The Waimea Country Lodge – a Beautiful, Chill Upcountry Big Island Stay

The usual trip to the Big Island and the Kona Coast brings visitors to Kailua-Kona or Waikoloa, but the Waimea Country Lodge and being up in the hills is a wonderful version of Hawaii you may want to consider. Called Hawaii’s Cowboy Country, Waimea is a beautiful little town with a great community. It’s a place to stay for enjoying the quiet side of the Big Island and just enjoying the rolling clouds and great hikes. Set between two mountains, Kohala and Mauna Kea, Waimea is a beautiful destination that not many visitors take time to enjoy, and that’s why I really love staying at the Waimea Country Lodge.

Have you spent any time here in upcountry? There are farms, some ranches, and really great people. The Waimea Country Lodge is a great home base for enjoying the northern part of the Big Island, and it’s still easy to get down to the beach. We’ve got all the info for planning a stay at the Waimea Country Lodge and enjoying the quiet side of the Big Island. If you have any questions about this part of the island or the hotel, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Aloha trip!

Why Choose the Waimea Country Lodge

It doesn’t take much to convince me to try a new place, whether it’s a hotel or a town, but a lot of people who come to the Big Island or have been many times are very set on having a strictly beach vacation. The Waimea Country Lodge sets you up for such a different sort of trip while still being close enough to the shoreline that you can snorkel and swim whenever you want.

If your goal with spending time in Waimea on the Big Island is to relax and just enjoy the atmosphere, you’ll like it here. The rooms are very nice with tons of space, and the property is really well maintained. Although it’s not a grand lodge with sweeping acreage there is ample space to enjoy while baby chickens run around making little sounds on the breeze.

When it comes to convenience for access to the restaurants and businesses here, the Waimea Country Lodge is directly next to where they do the weekly farmers market (Saturdays) and then a block away from coffee and shops. Foodland (the grocery store) is around the corner, and then Longs Drugs and other shops are in the opposite direction. The convenience, nice rooms and beautiful setting make the Waimea Country Lodge a fun, relaxing alternative pick.

Book the Waimea Country Lodge here!

Room Options at the Waimea Country Lodge

There aren’t a ton of room options at the Waimea Country Lodge. And that’s okay. You can book either a King room, two Queens or two double beds. The lodge is only two stories, so you’ll either be on the top floor or the ground level. I don’t know that location within the hotel really matters because the parking and outdoor amenities are all easily accessible wherever you stay. I love how quiet it is here and room location won’t have an impact on that.

Waimea Country Lodge Amenities

As I mentioned, staying at the Waimea Country Lodge is an alternative type of Big Island experience. When you’re here you’ve got time to chill and check out from the rest of the hubbub. This doesn’t mean laying by the pool though, as there isn’t one. This means spending a day going for a drive on the north shore and doing some hiking or bird watching (lots of forest preserves nearby) and then coming back for self-made mai tais on the patio. Or maybe doing horseback riding with a local guide and then coming back to the Waimea Country Lodge to make a BBQ dinner using the grills and outdoor dining space.

Staying here is akin to staying at a lodge in Montana or Alaska and just being here to BE and enjoy. In the rooms you’ll find kitchenettes so if you’re going with the low key barbecue themed nights, you’ll love the set up and the ability to do dinner/breakfast prep and store groceries. It’s very practical.

Dining in the Waimea Area of the Big Island

There is not a restaurant AT the Waimea Country Lodge, but directly next door is the FORC Restaurant which is all about Hawaiian farm-to-table cuisine. Down the road, walking distance as most places are, you’ll find Hawaiian bbq, Asian fusion food, pizza and more. Waimea is very much a town where people actually live versus being a tourist trap, so you have really normal, mellow options while you’re staying here.

Something fun and upscale to consider is that the townsite of Waikoloa and the resorts are just fifteen minutes down the hill from the Waimea Country Lodge. While you’re here you can easily enjoy a nice meal just off the ocean or even doing the Hawai’iloa Luau at the Fairmont Orchid Resort. This beautiful luau is my second favorite on the Big Island and is both delicious and a wonderful experience.

Getting to the Waimea Country Lodge

Parking is included at the Waimea Country Lodge. We get a lot of questions on whether or not you need a car when you visit the Big Island, and while the answer is usually ‘no’ if you’re staying in Kailua-Kona, if you’re coming to the upcountry, you’ll need a car in general. There are tour companies that will pick you up, like Hawaii Forestt & Trail will arrange mutual pickup locations for Kohala waterfall hiking and such, but even then you may need to drive down the mountain to the coast. The Lodge doesn’t have a shuttle to transport you either in town or from the airport (KOA is the closest), so a car is needed.

Activities and Sights Near Waimea

Even though I could snorkel and enjoy the beach every day of my life, being up in Waimea is a wonderful change of pace. From horseback riding to hiking, easy day trips to the north shore or Hamakua Coast or just relaxing in Waimea, you’ll love it here too. There are plenty of things to do in and near Waimea, so take a look and plan something fun!

• Walk around Waimea finding snacks and coffee, relaxing and enjoy LOTS of lots art
• Visit Parker Ranch for the history, horses and maybe even a rodeo (4th of July week)
• Have a beach day down at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area at Waialea Beach
• do a guided hiking tour to the Kohala waterfalls
• enjoy the Hawai’iloa Luau at the Fairmont Orchid down the hill from Waimea
• go birdwatching in one of the many forest preserves surrounding Waimea

Since Waimea and the Waimea Country Lodge aren’t terrible far or out of the way from Kailua-Kona, you can easy do thing all along the Kona Coast every day. You have lots of options, which makes it even better that you can return here nightly to the calm and quiet of Waimea.