WELCOME: Thank you for choosing Lake Rotoroa Lodge. We are delighted that you have trusted us
with some of your valuable holiday time. We aim for
the best possible standards within the confines of
where we are located, wherever we are located. Lake Rotoroa Lodge is founded on a belief that
a happy and appreciated staff makes for a happy lodge
and that is the key to the personal service and attention
to detail that we strive for. We hope that you will
enjoy your stay with us and hope that you will make
Lake Rotoroa Lodge your home from home while you are
in New Zealand. Please do not hesitate to ask our
team anything - whatever it may be - we will do our
best to help.
IMPORTANT: Please read this information carefully well in advance
of your departure. It will save you time and help
answer many technical questions concerning your stay
at Lake Rotoroa Lodge. Upon registration for your
trip, either your agent or ourselves will send you
a questionnaire. Please complete and return it to
us as soon as possible. This information is very important
for our records and will allow us to better serve
you during your stay.
INTRODUCTION: The globe is striving to stay green, and New Zealand
has a head start. This island nation's remarkable
bounty of scenic beauty is safeguarded by an environmentally
conscious government and people. New Zealanders are
acutely aware of their natural resources - space (clean,
green rolling acres of it) and a stunning diversity
of scenery.
Eco-tourism, travelling
with particular attention to nature's wonders and
leaving them as you found them, is quintessentially
New Zealand. Pioneer among nations in the concept,
New Zealand's Lake Rotoroa Lodge can offer you holidays
of rare quality. During your stay, you will discover
that while New Zealand's population is small, its
inhabitants, nicknamed "Kiwis", have few
rivals for hospitality. With its temperate climate
and wealth of outdoor excitement, New Zealand offers
a nearly inexhaustible resource of both active recreation
and relaxation, not to mention some of the world's
very best trout fishing. All of this in a country
that many consider to be the most beautiful on earth.
A BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: New Zealand's first inhabitants were the Maori, brave
explorers of Polynesian descent, who arrived from
Pacific Islands to the north more than 1,000 years
ago. Their first sighting of a European may have occurred
in 1642, when Dutch navigator Abel Tasman dropped
anchor in a South Island bay. His stay was brief,
however, due to a conflict with Maori warriors. It
was another 125 years, in 1769, before Captain James
Cook circumnavigated the two-island country and claimed
it for Britain. The "colony" enjoyed considerable
autonomy, and in 1907 was officially proclaimed a
"dominion". New Zealand became an independent
country in 1947.
Today New Zealand is
a sovereign independent state and a member of the
British Commonwealth. Its government is moulded on
the British Parliamentary system, with universal adult
suffrage. There is a party approach to politics and
an independent judiciary. English is the common language,
but Maori is also spoken. The country has a population
of 3.3 million people, mostly of British descent.
The largest minority is, of course, the Maori (405,000/13
percent). Nearly one third of the population lives
in Auckland, and less than a third reside on the South
Island.
New Zealand is approximately
1,000 miles (1609 km) in length, spanning 104,000
square miles (269,360 sq km) encompassing two main
islands. It is located about 4,600 miles (7,400 km)
south of Honolulu and 6,800 miles (10,940 km) from
Los Angeles, in the South Pacific between latitudes
34° south and 47° south. It is a long, narrow
country lying roughly north to south with mountain
ranges spanning much of its length. It is slightly
smaller than California and its land mass would fit
into the state of Colorado. New Zealand is very near
the International Date Line and twelve hours ahead
of Greenwich Mean Time. In fact, it is one of the
first countries in the world to greet each new day.
Based on standard time, a quick way to determine the
time difference is to remember that New Zealand is
12 hours ahead of the UK, 13 from most of Europe and
21 hours ahead of the West Coast and 18 hours ahead
of the East Coast of the United States. These time
differences look dramatic, but from the West Coast
it is an overnight flight and only a three hour difference
to the body clock.
GETTING HERE: Air New Zealand, Qantas and United operate a daily
non-stop service between Los Angeles and Auckland.
Air New Zealand offers a service from London's Heathrow
to Auckland with one stop in Los Angeles. Within the
country, Air New Zealand, Qantas, and smaller commuter
airlines serve all of the major cities and towns.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the
date you intend to leave New Zealand is the only document
required for entry provided you stay less than 90
days. No visas or inoculations are necessary.
Note: New Zealand's isolation has kept it free of many animal
and plant diseases. To maintain this status, restrictions
are imposed on the importation of certain animal and
plant materials. Prior to arrival, passengers will
complete a declaration stating that no foodstuffs,
plants, or animal material are being brought into
the country. While aircraft cabins are often sprayed
before disembarkation to ensure foreign insects are
not imported accidentally, most planes originating
in the US are not sprayed. Customs officers are very
sensitive to any dirt, mud, plant life, etc. To avoid
unnecessary delays in clearing customs, it is imperative
that your hiking boots, wading boots, fishing vests,
fly boxes, and tackle are clean in case they are inspected.
