Guests can do as little as nothing - this garden is the perfect place for contemplation - or hit the activity trail all around you.  We feel that if you go to New Zealand and don’t try out an extreme sport then you’ve missed out on one of the big things it has to offer. There is a huge range of things to do, organised by Huka Lodge with pickup, so logistically nothing could be easier.

When Huka lodge first sent ahead their extensive excursions list it was as long as North Island itself! Time was limited and I like to pack a punch, so we chose the ‘ultimate experience’ an option that combines two different outdoor experiences from two separate operators. HELIPRO’S scenic wilderness tour by helicopter and CHRIS JOLLY’S luxury launch cruise on Lake Taupo. And yes, it is every bit as adventurous and exciting as it sounds.

Because Huka coordinate their guests’ day trips you get picked up right from the lodge - all you have to do is show up. The lodge’s lawns double-up as a helipad and you take to the air over the whole magnificent Waikato plateau, from the farmlands to the wetlands. Our helicopter pilot, Toby Young came to pick us up in his fire engine red helicopter, and I must say, I never get jaded about angling up to the sky in a bubble as the blades whirr above me; it makes the wonder of flying so immediate (admittedly a little too immediate for some people who get nervous). But New Zealand, with its large tracts of pristine wilderness, is the place to do it.

Usually you elect a Southernly or Northernly direction but Huka’s manager, Mark urged me to put in the extra hour and do both. My idea of heaven is a lack of ugly urban sprawl or jarring modernisation, so I loved showing my family this incredible topography. A whole green, blue and alpine wonderland was laid out before us like a magic carpet.

We flew over lush forest peninsulas, small coastal towns and remote holiday mansions lined with golden poplars. We saw huge tracts of pasture and farmland in the Kaimanawa range - even wild horses running free and bucking as our shadow passed over them, which was thrilling for Zoe. We flew close to the Rangitikei River rapids where tiny jet boats swirled around in the bubbling water and the almost lunar landscape of the chalky looking craters in Tongariro National Park.

Switching direction to north we headed to mountain country, exchanging the vast perspective of land and sea and the Waikato River to climb up the jagged edges of the charcoal mountaintops of the Wai-O-Tapu and Waimangu geothermal regions. It is an amazing sensation to hover close at this altitude over a remote other world, barely accessible to even the hardiest mountaineers.

We were thrillingly close to snowcaps and perfect blue, alpine lakes at the summit, completely invisible from land. We actually landed on the rim of the (happily dormant) Mt Tarawera volcano, a craggy, stark pit up amongst the clouds, with no human habitation in sight. It felt like a special privilege, Mother Nature’s “Access All Areas” pass! This is an unusual experience that gives you a really profound sense of the Taupo region. Our pilot, Toby was lovely, chatty and informative too. The laid-back ‘kiwis’ are really born to guide - they seem to genuinely love showing you around their country.

Next up - the cruise. Toby flew us to our landing place, a rock shelf in the more remote part of Lake Taupo; a true James Bond moment when you see your cruiser IRIDIUM, a sleek 70ft motor yacht awaiting in a beautiful, sheltered cove amongst low coastal cliffs.
The transition between the two outings is seamless, but the mood totally changes into kick back mode.

While we stretched out on the wooden deck, Simon the captain, happily started sizzling thick New Zealand steaks and premium beef sausages on the BBQ. Life was very good.

After our lunch, we started to cruise the inlets and motor along the shoreline to WHAKAIPO BAY to see beautiful ancient MAORI ROCK CARVINGS in the caves along the lake - our one brush up against this country’s incredible indigenous tribal warrior culture. Zoe being Zoe, we also went for a high-speed rides in the tender to shake things up a bit.

Another highlight was at day’s end (we had an hour less daylight after extending our helicopter ride). We all had a go at fishing and as the sun was waning Zoe’s line strained - that ancient, telltale sign that we had caught dinner! With some help from Dad we reeled in a very respectable sized trout that Zoe immediately christened, Trevor. The Jollys said, “Perfect, take him back to Huka where they’ll cook him for you.” A big fuss was made of him, unless you count the part where they clubbed his head while we looked away! But he was packaged and transported back with us to the lodge where the chef offered to prepare Trevor for us every which way - as sashimi, or poached !!
The ‘ultimate experience’ is an out of the ordinary, high value day. Because the boat provides such a nice balance I would recommend sticking to the original time for the helicopter. 2 ½ hours is a long time in such confined space.

One important point to make is that this is such a fantastic retreat, with grounds that just lift your soul and a spectacular lodge that keeps drawing you in to read a book, try a great New Zealand white or curl up by the fire. The beautiful grounds and rooms are worth enjoying!

Even I, action man, realised that our two activity-filled days here were not enough. Sheira admitted, “I could have done with an extra ‘do nothing’ day to just luxuriate in the surroundings with a cup of tea.” I tell you, this place can get you up a mountain, but it can also turn you into a country house couch potato!  Really stopping down here is a must - so schedule in at least one day just for Huka!  Not only was our goodbye emotional because we had bonded with the people here, but we were just not ready to leave. Schwarznegger said it best: we’ll be back…