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Te Tuhi Dome

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Te Tuhi Dome

Taupō, Waikato


Te Tuhi Dome is set just 15 minutes from Taupō, near Kinloch Bay.

Set on Te Tuhi Hillside Retreat (the same property as the popular Te Tuhi Hut), the Dome sits on a hillside with views across farmland, native bush, and down to Lake Taupō. Both the hut and the dome are completely private and set on different parts of the property.

The Dome is a large geodesic structure containing a gorgeous bedroom and lounging space. On one side of the dome, a few metres away is a kitchen building. On the other side, is a luxurious outdoor bathroom space. Amazing views down to Lake Taupō are visible from every area.

At dawn and dusk, the bush is alive with birdsong. Depending on the season, lambs and calves frolic in the paddocks around the campsite. The cows, sheep and horses grazing and chickens foraging make for a peaceful country vista to sit back and enjoy.

If you feel like exploring, the Taupō region has so much to offer. Restaurants, cafes, and galleries are plentiful. Geothermal wonders like the Wairakei Terraces hot pools and the Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park are only a short drive away. And of course, the lake itself offers activities like kayaking, sailing or swimming.

Te Tuhi Dome is a unique and comfortable glamping experience, but it is still a form of camping! If you're booking a stay in winter - bring your sense of adventure and be prepared for the elements.

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Eating and drinking near Escape

EATING AND DRINKING

Te Tuhi Dome is self-catering. Just bring your own food, and cook meals using the BBQ and facilities provided in your private camp kitchen. You'll find all the cutlery, crockery, pots and pans that you'll need.

If you're keen to order a gift basket for a special occasion, The Merchant is a local store that has some fantastic options. Just order with them directly and your host, Joe, can collect it for you. You'll just have to let him know that you need her to collect it when you receive her contact details in your pre-arrival email, 5 days prior to your stay.

If you fancy eating out, Taupō is just a 15-minute drive away, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from. Coming highly recommended by your hosts is The Cozy Corner, Baku on the lakefront and The Vine for fine dining and a wonderful range of wine and craft beer.

Closer to home is L'arté Cafe & Gallery (a 5-minute drive away) which features an amazing mosaic garden and homewares store. Finally, the nearby Kinloch Store has amazing wood-fired pizzas and fish and chips. Great for casual lakeside picnicking!

The nearest store for stocking up on food and supplies is Pak n' Save on Ruapehu Street, 15 minutes away.

Things to do near Escape

THINGS TO DO

Relax, sit back and take in the gorgeous view from the Dome, or get out and about to enjoy everything the Taupo region has to offer.

Around the property you will see hints of a potter. Starting out as a hobby and now as a small studio Emily creates bespoke small batch functional pottery for the retreat and opens her studio to guests by appointment.

Explore nearby Whakaipo Bay, either for a swim walk along the beach. Walk the W2K track or bring your mountain bike and bike it! Kinloch Bay is also handy.

Soak in the Wairakei Terraces in the evening (18-minutes drive away), beautiful, adults only, silicone pools, set in amongst gorgeous landscaping.

The Huka Prawn Park is another unique local experience. Have lunch on the edge of the Waikato River, fish for prawns and enjoy the nature walk.

Another must do in the area is a kayak tour or boat trip to see the stunning, contemporary Maori carving atMineBay.

Your hosts at Escape

YOUR HOSTS

Emily and Joe Wilson, along with their daughters Charlie and Madison and dogs Jazz and Mac are your hosts at Te Tuhi Hillside Retreat.

Originally the property was part of Te Tuhi Point, the large neighbouring farm that sits on the peninsula between Kinloch and Whakaipo Bay. Subdivided some years back, it had been neglected for some time before Emily and Joe bought the property in 2017.

Their vision was to create a self-sufficient property for their family to connect with nature, grow their own food, live off the grid and have the opportunity to create daily.

Not too long into creating their dream they realised their little slice of paradise needed to be shared with others and went about building Te Tuhi Hut and later Te Tuhi Dome.

When not maintaining the property Emily and Joe both work from home on their e-commerce business. Emily will also often be found in her pottery studio, Te Tuhi Pottery.

They love their location and feel they have the best of both worlds - just 15 minutes from town - but in a quiet country location just minutes from the lake.

