Hollywood A-listers win Emmy and luxury stay at plush Taupo retreat

Hollywood A-listers are heading to our shores after free nights at an exclusive Taupo retreat were included in goodie bags for Emmy winners.

Four nights' free accommodation at newly opened The Lodge at Kinloch were chosen from thousands of other free offers by Emmy organisers to help winning actors and actresses celebrate their success.

Among those who paired a golden gong with the freebie were Modern Family's Ty Burrell, Anthony Anderson, of Black-ish, hip-hop artist and actor LL Cool J, Will Forte of Last Man on Earth and Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik.

Double Oscar nominee Viola Davis, Glee's Jane Lynch, Tony Hale of Veep and former West Wing duo Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford were also winners.

Auckland-based Navigate Oceania director Karine Thomas arranged the freebie with a Los Angeles company that organises goodie bags for events in Tinseltown and beyond.

At least two of the Emmy winners have already made arrangements to take up The Lodge's free offer. They would arrive in New Zealand, with their children and other family members, in March, Ms Thomas said.

She wouldn't say who they were, but said other celebrities may follow.

Four nights accommodation at The Lodge is also among the prizes at actor Ben Affleck's charity poker tournament in Las Vegas tomorrow.

The invitation-only tournament has a $10,000 entry fee and has traditionally attracted movie stars, business leaders and captains of industry.

Ty Burrell from Modern Family at the Emmy Awards in the Kinloch room. Photo / Supplied

Being chosen for both events was a coup for The Lodge, which is owned by Auckland developer and rich-lister John Sax, she said.

"We have to really pitch to get them in the [gift] bag. It's great, it gives really good exposure to that Hollywood set. They'll talk about The Lodge within their network when they go back."

The Lodge opened eight days ago and is surrounded by an 18-hole lakeside golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Its luxury villas were designed by leading Kiwi architect Andrew Patterson and its interiors by Virginia Fisher, whose work can also be seen in Huka Lodge and Kauri Cliffs.