MURUPARA | Lake Aniwhenua

Located right on the edge of the tranquil Lake Aniwhenua, our Murupara accommodation at Kohutapu Lodge is owned and run by a local Māori family who are really passionate about sharing Māori culture and traditions with their guests. Here we will learn flax weaving, we’ll learn to perform the haka and we’ll prepare and eat a hangi – a meal cooked entirely underground. In the evening we’ll sit by a fire and share stories and legends. Our hosts at Kohutapu Lodge are a wonderful example of the core Māori concept of Manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness, generosity, respect and care for others) which plays a vital role in Māori culture and New Zealand tourism.

Murupara itself was once a thriving forestry township, but it’s fair to say these days that things are a little quieter. Depending on when you visit, we will likely get a chance to show the local community Manaakitanga ourselves – an authentic travel experience so special that we’d rather you experienced it rather than read about it.