TESTIMONIALS

“ Wow, just wow. An amazing experience where you just don’t want to leave. The views are incredible, the Dome is warm and cosy, beautifully laid out, with a bathroom that truly stands. Not sure I can find a better one! Can’t wait to return. ”

- 2025-12-09

20 / 20

“ We had a great stay at the Te Tuhi Dome in Taupō. The location was excellent, only 15 minutes from town. The atmosphere, setting, and overall scenery were amazing. The dome itself is beautifully set up, neat and tidy and offers complete privacy, which made the stay even more relaxing. We accidentally broke the toilet roll holder in the bathroom, but the host was very understanding and kind about it. Overall, we had such a wonderful time and would definitely recommend staying here. Five stars from us and our fur baby. ”

Daffie Lo- 2026-05-19

1 / 20

“ Exceptional experience. For anyone on the fence, get off it and book it. ”

Jack Craig- 2026-05-19

2 / 20

“ We had a lovely stay at the Te Tuhi Dome! The perfect location to switch off and relax. Was a wonderful set up with everything we needed to enjoy our couple of nights there. The fire was perfect for the cooler evenings to keep us cozy. Would 100% love to visit again! ”

Casey Higby- 2026-05-07

3 / 20

“ Beautiful spot and awesome facilities, especially loved the bath. ”

Suzanne Bridger- 2026-04-28

4 / 20

“ Te Tuhi Dome was such a wonderful place for my partner and me to stay. It gave us the perfect chance to disconnect from our busy lives and truly relax and unwind in a beautiful setting. The space was peaceful, comfortable, and full of thoughtful touches that made our stay feel really special. ”

Whitney Nohokau- 2026-04-21

5 / 20

“ We had a wonderful stay at the dome, the dome itself is beautifully presented and our hosts Emily and Joe were excellent and very accommodating. ”

Olivia Warner- 2026-04-15

6 / 20

“ Absolutely loved the peacefulness of the dome. Very warm and the view was stunning. We meet the host very friendly. We will be back. ”

ruth o'reilly- 2026-03-24

7 / 20

“ Beautiful scenery, lovely and quiet with everything you could need and it's only 15 minutes from Taupō or Kinloch! ”

DANIEL MATTHEWS- 2026-03-05

8 / 20

“ This was such a serene and beautiful setting. The dome and facilities were wonderful with everything to make our anniversary perfect. Waking up to that view each morning was so incredible. Oh, and the bath!!! Book now, you will not regret it. ”

Jillian Dew- 2026-03-03

9 / 20

“ A magical experience! We had the best stay for our mini honey moon. The setting just stunning, the facilities and cleanliness outstanding. We are already planning a trip back. ”

Anouschka Marshall- 2026-02-27

10 / 20

“ Don’t hesitate! It's worth it! Lovely hosts and beautiful scenery and accommodation! ”

Danielle Lancaster- 2026-02-09

11 / 20

“ This place exceeded my expectations. Absolutely amazing. ”

AJ Fourie- 2026-01-26

12 / 20

“ Hubby and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary at Te Tuhi Dome and we absolutely loved every minute of it. We took our dog with us and it was perfect for the three of us! Would highly recommend. ”

Zoe Beard- 2026-01-26

13 / 20

“ Wonderful stay thank you. ”

Toni Baker- 2026-01-10

14 / 20

“ The most amazing location and scenery! And it's dog friendly which is super handy. ”

Baylee Jackson- 2026-01-10

15 / 20

“ Wow what an amazing place to stay! Te Tuhi Dome is such a magical place to escape the city lights & sounds to relax in the most peaceful location. Everything about this place is stunning! Enjoy the charm of camping but with the luxuries of a comfy bed, warmth and beautiful bathroom! ”

Kayla Jones- 2026-01-09

16 / 20

“ The dome was so beautiful, such a lovely spot and awesome hosts. ”

Portia Coles- 2026-01-07

17 / 20

“ Was the perfect place to get engaged. A beautiful, peaceful place to relax. We absolutely loved our stay, especially the outdoor bath. Would highly recommend, and we will definitely be coming back. ”

Reese Smith- 2025-12-15

18 / 20

“ Beautiful setting and fantastic experience staying in such a unique dwelling. We are planning our next stay!! ”

Rachael Peploe- 2025-12-12

19 / 20

“ Wow, just wow. An amazing experience where you just don’t want to leave. The views are incredible, the Dome is warm and cosy, beautifully laid out, with a bathroom that truly stands. Not sure I can find a better one! Can’t wait to return. ”

- 2025-12-09

20 / 20

“ We had a great stay at the Te Tuhi Dome in Taupō. The location was excellent, only 15 minutes from town. The atmosphere, setting, and overall scenery were amazing. The dome itself is beautifully set up, neat and tidy and offers complete privacy, which made the stay even more relaxing. We accidentally broke the toilet roll holder in the bathroom, but the host was very understanding and kind about it. Overall, we had such a wonderful time and would definitely recommend staying here. Five stars from us and our fur baby. ”

Daffie Lo- 2026-05-19

1 / 20

Scenic coastal landscape viewed through a golden tent opening, showing lush green hillside with forest line meeting turquoise ocean waters under clear blue sky

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