Where was The Bachelor in New Zealand Filmed?

Juan Pablo Bachelor New Zealand

On tonight’s episode of The Bachelor, Juan-Pablo and his ladies jetted off to my favorite country on the planet: New Zealand.

Juan-Pablo from The Bachelor took his women to New Zealand

Group date at Ogo Rotorua

This marks the second time they’ve filmed The Bachelor in New Zealand. Back in 2009, Jason Mesnick traveled to Queenstown and the Bay of Islands and got engaged to Melissa Rycroft (oops!) at Kauri Cliffs Lodge, my favorite hotel on the planet. (Here’s more about my own stay at Kauri Cliffs back in 2012. It’s heaven on earth.)

Kauri Cliffs Lodge New Zealand

Kauri Cliffs Lodge in New Zealand, my favorite place on the entire planet. See photos and videos from my trip to Kauri Cliffs here and here.

Jason went back to New Zealand with runner-up Molly Malaney, and he proposed to her at romantic Kohara Lodge just outside Queenstown in Arthur’s Point.

Kohara Lodge Queenstown New Zealand

Kohara Lodge in Arthur’s Point, near Queenstown, New Zealand: you rent out the entire place

Matakauri Lodge outside of Queenstown also featured during Jason’s season. I haven’t had a chance to visit myself yet, but I hear it’s epic.

Matakauri Lodge The Bachelor in New Zealand

So, now we have Juan-Pablo, traipsing around the world in search of muy caliente amor that he can pretend his daughter will be proud of. Here’s where Juan-Pablo and Sharleen, Claire, et al. went in New Zealand:

Tutukau Gorge: On New Zealand’s North Island, you can take the Riverjet through the Waikato River–a thrilling adventure for families and people seeking roses with virtual strangers. This is where Juan-Pablo and Andi stopped mid-Riverjet and “spontaneously” waded through the narrow crevasses to a waterfall: it’s known as The Squeeze.

Riverjet Thermal Safari Tutukau Gorge New Zealand

Hobbiton: I’ve already explained to you guys that Hobbiton is basically the coolest place ever (see photos from my trip there last month here). When my husband and I spent 10 days in New Zealand, Hobbiton was hands-down our favorite part, so I can understand why The Bachelor in New Zealand filmed there. The lush, green, rolling hills are exactly what you expect when you think of the most beautiful country in the world. Hobbiton is home to the Green Dragon pub, where the girls drank–and Cassandra was yanked away ON HER BIRTHDAY for the Juan-Pablo chat of doom.

Hobbiton in New Zealand

OGO Rotorua: The largest ball rolling park in the world, OGO is like a giant hamster wheel that you roll down a hill in. (And in the summer, they sometimes fill it with water, which is probably delightful for some people but sounds absolutely hellish to me.)

Ogo Rotorua

Huka Lodge: There were several different hotels featured in this episode, so I couldn’t quite tell where Juan-Pablo and the ladies stayed for the majority of their time in New Zealand, but they were at this luxury lodge in Taupo for at least one night.

Huka Lodge New Zealand The Bachelor

Hilton Lake Taupo: For the final one-on-one date with Claire, Juan-Pablo took her to Tarata Fishaway on the Rangitikei River for a stream-side picnic in a canyon. They finished it up at his penthouse suite at the Hilton Lake Taupo.

Hilton Lake Taupo in New Zealand

Blake House at Poronui: Near Taupo in the Taharua Valley (very close to the amazing Hawke’s Bay wine tasting region of central North Island), Blake House is a satellite experience off the main Poronui Lodge that sleeps up to 16 people in 4 double bedrooms and 2 bunk rooms with four single bunks. (So when you’re getting all jealous of the Bachelor experience, just remember the behind-the-scenes reality of adult bunk beds in paradise.) This is where they filmed the final rose ceremony.

Blake House Poronui New Zealand

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2 Comments
  • Travelingpanties
    February 11, 2014

    I was just looking for a good excuse to go back to New Zealand! I think I might have found it…

  • Paul (@luxury__travel)
    February 11, 2014

    I’m not sure how much I’d care for the hamster wheel… ;-) …but the rest of it looks and sounds idyllic. :)

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