Room check: Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels, Taupo

The Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels is the only genuine lake-edge hotel in Taupo . Photo / Supplied

Elisabeth Easther enjoys the grotto and more at a lakeside retreat in Taupo.

A taxi from the airport costs? Mostly people don't fly into Taupo, it's more of a driving-to sort of place, 280km from Auckland and 380km from Wellington. But if you must know, a taxi shuttle from the airport is $15pp.

Check-in experience? There were three charmingly efficient women at the front desk and one of them led us to our room, pointing out the hotel's highlights along the way. She even took our dinner booking en route.

Nice art: As we made our way to our room, we were waylaid by some incredible art. Hotel owner Ron Lyne collects it and guests get to enjoy some of his collection.

The room? Our Junior King Suite was heavenly with the lake twinkling in the sunlight. We gravitated to the balcony, only leaving it for a swim and dinner.

Price? Rack rate is $240-$385 and there are often special deals on the website.

Who owns it? In 1968, Lyne purchased Edgewater Lodge, made up of 10 guest rooms and a restaurant, and turned it into one of the area's top hotels.

What's so good about this place? It's the only genuine lake-edge hotel in Taupo. The staff are note perfect, plus there's the pool, the grotto and the elegant rooms.

And the bad? Leaving.

Flying high: The parasailing people can come and collect you from the jetty right outside the hotel.

Toiletries? Ubiquitous Millennium chain bottles, perfectly acceptable.

Food and drink? The award-winning Edgewater Restaurant has the best view, the sunset blew our minds and apparently it was just an average one. The menu was a delight, from the oysters, lamb rack and venison to the brulee. Everything we ordered was top-notch.

The bed? Enormous, three pillows wide and as comfortable as it was wide.

Bathroom? Entry was through the walk-in wardrobe. It was the size of some Auckland apartments and had a huge spa bath, separate shower and pristine white tiles.

Minibar? Well stocked with soft drinks, hard drinks, tea and coffee plus little chocolates and biscuits.

Noise? The lapping of the lake on the shore and my sighs of contentment.

Value for money? Really reasonable considering how amazing it is.

Exercise facilities? There's a small gym and a small but perfectly formed pool.

But wait, there's more: You can book time in the grotto, a spa pool inside a replica of a limestone cave complete with stalactites.

Perfect for: Staying forever. Some guests say when they win Lotto they'll buy a room here and never leave.

Would I return? Absolutely and when I win Lotto, I'll live here year-round.

CHECKLIST

Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels is at 243 Lake Terrace, Taupo. Phone: 07 378 5110.