Huka Lodge New Zealand reopens after a $22 million refurbishment

Signing the oversized guestbook at Huka Lodge means joining some illustrious company, not least of all Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait sits in a frame on the welcome table. New Zealand’s most famous lodge was a favourite of the late monarch, and she visited four times.

The storied property sits on the banks of the Waikato River near Lake Taupō, a three hour drive south of Auckland (but faster in a chopper, the preferred mode of transport for many guests). It’s a destination for…