'World-class' facilities

Puka Park Resort, nestled in 25ha of native bush on Pauanui Hill on the Coromandel Peninsula, has been described as "world class."

The resort has 48 superbly appointed chalets, including two executive suites and the Royal Puka Suite. There is a heated outdoor pool, barbecue area, a heli pad and the latest addition, a wellness spa, at the entrance to the main lodge.

Puka Park has five function areas that can cater for an array of functions and events, including three designated conference rooms that can host from five to 100 delegates.

A liaison person manages client requirements from booking to departure. Facilities include all the normal audio-visual presentation equipment.

However, it is the things that you don't expect that make Puka Park special, says Daneen Morgan, its sales and marketing manager.

Less than two hours from Auckland, it is far removed from the frenetic pace of the concrete jungle, in an "idyllic" environment, she says.

"Standing on the balcony of your chalet you can't avoid the feeling of serenity." The recently refurbished chalets are cocooned in the bush. They have a rustic almost sub-tropical feel to them and king-size beds.

In the main lodge's award-winning restaurant, chef Craig Searle has created a menu that reflects a Pacific Rim style with a European twist.

While commonplace in Europe wellness centres are relatively new to New Zealanders. The facility has two massage rooms, a sauna, a hydromassage airbath and a swing extension bench imported from Germany, possibly the only one of its kind in New Zealand.

The health spa is run by Dr Hans Brutscher, a trained physiotherapist, general practitioner, and German spa doctor.

Treatments include massages, hot moor/mud packs and hydrotherapy, for relaxation and stress release, increased circulation, and detoxification. Sports injuries and health problems are also treated.

A "golden beach" is at the bottom of the hill and there are numerous tennis courts, two golf courses and a bowling green nearby.

The Coromandel is an adventure playground, Daneen Morgan says. Teams can "bond" during a fishing trip, guided bush walk to gold mines, four-wheel biking, horse trekking, or canoe safaris.