We have also had reports of difficulty bringing in
fly-tying materials that are not made of commercially
prepared feathers.
Like most customs offices
in all developed countries, New Zealand reserves the
right to disinfect and/or confiscate any material
they deem to be unsafe to their flora and fauna.
CUSTOMS ALLOWANCE:
In addition to personal effects, the following may
be brought into New Zealand by persons over 17 years
of age without payment of duty or local tax: 200 cigarettes
or 250 g of tobacco or 50 cigars; 4.5 litres of wine
or equivalent in beer, and two 1125 ml bottles of
spirits or liquor.
BAGGAGE LIMITATION: For transpacific flights on Air New Zealand, passengers
are limited to two pieces of baggage and one carry-on
per person. The checked bags cannot exceed 70 pounds
(30 kg) each, and the carry-on must be of a size to
comfortably fit under the seat or in an overhead luggage
compartment. As long as you hold an international
ticket, the same requirements apply for your domestic
flights within the country. The airlines seem to be
incredibly strict on this. Also some airlines insist
that a rod tube counts as the second piece of luggage!
Note: Due to heightened security measures at all airports,
we recommend that all fishing gear be packed in your
checked luggage including rods, reels, flies and fishing
tools (such as pliers, scissors, snips, pocket knives,
screwdrivers, etc.). This will avoid delays and possible
confiscation at security checkpoints.
ELECTRICITY: Electricity throughout New Zealand is 230/240 volts,
50 hertz. Most hotels and some lodges provide 110
volt AC sockets for razors and other small appliances.
In all other cases, special adapters/converters are
necessary. Power outlets only accept flat three (grounded)
or two pin plugs. The adapter can be purchased after
arrival in the country or you may be able to find
one in a fine luggage specialty shop. The lodge has
240 volts, but the bathrooms have the option of 110
or 240.
TELEPHONES AND COMPUTERS: Cellular phones may be rented upon arrival at the
Auckland International Airport. This booth is well
marked and is located near the Air New Zealand counter.
Cellular phones do not work at Lake Rotoroa Lodge
at present but we have a good telephone and fax system
with colour fax machine and photocopier.We also have
a guest computer with 24-hour internet access and
e-mail facilities.
DEPARTURE TAX: A fee of NZ$22 is collected from all passengers departing
New Zealand; you may also be asked to pay a departure
tax on some domestic flights within the country. Major
credit cards are accepted.
GOODS AND SERVICE TAX (GST): All goods and services in New Zealand are subject
to a 12.5% goods and service tax, which is usually
included in the displayed price. It may be added on
extras purchased at the lodge or goods bought in retail
stores. Visitors cannot claim refunds on this tax,
unless a shop ships items to their home address, in
which case GST is not charged on the goods or the
freight.
CURRENCY: The New Zealand currency consists of New Zealand dollars.
There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency
that can be brought into or taken out of New Zealand.
Foreign currency can be exchanged on arrival at the
Bank of New Zealand, open 24 hours and located in
the arrivals area at Auckland Airport. Banks and most
hotels can also convert foreign currency for you.
We find that banks usually offer the most generous
exchange rate and credit card purchases favour the
consumer. The exchange rate with the US dollar fluctuates
frequently. The nearest banks to the lodge are in
Nelson.
Note: Do not plan to
take your cheque book. It takes months for a foreign
cheque to be processed and most lodges and retailers
do not accept them. Credit cards are welcomed; the
most widely accepted are Visa and MasterCard. ATM
machines are readily available.
INSURANCE/ACCIDENTAL INJURY: Visitors to New Zealand are covered under the country's
Accident Compensation Scheme for personal injury by
accident and are entitled to care, irrespective of
fault. Benefits include some medical and hospital
expenses, and lump sum payments for physical disability.
Not included is loss of earnings outside New Zealand.
New Zealand law prohibits bringing legal action for
damages in New Zealand courts. It is therefore recommended
that visitors carry appropriate travel insurance to
cover accidental injury and property loss.
DRIVING A VEHICLE: Your valid driver's licence is acceptable. Driving
is on the left-hand side of the road and use of a
seatbelt is mandatory. Do not try to translate your
usual mileage to New Zealand travel. If you have made
250 miles (400 km) in a day, you have done very well.
The majority of the roads are two lane and winding
- you can frequently find yourself behind a slow
moving truck. In addition, there seems to be a sightseeing
opportunity around every corner, which can add significant
time to an otherwise short journey. Watch out for
the numerous one-way bridges where you have to give
way to on-coming traffic!
