Mākoura Lodge

Mākoura Lodge sits on farmland at Apiti, about an hour north of Palmerston North and 40 minutes from Feilding, with native bush and the Ruahine Ranges filling the view. It is a family-run country venue that hands couples the whole place for the day, ceremony through to the last dance. Ceremonies can be held outside in the garden or indoors by the fireplace if the weather turns. Receptions seat up to 115 guests, with in-house catering built around produce from the garden and local meat, and a licensed bar rather than BYO. Accommodation is a big part of the offer. The lodge sleeps up to 59 across its rooms, with camping for extra guests and a riverside retreat set aside for the newlyweds. Breakfast the next morning is included. Packages run across multiple seasons and the team coordinates the day on site. It suits couples wanting an exclusive rural weekend where guests can stay put rather than drive home.