Rathmoy Lodge isn’t just a place to spend the night; it’s a destination. The lodge sits on a private and picturesque bend on the Rangitikei River surrounded by a working sheep and cattle farm. Located on the North Island of New Zealand, the lodge is near State Highway 1 by the town of Hunterville, two and a half hours north of Wellington. Rathmoy Lodge is an ideal spot for a relaxing outdoor getaway for a family or a couple.
Staying at Rathmoy Lodge is like renting an elegant cabin in the country. You get the whole place to yourself and there’s hardly another building in sight, so it is very private. Rathmoy Lodge has three bedrooms that can sleep up to ten guests, but smaller groups like couples can book exclusive use of the lodge too. The ensuite master has a big comfortable king bed. It has a vaulted ceiling and a sliding glass door with floor to ceiling windows and views of the Rangitikei River. There is a second bedroom downstairs with three single beds and an upstairs bedroom that uses bunk beds to accommodate three single beds and two full beds.
Guests have access to an open kitchen with all the comforts of home. Appliances include a stove, oven, microwave, coffee maker, tea water boiler, dishwasher, refrigerator, and freezer. There are pots, pans, and cooking utensils and lots of plates, glasses, bowls, and cups (the Rathmoy Lodge is capable of hosting large events). The lodge has two bathrooms and a laundry room.
Relax on the L-shaped sectional sofa in the living room that joins the kitchen or walk out to the sunroom where wicker chairs are placed in front of a big stone fireplace and two walls of windows that look out over the property. A long table in the sunroom can be used for indoor dining.
Windows throughout Rathmoy Lodge will lure you outside, but when you stay indoors, you can open up the windows for a refreshing breeze. A wide wooden deck runs along the east side of the lodge, where you can sit out and look across a lawn toward the Rangitikei River. Two big wooden tables next to the lodge make it easy to enjoy meals outdoors.
The lawn below the lodge has a cricket pitch and could also be used to host large events like weddings. Beyond the lawn, a line of trees run along the river where you’ll find a fire ring, a patio, and a bar made of wood slabs.
The river is a fine place to relax, have a swim, or skip rocks. Tall cliffs stand over the other side of the river, which makes the bend of the river by Rathmoy Lodge quite secluded. The river runs deep below the cliffs, creating good swimming holes.
The Rangitikei River boasts good fishing and there are plenty of other outdoor activities available at Rathmoy Lodge. You can explore a glowworm cave that’s right on the property or visit the pheasant farm and go pheasant shooting. Be sure to take advantage of the lodge’s New Zealand farm experience. Join Mark Grace, a host at Rathmoy Lodge, on a quad tour of the farm and watch as he and his dogs move sheep between paddocks. Mark and his family have been hunting and raising livestock on this land for several generations.
Rathmoy Lodge is a great place to just relax, but you can also stay pretty busy. The Rangitikei region around the lodge offers other activities too. For a hiking trail (walking track) that is close to Rathmoy Lodge, explore the Whitecliffs Boulders. To check rates and book your stay, visit rathmoy.co.nz. You can email Mark and Andrea Grace at info@rathmoy.co.nz or call (64) 21 2160 860. Activities and catered meals can also be arranged when booking at Rathmoy Lodge.
Directions: From Hunterville, drive six kilometers north on State Highway 1. Turn right (east) on State Highway 54 toward Feilding. Make an immediate right onto Cooks Road and another immediate left to stay on Cooks Road. Drive down a long gravel road through farmland, following directions that are provided once you book at the lodge.
Lodge address: 136 Cooks Road, Hunterville, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4785, New Zealand
Lodge coordinates: -39.941, 175.6452 (39° 56′ 27.60″S 175° 38′ 42.71″E)
 | Whitecliffs Boulders This 4.1-kilometer hike goes through sheep pastures and down cliffs by the Rangitikei River to a small forest filled with large spherical boulders that are quite unique. |
 | More trails in New Zealand Explore other destinations for walking and hiking (as well camping and lodging) in New Zealand. |