Tucked away at the base of the Ruahine Ranges and Mt. Aorangi, on the banks of the Rangitikei River, this lodge is the perfect escape from the stress of every day life and engage with nature.
It is the ideal central location: about half way between Wellington and the Rotorua/Taupo area....
Tucked away at the base of the Ruahine Ranges and Mt. Aorangi, on the banks of the Rangitikei River, this lodge is the perfect escape from the stress of every day life and engage with nature.
It is the ideal central location: about half way between Wellington and the Rotorua/Taupo area. We are also around 2 hours journey from Napier/Hawkes bay, Palmerston North and Whanganui.
We have a range of accommodation options, from backpacker style bunk rooms, to campsites through to deluxe Riverside Suites perfect for a romantic weekend away.
Please note: We are in an area that does not have cellphone coverage, ensuring a strong dose of peace and quiet.
Essential Stay Info
Access to lakes, rivers, streams & beaches
Digital Detox
Family Friendly
Check in time: From 3pm Check out time: 10am
Eating and Drinking
The lodge has an on-site cafe and restaurant, serving tasty and nutritious home cooked food (a lot of which is made using fresh produce from our gardens).
We have a shared guest kitchen for all guests to use.
In the room there are tea and coffee making facilities and the family room has a small fridge.
Bedding Configuration
1 x King bed
2 x Bunk sets
1 x King bed
2 x Bunk sets
More info about the property
For adventuring families, or just a group of friends, this is a larger family room. With a private bathroom, this room can be a great hideaway for a night or two if you are taking part in one of our f...
For adventuring families, or just a group of friends, this is a larger family room. With a private bathroom, this room can be a great hideaway for a night or two if you are taking part in one of our family adventures.
The lodge is out of cell phone coverage, but our deluxe rooms come with complimentary wi-fi access.
The family room comes with tea and coffee making facilities and a small fridge in the room.
Guests in our deluxe rooms have complimentary access to the spa and sauna.
RECENT REVIEWS - "The family room was a very cool experience for our family of six. Our youngest, a 12 year old boy, jokingly said that he couldn’t wait to get home to change our house around so all six of us could sleep in one room (we were hoping he was joking). The family river trip was spectacular: the scenery, waterfall, and expert guidance from Brian and Daniel. We’ll cherish our memories of River Valley for years to come. Thank you."
All our rooms have electric heaters in the bedrooms and underfloor heating in the bathrooms to keep you cosy.
Unique kiwi experiences for you
Enjoy a home cooked country-style meal from our restaurant
Try one of our adventure activities - white water rafting or horse trekking
Enjoy a swim in the beautiful Rangitikei River, right outside the lodge
Have a question about this property? Click here to send us a message
What we love about this property
This is New Zealand's original adventure Lodge! We highly value getting out on both the river and land, exploring, experiencing, normally by raft or horseback, offering grade 5 white water rafting sc...
This is New Zealand's original adventure Lodge! We highly value getting out on both the river and land, exploring, experiencing, normally by raft or horseback, offering grade 5 white water rafting scenic rafting and multi-day river trips. River Valley Stables also offers natural horsemanship training and horse treks for all abilities.
WINTER FRIENDLY: All our rooms have electric heaters in the bedrooms and underfloor heating in the bathrooms to keep you cosy.
Activities on or nearby this property
Horse Riding and Trekking
Outdoor Bath | Hot Tub
Rafting | Kayaking | Canoeing
Relaxation
Swimming
Amenities
2WD caravan accessible
Air conditioning
Caravan accessible
Drinking Water
Fridge (or cooling facility) available
Heating (electric, gas or fireplace)
Hot Water Available
Jug/Kettle
Linen Provided
North Island
Property Manager on site
Rubbish bin
RV/Motorhome accessible
Shower
Toilet
Towels Provided
Unsealed Roads
Washing Machine
Wheelchair Access
Wifi Available
Wifi Available (At a charge)
Extras you might like to add
These will be available to select during the booking progress
Our grade 5, white water rafting trip is often recognised as one of the best half day trips in the world!
With 10 major rapids on this 11 km run, plus numerous smaller rapids, there is plenty to get excited about.
This half day trip starts at the lodge, we drive approximately half an hour to the put in point and then raft back down (approximately 2-3 hours on the water) to the lodge.
We are one of the few companies in New Zealand to run our white water trip all year round.
Your adventure starts with a horsemanship session, building a trusting relationship between you and your horse. It does not matter if you are new to horses or they have been a part of your life forever.
Then, ride out into the beautiful countryside so you can explore the epic back country of NZ and enjoy the outstanding vistas looking out to the Ruahine Ranges and beyond. You will be riding over the hills, taking in the spectacular scenery, and if you are up for it, cantering through the fields.
We have rides for all abilities.
Experience the freedom of riding using Natural Horsemanship techniques. At River Valley Stables we train our horses using natural horsemanship techniques and choose to ride our horses bit-less and barefoot (no metal in their mouths, or on their hooves).
With over 30 Grade 2 (easy) rapids, amazing scenery and a riverside lunch, the 13 km section of the Rangitikei River downstream from the Lodge is perfect for all ages.
On the way down, immense cliffs cradle the river canyon. It is in one of these sections that we stop and have a picnic lunch. From there it is a relaxing float out to the take out, followed by a scenic drive back to River Valley Lodge. For those wanting more excitement, we can take inflatable kayaks as well as rafts.
The trip includes lunch, transport and all equipment.
At River Valley Lodge we major in traditional country style cooking.
This means mostly roast meals, but occasionally casseroles at night, with a mix of fresh seasonal vegetables.
Our on site organic vegetable gardens supply many of our vegetables, ensuring freshness and taste.
We do require pre-booking for dinner, and can cater for vegetarian or other dietary requirements if told in advance.
Reviews
Reviews
If someone was interested in coming to New Zealand, I would definitely recommend River Valley. That would be one of the first things I would say. You have got to stop by River Valley
A great trip for taking the children along. You just don't feel that you have to keep your eye on them the whole time
We had such a wonderful weekend at River Valley, everyone is still buzzing, especially Mum and Dad. We could not have asked for a more relaxing setting that suited all our needs with the age range from 5 months to 80 years!
If someone was interested in coming to New Zealand, I would definitely recommend River Valley. That would be one of the first things I would say. You have got to stop by River Valley
A great trip for taking the children along. You just don't feel that you have to keep your eye on them the whole time
About your host, Danielle
Whether you are looking for a scenic weekend retreat, an adventure holiday or simply a beautiful place to put your head for a night we would love to invite you to come and stay with us, but be warned: once you experience the valley, some people never leave!
Within our extended family we can lay claim to three generations of Rafting and Horse Trekking Guides. Unique amongst adventure operators. Experience, knowledge and insights, that have not been lost with each change of staff, but rather treasured and added to over decades by the family.
The business has always been family owned and run, and started out on the family farm.
Being away from the main tourist centres, we have tended to develop systems and ways of doing things that are often unique to us. This approach is quite holistic, whether it be Natural Horse Training at the Stables, growing our own vegetables for the Lodge kitchen, having an extended family relationship within the staff, or doing practical things for the natural environment.
From the very beginning our focus has been on delivering a quality, fun experience to our guests, maintaining good relationships with our local community, and operating with a minimum footprint in our natural environment.
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