Fantail Lodge and Garden in Katikati has secured the necessary funding to begin its Villa Project and construction work is now underway.
Fantail owner and operator Harrie Geraerts says the lodge's capacity, which started 20 years ago with just one guest bedroom, will soon grow to 30 well appointed suites.

Fantail Lodge and Garden in Katikati is about to undergo a major expansion.

The Fantail Lodge Villa Project is the largest tourism related development in the region since the establishment of the Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel and arguably the largest ever on the outskirts of Tauranga.
The existing lodge will remain as a boutique country lodge, but it will soon have a ‘private' village of luxury villas incorporated in the overall operation.
The focus on genuine hospitality, comfort and style will certainly not be compromised, including fibre optics to future proof the fast development of technology.
Harrie says the village will stand for tranquillity, sound quality and good mana.
'It will reflect a true country estate environment. For us, it is essential not to become another glossy hotel. We make every effort to hold on to the culture and pure environment that has been carefully created in the past 20 years.”
'It will set the tone for the years to come,” says Harrie.
Fantail Lodge is a sought after retreat for small to medium size conference groups on an exclusive basis – away from the distractions of city locations.
'I must admit that it has been challenging at times to cater for the changing conference market.”
'Our location is ideal and our facilities certainly are of the desired quality, but we could not accommodate larger groups.”
'With the Villa Project expected to be completed in June 2010 this will be a problem of the past.”
Harrie says Fantail Lodge is the first business in the industry, since the credit crisis, which has managed to secure funding of this scale.