Our experience staying with Cathy and Craig was unforgettable. We are avid backpackers who love the outdoors, and for our purposes Moana Roa Lodge was ideally situated. Moana Roa Lodge is not a luxury inn; the accommodations are simple, but also very comfortable and welcoming. And I have never seen a place like it before for sheer natural beauty. There was almost no light pollution and at night the stars were incredible; during the day there is a panoramic view of Lake Taupo and the mountains in the distance. On this trip we chose to do several day-tramping trips, along Lake Taupo and in nearby Pureora Forest Park, but it would also be very easy to launch a multi-day tramp or biking trip from there. We could walk out the front door and take a pleasant walk through rolling fields to the Great Lake Trail along the edge of Lake Taupo. The 13 km long Waihaha segment of that trail connects directly with the trails of Pureora Forest Park, where there are many multi-day tramping loops. Since it was winter when we visited, we were very happy to sleep snug in the cozy room provided for us, and we felt that it struck the perfect balance between privacy and ease of socializing with Cathy and Craig in the main part of the house. (We particularly recommend this room to tall travelers; my husband is 6'6" and slept very well!) Cathy and Craig did everything to make us feel at home, including giving us access to laundry facilities, sunscreen, an extra thermos, and rides to and from trailheads. We chose to have our evening meals with Cathy and Craig and enjoyed their company (and the home-cooked meals!) very much. We also loved their sweet-tempered and energetic sheepdog, Harri (though if you don't like or are afraid of dogs, I recommend messaging Cathy to let her know before you request to book). In preparing meals, Cathy was very thoughtful about accommodating my husband's lactose intolerance. We also made a day trip or two to surrounding destinations -- Taupo City was an easy, scenic drive. As Americans who were visiting New Zealand for the first time, we felt that we could not have had a better introduction to the place than we found here.