An AUTSA lodge getaway: cabin fever, or cottagecore? By Nam Woon Kim (he/him)
Author’s note: I just happened to visit the lodge at the end of last year. AUTSA did not, in fact, send me to write this review. If they had, I would’ve taken some photos of the actual lodge. Sorry AUTSA! With travel out of Auckland becoming possible early summer last year, plans to make the most of this well-earned reprieve began to sprout. We were desperate to stretch our legs after a trying lockdown, but with most places booked up it wasn’t looking good. At the eleventh hour, Debate alum and former editor Rebecca came to the rescue with a novel suggestion: why not use the AUTSA lodge? It was the first time I’d heard of it, and for many of you this may be the first time too. After locking in some numbers and dates, I secured a one-way ticket to this mysterious place. Does it even exist? Was Rebecca pulling my leg? Is it actually worth going? With Rebecca being one of the most discerning critics I know, I reassured myself that this wasn’t an elaborate ruse and it would be a good time.
I sent off the last few days of 2021 here, and if you’re already organising that welldeserved break you’ve earned one week into uni, this could be the spot for you.
First impressions My first impression was fog-tinted with heavy rain pouring down as we pulled into what I thought was the right place. The booking is done through Howard’s Lodge, one of several accommodation options at National Park, so that’s where I went first. Turns out, we were just across the road on our own patch of the village.
There was plenty of parking available and I took my pick of the grass up front, with others taking the driveway. Once inside, the instinct to investigate every little thing kicked in. First on the agenda was the comically large, square dining table - an impressive statement piece had it not been in the most dimly lit part of the room. It served our party of 12 well, but it could really use a lazy susan. Next were the couches - comfy/10. After unpacking and sorting out who’s sleeping where, I noticed that each of the three
