Upcoming events
at the lodge or in our nearby communities
Waipa Home & Leisure Show
Join us for the Waipā Home & Leisure Show, back for its second year at the fantastic Sir Don Rowlands Centre, Lake Karapiro!
Discover the latest home and lifestyle trends and get expert advice from passionate local businesses and suppliers. Whether you're planning a home project, looking for lifestyle inspiration, or just keen to browse, this is the place to be!
Every visitor to the event will automatically go into the draw to WIN a $5000 Door Prize, to win a two-night luxury stay for Te Karaka Lodge, including dinner, bed and breakfast, and with the use of an MG ZS Vibe for the weekend.
World Surf League 2026 4th Stop
World Surf League coming to Reglan, New Zealand in 2026
Fielddays 2026
Fieldays is an annual event not to be missed, bringing together town and country to celebrate the rural sector and showcase the latest innovation across the Primary Sector.
Book a stay with us if you are visiting the Fieldays.
Learn more at https://www.fieldays.co.nz/attend-fieldays/explore
2026 EPIK 4 & Rotary Nationals
THE NATS is back for 2026 with 2 MASSIVE DAYS of non-stop track action 18-19 JULY 2026 (NEW DATE), Hampton Downs (Open to ALL makes and models). Since 2018, The Ultimate Track has grown over the years so we're doubling the action for 2026! Our scene has evolved. Entrants are building cars to be driven and at track events, spectators are also able to engage in the experience through the HITCH-A-RIDE passenger rides.
FEATURING:
- Track Cruising (with passengers)
- Roll Racing
- Grip Sessions
- Wet Skid Pan
- Drift Demos (Experienced drivers only)
- HITCH-A-RIDE Passenger Rides
- Car Clubs
- Hard Park (Standout Awards)
- Exhibitors
+ MORE!!
.
TICKETS:
General Admission: $30 per day
2 Day Pass: $50
Kids 10 and under FREE!
Writer’s Retreat with Paula Morris
Sold Out!
This September, join award-winning writer Paula Morris for a weekend of writing, reading and talking about craft at the luxury Te Karaka Station & Lodge in Waikato, with knowledge, mentorship, food, wine, and stay included!
This carefully designed, intimate retreat is capped at 12 participants to ensure the quality of the workshops and seminars as well as the overall experience. Email Paula to be in the know of the next retreat!
Franklin Arts Festival
Franklin Art Show 2026
11 - 27 September 2026
More information will be available soon
Contact franklinartsfestival@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Easter Long Weekend
Book Te Karaka Station & Lodge Retreat Package for this Easter Long weekend 2026
Balloons Over Waikato
Balloons Over Waikato is New Zealand’s premier hot air balloon festival. Held annually, this five-day iconic event is arguably the most popular event in the city. It attracts balloonists from all over New Zealand and around the world who come to experience the fun, friendship and warmth that this balloon-friendly city provides and to demonstrate their skills in a range of competitive activities.
Over 100,000 spectators enjoy the unique site of balloons ascending through the Waikato each year, from 7.00 am every morning to Hamilton’s biggest night out at The ZURU Nightglow, where the balloons glow to orchestrated music finishing with the best fireworks display in town, the SkyCity Hamilton Fireworks Extravaganza!
2026 Date is yet to be released.
If you are in the region to watch this amazing festival, why not stay with us as part of the experience?
Open Day-Limestone Downs
Open Farm Day—100 Years of Limestone Downs and C Alma Baker
Including topics
Limestone Downs Farm Performance
Management of Kikuyu Grass
Beef Systems’ Profitability
Sheep Water Intake and Waterways
Water Quality Mitigations and Catchment Management
Lunch and Farm Tour afterwards
Contact General Manager Paul Mahoney 09 232 9897
If you are coming to the Open Farm Day, don’t forget, you can also book your lunch at the lodge! Email us stay@tekarakalodge.co.nz.
Auckland Anniversary Long Weekend
Book Te Karaka Station & Lodge Retreat Package for this Auckland Anniversary Day Long weekend 2026
Franklin Pukekohe Sunday Markets
Franklin Market Pukekohe is located in the public carpark on Massey Avenue.
Go off the motorway at Bombay, follow the main road right into Pukekohe. Straight through first roundabout onto Massey Ave, pass Mobile on your left and the Market is on the right.
