Food, the heart and soul of Te Karaka Lodge
In the heart of rural Waikaretu, Waikato, where rolling hills meet the sky and the rugged west coast, stands Te Karaka Station & Lodge, a rural luxury farm stay where food is more than sustenance—it’s the essence of the experience.
Food is the heart and soul of our guests’ experience. It is important for hospitality businesses but in our rural setting, its significance is amplified. Our isolation often means there are very few restaurant choices nearby, and no readily available ingredients that we can just pick it up from down the road (Our nearest supermarket is 1hr drive away). That’s why we have made it our absolute priority to offer great food that is “worth the trip”.
Our team must carefully plan food orders to reduce waste and manage cost, actively working with local suppliers, and catering for a range of tastes and dietaries, while upholding a consistent level of quality. This delicate balance between flexibility and excellence is one of the key elements that elevate our Lodge from a rural Farm Stay to a destination in itself.
We are also actively working on building partnerships with local farmers, fishermen, and artisan food suppliers wherever appropriate to offer guests a true taste of our pocket of the Mighty Waikato.
Our Head Chef’s Seasonal Three-Course Fine Dining is the Crown Jewel of our offering. The dishes are made from premium ingredients sourced or made in New Zealand (wherever we can), and prepared with respect, passion and curiosity by our talented Head Chef. Each dish will take our guests on a journey with wonderfully balanced flavours and masterfully crafted presentation.
As a relatively new property (we just turned One! Yeah!), our chefs and team have worked tirelessly to put Te Karaka Station & Lodge onto the culinary map of New Zealand.
Our former Head Chef Dominic Dsouza representing Te Karaka Station & Lodge was shortlisted as one of the finalists of Beef and Lamb New Zealand Ambassador Chefs for 2024. Chef Dominic was also featured as the front page story in NZ Hotel Managine in their Dec/Jan 2024 Issue, read the whole story here.
Watch Chef Dom’s Vision Story below:
We have also hosted a Winemaker’s Dinner in collaboration with Two Rivers of Marlborough in May 2024.
In the recently released Cuisine Magazine’s Good Food Guide, you can also find us under Waikato Region.
Our current Head Franz Meiselbach is equally passionate about the quality and provenance of food, and the professionalism and perfectionism that go into a 5-Star Fine Dining experience. We can’t wait for you to try Franz’s Spring Menu inspired by the landscape of the Lodge!
Watch our Chef Intro video here:
Sharing-style lunches and dinners, on the other hand, are something unique and special for us. We believe these meals are about abundance, warmth, and inclusivity. The experience allows guests to relax and engage in conversations over passing and sharing scrumptious dishes prepared by our passionate chef, creating memories that linger long after the meal ends.
We are happy to cook for group gatherings, family reunions, book clubs, Christmas functions, and many more ways where sharing-style lunches or dinners are more appropriate without compromising the quality of ingredients and skilled preparation.
For our guests who are attending a corporate retreat, a well-being retreat, a friend group reunion, a community gathering and other functions, we are also excited to design and prepare the best menu to ensure the best experience.
Early this year, West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment Group Inc (WWCCC) hosted their stakeholder lunch and workshops at our Lodge earlier this year, sharing their inspiring journey and future plans for fostering a thriving community focused on land, water, and people.
For our fans of classic Kiwi BBQ, worry not, our Chef Franz will feed you and your parties the best sausages and premium cuts of beef and lamb, grilled to perfection.
In addition to those dining options, we also offer cheese platters, picnic lunches, hikers lunches for our guests who need to grab something yummy and freshly prepared during their day-time activities.
Our Chef Franz also offers a mouth-watering 2-course Set Lunch. Be sure to book in and try them out for yourself!