Lakeside luxury in the heart of New Zealand

Jane Wilson and Mark Simmonds are the owners and hosts of Okuta Bay Retreat. They have lived at Whakamoenga Point for 20 years, and opened Okuta Bay Retreat in 2024.

Jane has a lifetime connection to the Taupō region, spending every family vacation here as a child. Her father was a  keen trout fisherman which meant Taupō was the only destination ever on the holiday list!

Jane and Mark have both had careers in tourism, and in 2024 Jane retired as the General Manager of Tourism for the Taupō region. They are passionate advocates and hosts – wanting guests to share and experience their love of the region, its incredible natural beauty, birdlife and abundance of outdoor activities. 

“We feel so lucky to live at Whakamoenga Point and even after 20 years we still marvel at the changing colours of the water, the inky sky lit up with stars on a clear night, the abundance of native birdlife and the fragrance of our native bush after a rainstorm” 

Jane and Mark love good food and wine, meeting new people, discovering new cultures and exploring the outdoors. They have travelled extensively internationally and always return home with a renewed belief they are so lucky to live in such a beautiful and tranquil part of the world.

"It is our priority that you have a wonderful stay at Okuta Bay Retreat and we hope you will love your time here as much as we do".