Tuakau Community Saturday Markets (Copy)
Local community market
Every Saturday 9 am-1 pm
Franklin Pukekohe Sunday Markets
Franklin Market Pukekohe is located in the public carpark on Massey Avenue.
Go off the motorway at Bombay, follow the main road right into Pukekohe. Straight through first roundabout onto Massey Ave, pass Mobile on your left and the Market is on the right.
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Experience
About 75km away from Te Karaka Station & Lodge, also tucked away in the less-travelled road of Waiuku, there lies the Glenbrook Vintage Railway which runs over 7.5km between Glenbrook (our connection with the national rail network) and Victoria Ave (Waiuku).
There are three level crossings at Morley Road, Pukeoware Road, and Cornwall Road. The total trackage, including sidings, crossing loops, and yards is 10.2km.
The railway and steam trains (87 of them!) are restored, maintained and managed by The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board.
Today the Glenbrook Vintage Railway organises various steam train experiences across Waikato, King Country and even South Island, including
The Ongarue Steam Express 23 August 2025 | Taumarunui to Ongarue and Return
The King Country Explorer | Glenbrook/Pukekohe & Hamilton to Taumarunui and Return | Diesel and Steam Power!
The River Steam Rover | Hamilton-Frankton to Raahui Pookeka (Huntly) and Return
and many more, check out their What’s On Page to book!
Want some Day Trip ideas for when you are staying with us? On this Labour Day Weekend, the iconic 70-minute Steam Train Rides are back!
Steam train departs Glenbrook terminus at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm on selected days (Labour Day Weekend 2025)
Online Bookings open soon!
Onewhero Ag Day 2025
As part of a rural community in Waikato, Onewhero is also Te Karaka Station & Lodge’s local community.
Ag Days, or Calf Clubs, are an annual tradition for rural schools and encourage children to learn about the care of animals by rearing a lamb, goat, calf, dog and/or chickens. Onewhero Area School’s Ag Day is scheduled this year on 18th October, with Classroom Art, Cake Decoration Competitions, Pet Competition, Raffle and more!
What to learn more about this event? Check out their Facebook page Onewhero Ag Day
If you are staying with us during that weekend, don’t forget to pop over on your way!
Waikaretu School Pet Day
As part of a rural community in Waikato, Te Karaka Station & Lodge has always been closely working with our local Waikaretu School.
Pet Day (or Ag Day) is an important annual event for rural schools’ fundrasing, but also a key event that bring the whole community, students, and parents together for a day of Fun!
All students are encouraged to rear an animal (calf, lamb, kid or chicken) or bring a pet (no dogs). Indoor exhibits and art projects will be judged before the event and displayed on the day.
Each year we have three fundraising events during Pet Day
The much anticipated Fathers Cake Competition (fathers, grandfathers, family members, are encouraged to bake and decorate a cake, which is then raffled off during Pet Day).
The library fundraiser (where you can select a book to purchase and donate to our school library).
The annual raffle. We ask for prize donations and send tickets home with students beforehand. Tickets may also be purchased at Pet Day.
What to learn more about this event? Watch this reel from last year’s Pet Day!
https://www.waikaretu.school.nz/news-and-events/news/pet-day/
Writer’s Retreat with Paula Morris
LAST TWO ROOMS!
This September, join award-winning writer Paula Morris for a weekend of writing, reading and talking about craft at the luxury Te Karaka Station & Lodge in Waikato, with knowledge, mentorship, food, wine, and stay included!
This carefully designed, intimate retreat is capped at 12 participants to ensure the quality of the workshops and seminars as well as the overall experience. Book your space now!
Participants have the option to send Paula up to 5000 words of fiction or nonfiction in advance of the retreat, and to schedule a meeting with her during the weekend to discuss it.
What to expect?
Costs:
$1700/person King Bed | $1300/Person Twin Sharing | Maximum 12 Participants
Friday, 12 September 2025
Check in: anytime after 3:00 pm
Welcome drinks and dinner
A short talk in the Evening
Sat, 13 September 2025
In-depth craft seminars and writing exercises
Raranga Session (Optional)
A literary salon in the Evening
Sunday, 14 September 2025
In-depth craft seminars and writing exercises
Check out
Retreat Details can be found here