Bush setting near the city

Not many conference venues have their own 32ha of native forest just 30 minutes from downtown Auckland.

One that does, Waitakere Park Lodge, of Scenic Drive, Waiatarua, has excellent views over Auckland and the Waitemata Harbour from its ridge-top setting.

"The lodge provides the seclusion and relaxed atmosphere often looked for by facilitators and meeting planners within easy reach of the city," says Reg Nevill-Jackson, a director.

In conjunction with The Daring Adventure Company the lodge offers a wide range of team building activities, including abseiling, four-wheel-drive safaris, mountain bike riding and surf-boating.

The lodge has accommodation for 32 people, a conference centre for up to 25 delegates, and three breakout rooms. It can be booked exclusively for corporate conferences.

The lodge also provides a "great" corporate incentives destination for high achieving individuals and groups, and for corporate functions, Mr Nevill-Jackson says. Activity programmes, tailored to a company's requirements, can be based at the lodge and the nearby beaches.