FILLING YOUR CAR: Please note that the nearest petrol (gas) station
is in the local town of Murchison, 30 minutes south
of the lodge. It is therefore necessary to ensure
that you have at least enough fuel for one hour of
medium paced driving. We strongly suggest that you
fill your car before coming to the lodge.
THE LODGE WHEN YOU ARRIVE: We are in a very special place, which feels like our
own private valley in our own National Park. (We love
the fact that we still have our own little post box
in which we put our mail, put the flag up and the
postie comes three times a week to whisk it away.)
On arrival, one of the team will help you with your
bags and be glad to park your car in our small car
park to the side of the lodge.
Usually guests arrive
off aircraft or from a drive from somewhere else and
specific activities have not been arranged. We will
be glad to set lunch for you at the bar by prior arrangement
and help with any suggestions of local activities.
We have some wonderful walks right from our front
door; we can also arrange the water taxi for you to
go to the other end of the lake where you can walk;
and there is the Gowan River to fish for the keen
fishermen who arrive. On a completely different level
we can organize Bronwyn Johnstone to come to the lodge
for relaxing facials or massage at any time, but the
afternoon of arrival always seems like a great time
- just let us know.
FACILITIES IN YOUR ROOM: All our rooms are individually furnished, but are
equipped with the same facilities. There is one lovely
bedroom on the ground floor which is perfect for the
less agile. All rooms have en suite bathrooms with
showers, and one has a bath - if you prefer a bath
please ask us upon booking. We have 110/240 volt shaving
plugs in all bathrooms, hairdryers and nightlights.
Each bathroom also has a full range of bathroom products
handmade locally.
Each bedroom has plenty
of storage space with luggage stands and good size
wardrobes with large wooden hangers. All our rooms
have tea and coffee trays, with a cafetière
and freshly ground coffee and an assortment of teas.
You will also enjoy our delicious local water as well
as bottled water in the rooms, some shortbread and
an array of books and magazines. Our beds are covered
with fine, Battenburg lace bedspreads with plenty
of pillows! We have a folder full of information about
the lodge, how we operate, the history of the lodge,
helicopter safety and prices, our wine list, details
of our therapeutic and beauty treatments etc. Finally,
all of our rooms have wonderful views over the lake
or mountains that surround us.
THE REST OF THE LODGE:We have a large sitting
room with adjoining recreation room with e-mail facilities
and satellite TV available. We have a small office,
which is often a hive of activity as guests plan their
day and a small shop with local products, as well
as all the highest quality fishing equipment anyone
could possibly need from rods to suncream, film etc.
At one end of the hall is our large dining room with
the same stunning views down the lake as our sitting
room. Guests generally sit around the large dining
room table but please ask if you would like the small
table with the view one evening. It really is very
special. At the other end of the hall there is the
guest laundry and our very efficient drying room -
we know how nice it is to travel with dry fishing
gear!
ATTIRE AT THE LODGE: Dress is casual. Most guests prefer to change out
of their day activity clothes prior to dinner but
we are informal.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Liquor, wine, and beer are not included in the package
rate, soft drinks are. We have a full bar with mixed
drinks for purchase. Please settle your bar bill with
us prior to your departure.
A TYPICAL DAY: Our day begins early at 6.30 am when lights will be
put on, the drying room warmed, fires lit as needed
and tea and coffee served in the sitting room for
those coming downstairs early.
Guests generally come
down for breakfast at 7.30 am in order to be ready
to depart with their guide by 8.30 am. We are perfectly
happy to arrange breakfast for those early helicopter
fly-outs or early departures. We have a full range
of high quality men's and ladies' wading gear as well
as premium quality rods and reels for loan - these
are generally handed out the night before but one
of the team is always around to lend equipment from
the tackle room.
For those enjoying other
activities, please ask our advice and we will be glad
to help plan a day, loan equipment if we have it etc.
There is an enormous amount to do in the area (see
the non-fishing section of our web-site). For the bigger projects,
it helps us to have a day or two's notice or even
plan with us upon booking.
If guests remain at the
lodge for the day our chefs are happy to serve a light
lunch at the bar. Otherwise, guests - fishing or otherwise
- will have our famous packed lunch prepared for them.
As guests begin to return
from their daytime activities, they are welcomed home
by lodge staff members. Guests return from about 5
pm onwards and guests and guides join in the bar to
talk over the day. Guests return to their rooms to
change for dinner, then meet in the bar for drinks
and hors d'oeuvres around 7 pm. This is a good time
to view the menu and select wine from our cellar to
accompany your dinner. Dinner is served at 7.30 pm
in the dining room. Tea, coffee and petits fours,
as well as night-caps are served at the bar after
dinner.
LAUNDRY: Laundry facilities are available near the drying room.
Detergents are supplied. Should you wish for your
laundry to be done by the lodge staff, there will
be a small charge.
