Frequently asked questions

When you book direct through henarenz.co.nz, the rate you see is the best available rate — no Airbnb service fees, no Booking.com commission. You're also dealing directly with Mana and the team, which means faster communication, more flexibility, and a genuinely personal experience.

Booking direct also helps us as a small business — more of your payment reaches us rather than a global platform.

Payments are processed securely through Lodgify, our booking and property management platform. We accept all major credit cards. Your card details are never stored by us — all payment processing is handled by Lodgify's secure payment infrastructure.

Our standard cancellation policy allows free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in for a full refund. Cancellations within 14 days of check-in are not refunded unless we can rebook the lodge for those dates.

If your plans are uncertain, we recommend travel insurance. Please reach out to us directly if your circumstances change — we're flexible where we can be.

A 50% deposit is taken at the time of booking to secure your dates. The remaining balance is charged 14 days before check-in. For bookings made within 14 days of arrival, the full amount is charged at the time of booking.

The minimum stay is 2 nights for all lodges. A 3-night minimum applies over public holidays and peak season (December–January). We find that 2–3 nights is the sweet spot for most guests — long enough to properly unwind and explore the area.

We're unable to hold dates without a deposit, as dates are available to other guests until a booking is confirmed. If you have a question before booking, please reach out — we're happy to discuss.

Check-in is from 12pm (noon). Check-out is by 12pm (noon). If you'd like an early check-in or late check-out, please contact us in advance — we'll do our best to accommodate depending on availability.

All lodges have self check-in via a key safe at the lodge. Your unique access code is emailed to you 48 hours before arrival along with detailed directions and any other information you need for your stay.

Dene is on-site at Pouto at all times, and Lisa is nearby at Russell, so help is always close if needed. There's no need to arrange a meeting time — arrive when you like after 12pm.

The self check-in system works at any hour. If you have any trouble on arrival, email us and we'll sort it out immediately.

All lodges include: king bed with quality linen, fully equipped kitchen (pots, pans, utensils, crockery, glassware), Nespresso machine and coffee pods, Weber gas BBQ, Smart TV with Sky and Netflix, Starlink WiFi, air-conditioning, rain-head shower, outdoor furniture and deck, bar fridge, UE Boom speaker, and complimentary toiletries.

The Pouto lodges (Kaipara, Kauri, Kapia) also have a hot tub and sauna. Wahapu Lodge (Russell) has an outdoor bath and washing machine and dryer.

The hot tubs are set to 40°C and are ready for use on arrival — just lift the cover. They are cleaned and refilled between each guest stay. The sauna is lit using the instructions inside the lodge — it takes approximately 30–45 minutes to reach temperature. Both are available 24 hours.

All lodges have Starlink satellite internet, which provides fast and reliable connectivity even at remote locations. It's more than adequate for video calls, streaming, and remote work. That said, we'd gently suggest taking a proper break while you're here — the view is better than any screen.

Yes. All linen, pillows, duvets, bath towels, hand towels, and beach/spa towels are provided and freshly laundered before each stay. You don't need to bring any.

Mobile coverage at Pouto Point is limited. Spark and 2degrees have partial coverage, but it can be patchy. We recommend downloading anything you need before you arrive, and relying on the lodge WiFi for internet access. At Russell, coverage is generally good.

Pouto Point is approximately 3 hours from Auckland. Take State Highway 16 north through Helensville, then SH12 or SH14 to Dargaville, then south on Pouto Road for about 50 minutes. The last 10km is a well-maintained gravel road — suitable for all vehicles, but drive carefully.

No. A standard 2WD vehicle is perfectly fine on all roads to both locations. The gravel road at Pouto is well-maintained and accessible year-round. A 4WD is not required or necessary.

For Pouto: New World supermarket in Dargaville is your last main stop. There is also a Four Square in Ruawai and small dairies closer to Pouto, but for a full shop, Dargaville is best. The local butcher in Dargaville is excellent.

For Russell: there's a Four Square supermarket in Russell township, just 7 minutes from Wahapu Lodge, for top-ups and everyday essentials. Pak'nSave in Kerikeri (30 min) is your best option for a larger shop.

You can drive the long way around via Russell Road from Kawakawa — it adds about 45 minutes but avoids the Opua-Okiato ferry. The ferry is quick (about 10 minutes), runs approximately every 10 minutes during daylight hours, and costs around $15 per car. No booking required.

Kaipara Lodge is pet-friendly. Please let us know in advance if you're bringing a pet. We ask that pets stay off the furniture and bedding. The other lodges are not currently pet-friendly — please ask us if you're unsure.

Yes. All four Henare New Zealand lodges are designed for adult couples and are adults-only. The maximum occupancy is 2 guests per lodge. The hot tubs, decks, and other features are designed with adult relaxation in mind.

Smoking is not permitted inside any lodge. Guests may smoke outside on the deck. Please dispose of cigarette butts responsibly. We ask that you do not smoke near the buildings due to the fire risk in dry conditions.

The maximum occupancy is 2 guests per lodge. We ask that you do not host additional visitors at the lodge without prior approval. The lodges are designed for intimate couples retreats and we want to ensure the experience is right for everyone staying on the property.

Please treat the lodges with care. Accidental breakages happen — please let us know so we can address them. Significant or intentional damage may be charged to the card on file. A security bond is not required for direct bookings, but we do reserve the right to charge for damage where necessary.