The Lodge’s central North Island location is in close proximity to many popular regional attractions – making them ideal day trips from the lodge, on-route to the lodge or visited after staying at the lodge. Solitaire Lodge can assist guests with bookings and transportation to regional attractions.

1. Mount Maunganui Beach

Regularly voted New Zealand’s best beach, Mount Maunganui Beach features pristine, soft white sand ideal for sunbathing and long walks. The Main Beach is excellent for swimming and is patrolled by surf lifesavers during the peak summer months. The Beach takes it’s name from the nearby Mount Maunganui, the iconic 232-meter volcanic peak, popular for its panoramic 360-degree views of the coastline.

88 km / 1 hr 15 min drive from Solitaire Lodge.

2. Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours provides fully guided walking tours of the iconic 12-acre Shire set used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Located on the Alexander family’s working sheep and beef farm in Matamata, New Zealand, it features 44 permanent Hobbit Holes, Bagshot Row interiors, and the famous Green Dragon Inn.

93 km / 1 hr 25 min drive from  Solitaire Lodge.

3. Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Be amazed by the thousands of magical glowworms above, as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Guided since the late 1880s, this is the original, iconic New Zealand attraction.

162 km / 2 hr 15 min drive from Solitaire Lodge.

4. Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a challenging 19.4 km, one-day trek across an active volcanic landscape in New Zealand’s dual UNESCO World Heritage site, Tongariro National Park. Widely considered one of the world’s best day hikes, it takes 6 to 8 hours to complete

174 km / 2 hr 18 min drive from Solitaire Lodge.

Solitaire Lodge is 237km / 3hr drive from Auckland International Airport. Rotorua Domestic Airport is 25km / 30min drive from Solitaire Lodge.