During his 2023 visit to New Zealand, David Hasselhoff, AKA The Hoff, announced that On the Point lodge in Rotorua was his favourite stay in the whole country. Tim Roxborogh checks in to see why.
Location: Kawaha Point, on a historic 2ha fortified Māori pa site, overlooking the sacred Mokoia Island, on the shores of Lake Rotorua. Or if you’re travelling with children, about a five-minute drive from the Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge.
Style: The 1930s-built family mansion (part of the main building) was converted into a lodge in 2004, and now combines the proud pre-WW2 opulence of that original structure with some more modern cottages and villas. There’s a regal air to the decor, with splashes of colour and a recurring theme of African safari animals like zebras and giraffes. In the conservatory, there’s even a near-life-size statue of a giraffe holding up a chandelier.
Perfect for: The Hoff! Oh yes, of all the places Baywatch and Knight Rider icon David Hasselhoff stayed while filming a New Zealand travel show with Rhys Darby in 2023, On The Point was reportedly his favourite. From delighting staff by requesting photos with them (not the other way round) and having morning chit-chats with On The Point’s resident – and extremely cute – miniature donkeys, The Hoff couldn’t get enough.
First impressions: Even if you’re not among the most-watched people in the history of television, it’s easy to see why The Hoff was so taken by On The Point. That first impression of driving up to the manor with its pillars and shielded porte-cochere reminded me – in the best possible way – of the excitement I had staying at the Chateau Tongariro for the first time. Add to that the immaculate gardens and a small farm that slopes down to the lake’s edge with the views beyond,and it’s clear this is no ordinary property.
The room: We were in the two-bedroom villa apartment found at On The Point’s highest elevation with a grand vantage point across the lake. Our bed was so wide you could easily lay three large pillows across it (if you’re so inclined), while the children delighted in having their own bedroom on the other side from the living and kitchen area. Perhaps best of all, we were right on the tennis court, which didn’t just result in an unbeatable location for father-daughter tennis lessons with me and 6-year-old Riley but acted as a kind of gigantic playpen for two-year-old Austin.
Bathroom: Two marble-and-tile ensuites, with the master ensuite coming complete with a jetted bathtub in case the spa outside isn’t enough. The master also has a washing machine and dryer, which is such a plus for families. Toiletries were reusable and non-branded.
Facilities: With one of the more scenic tennis courts I’ve played, there’s also a gym tucked in behind the main office. There’s a boathouse on the waterfront perfect for picnics, a gorgeous chapel with some serious acoustics, and Riley and Austin want it to be known that the very swanky two-storey playhouse is just about the coolest you could ever dream of.
Food and Drink: The Mains Restaurant is the focal point of the manor’s ground floor and is fine dining that sources as much food as possible from On The Point’s own vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and happy hens. Breakfast was a delight, with a continental spread, plus a la carte options like scrambled eggs, sausages, rosti, sourdough and mushrooms, which I treated myself to both mornings.
In the Neighbourhood: Other than being close to the Skyline Gondola and Luge, where Riley and Austin paired off with a parent each for some downhill thrills, you’re just 10 minutes from the central city and attractions like the famed therapeutic waters of the Polynesian Spa. And from there, it’s only five minutes to the internationally-acclaimed Redwoods Treewalk, where the combination of Californian redwoods, oversized native ferns, suspension-bridges and lit-up sculptures creates a magical, family-friendly eco-experience.
Or for a free Rotorua must-do, we recommend driving another five minutes to Lake Tikitapu (aka “The Blue Lake”) where the six-kilometre perimeter bush walk is one of the easiest and best loop tracks in the North Island.
Family friendly: With farm animals (donkeys, horses, sheep, chickens), a tennis court, a two-storey playhouse filled with toys, and babysitters available on request, On The Point is a luxury lodge where you don’t feel like you’re an imposition by bringing the children.
The Best Bit: A toss-up between the sunrise/sunset views of Mokoia Island and of course, those adorable, friendly donkeys who greet you with a little head nuzzle.
Room for Improvement: When it’s this Hoff-worthy, it’s hard to find fault.
Sustainability: Our villa had reusable water bottles as well as the toiletries, and around the tennis court, we could see where the restaurant’s vegetables are grown. On The Point’s chickens also make their home in a fittingly luxurious pen on one side of the court.
Accessibility: On The Point is wheelchair-friendly with ground-level rooms, and a slanting path to see the animals.
Price: Ranging from $400 to over $1538 per night.
Contact: onthepoint.co.nz