Poronui

We had an amazing time at the Safari Camp. A brilliant site and amazing food. The beds were so comfortable. The sound of the river made for the best nights sleep. The chef supplied really wonderful food, and the wine to accompany it was perfect. Sitting around the campfire talking with the family was one of the best experiences you could have.

Excellent hospitality. Claire and Lisa re fabulous hosts. The location is beautiful with pheasants strolling around the grounds and deer grazing on the hillsides. The rooms are very well appointed. The food was delicious. We had lovely stay.

“Poronui” a complete wilderness experience… Wednesday, and an easy drive of about a half hour, and a hard right on the Napier road takes you to Poronui in the North Island New Zealand high country. A private gated, secure property, and a quick call to Lisa or Claire get you in, and on your way, to a most wonderful, pristine wilderness experience. Met by Lisa, we arrived early afternoon, and immediately took in the ambience of the scenery, the Lodge, fantastic guest rooms, the mountains, the roaming deer and Ring Necked abundant Pheasant’s…..wow! To say it is very pretty is an understatement, but it gave us a feel for what was ahead over the next few days of high country, dry fly fishing, in gin clear mountain headwaters. Some tasty nibbles were rustled up” by Darren and Kay, who are part of The Poronui Experience” chef’s team. Really nice people, great food, nothing too hard to please, and a couple of drinks set the scene for an experience that is “to die for.” A bit of a rest, a familiarisation walk around the Lodge gardens, a check of the local stream for cruising Trout, and a run in with a Pheasant cock bird was all good. Lisa, a great lady, and asset to Poronui, picked us up in a Prado and took us for an educational overview 4 wheel drive around some of the property. Poronui is expansive, private, majestic in scenery, and the confluence of the rivers, told me this couple of days fly fishing would be something we would never forget. It was confirmed, in those next couple of days, and we’d go back there any time. No TV’s, just a book, a glass of wine, some more rest, then canape’s with new guests from Nebraska around the Lodge open fireplace…..a very nice start to our stay. Dinner at 7 was introductions all round, relaxed, informal, and our initial experiences, why we were here, and a few glasses of local wines and yummy food prepared by Chef Adrian, as “mein host” set the scene for a hard to beat experience. New, and I think enduring friendships were forged with our Nebraska cohorts, and during the next two days, we would several times discuss “the one that got away!” Thursday morning, after a great night’s sleep, we fronted the Lodge for breakfast at 7; clear sky’s, very frosty, an open fire in the lodge, a very leisurely experience, nice breakfast from Darren and Kaye, and a day of pristine river dry fly fishing was ahead. Some coffee, further introductions to our guides Kunio, the fly fishing ninja, and Mark, into the Simms waders, and we were on our ways into the bush, into the rivers, and trekking upstream. For quite a while, we found spotting the fish difficult and our darker lensed shades weren’t as good as yellow shades in detecting the fish, unless they moved, or spooked as they frequently were in the gin clear waters. A floating Geehi Peacock hurl beetle with small trailing bead head nymph was the go to weapon of choice by our guide Kunio, who also acted as chief spotter, lead river forder, and “chief haranguer” due

What a beautiful quiet setting for this amazing lodge. The rooms very spacious and thoughtfully decorated. The food was exquisite and the staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend a visit.

We stayed at Poronui Lodge for a family celebration. From our arrival to our departure, the staff treated us like family and couldn't do more to help us throughout our time there. The Lodge organized guided hiking, mountain biking and horse riding along with cooking demonstrations and clay bird shooting. During the day and in the evening we retired to the Lodge to enjoy the log fire lively chat about the days events and excellent cuisine. As a sporting Lodge there is the opportunity to partake in back country fly fishing, deer stalking and pheasant shooting in season. Whatever your reason for travelling to Poronui, you will be made to feel part of their family whilst having the opportunity to pursue your passion on a beautiful estate far away from the rush of everyday life.

We had the honor to be guests at Poronui Lodge for 4 nights. My husband and I took part in the hunting that Poronui has to offer. What an amazing experience to be paired with such a wonderful hunting guide like, Mark. He went above and beyond to make our experience the best vacation and hunting experience we have ever had. Not only was the hunting an amazing experience in their beautiful breathtaking countryside, but the whole staff is 5 star in my book. The food was absolutely delicious and the wine overflowed. There were always wonderful baked goods to snack on between beautiful meals. Our room was always fresh and clean. The accommodations were perfect. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an overall wonderful stay and play vacation!

We have lived in New Zealand for 18 years and have never experienced hospitality to the level which Poronui offers. It is so classy but in an understated kiwi way, both in terms of welcome, service, accomodation, food and of course the best trout fishing in the world! Claire, Lisa, Steve and Dave were all so professional, welcoming, relaxed and really made an effort to get to know us in the three nights and two days of our stay.

Staying at the Safari Camp is a luxury experience like no other. The roaring of the Mohaka rapids is magnificent & soporific You're on your own, but you're well looked after, with menus that you cook yourself