Wharekawa Lodge
Set between Maungaruawāhine and Wharekawa Harbour, Wharekawa Lodge is grounded in the beauty of Ōpoutere on the eastern Coromandel.
From our campus, students look out across forest, harbour, and ocean — a living classroom rich in native birdlife, towering bush, and coastal energy. Kākā soar overhead, and the dawn chorus weaves through the trees, reminding us daily of our connection to te Taiao.
This place does more than inspire — it shapes how we learn. Rooted in Kaitiakitanga and reflection, the environment invites students to slow down, tune in, and carry with them a deeper connection to nature, to others, and to themselves.
Life at the Lodge: Simple, Safe, and Surrounded by Nature
Students live onsite at Wharekawa Lodge for two or four weeks, immersed in a back to basics’ unique setting with up to 25 students and staff.
Students experience community living within a Poutama whānau, consisting of 8 students and overseen by a
Poutama mentor (staff). They prepare meals, eat, and work through duties together. Accommodation is in warm, dry cabins designed for simplicity and comfort, shared by 2–6 students. Each one includes bunks or single beds, basic storage, heating, and everything you need—and nothing you don’t—to recharge, rest and feel at home.
