management. Having stayed at Kauri Cliffs many times over many years and always looking forward to it so much, no more for us unless it gets back to what it used to be. Magnificent golf course and wonderful lodge ambiance but: Food not good at all and we didn’t look forward to any meals during our 4 day stay. Food used to be a highlight. Staff were mainly over zealous young backpackers on tourist visas with little or no upmarket hospitality experience. Obsequious and well intentioned but service was at times embarrassing and to be expected from a trainee, not a professional. As for the rooms, not even a cookie was provided like they used to. Are they trying to save costs? How much is a cookie? All in all so disappointing and certainly not what you would expect at more than $NZ 4,700 per night! Finally it was carts to path on the golf course which at $NZ 1,000 per round for 2 made the golf course a struggle and a lot less enjoyable for our 2 days of golf. This was not necessary and spoiled our golf experience. Should have at least been offered a reduced golf fee. Is it a coincidence that all this has happened after Rosewood has taken over the management? We would love to return but not until all of the above has been resolved and the previous high standards of food and service have been restored.