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Speculation suggests an Arab sheikh or rockstar Eric Clapton may have booked up a luxury lodge near Taupo to coincide with this weekend's A1 motorsport GP.
The mystery party has hired Solitaire Lodge for four nights at a cost of up to $13,000 a night.
Contractors at Taupo's A1GP have speculated that the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah, has booked the venue. The King is a motorsport fan and was instrumental in bringing the V8 Supercar race to his country last year.
Another suggestion is that guitar legend Eric Clapton is in town for the motorsport, relaxing before his concert at Mission Estate in Napier next weekend.
Last night a spokesman for Solitaire Lodge said: "We can confirm that one party has booked the entire lodge for the duration of the racing."
A source who tried to visit the lodge yesterday was refused entry to the bar. A staff member told the visitor he was unable to be seated for a coffee because "the guests are about to arrive by helicopter and they have booked this [lodge] exclusively".
This week A1 Team New Zealand manager Bob McMurray said 40 helicopters had booked landing and parking space on the fringes of the motorsport track.
He said he was aware of a group staying at an "upmarket lodge in Rotorua" which would be transporting guests by seaplane to Lake Taupo.
The lodge on the shores of Lake Tarawera can accommodate 20 people only among its 10 rooms, but it is not known how many people are staying there.
During yesterday's pre-race build-up, A1GP drivers faced Tuwharetoa Maori during a powhiri on Taupo's lakefront.
Many of the drivers are in their early 20s and have not visited New Zealand before, so the welcoming ceremony before their PR duties aboard jetskis yesterday was a new experience.
A waka was used to paddle the warriors on to the lakefront, where haka and speeches were performed in front of the drivers.
"Wow, that was pretty cool, okay," said Loic Duval, 22, driver of the French team. "I have only seen that done before by the rugby team on TV."
The chief executive of the international A1GP organisation, Brazilian Pete da Silva, a resident of South Africa, was equally impressed.
"We're truly humbled by this reception, and it's a great honour and privilege to be welcomed in this way.
"We thank you for the respect you have bestowed on us, and only hope we can bestow the same respect as we learn more about your beautiful country and beautiful culture.
"I'm not sure which is richer, an event like this or the racing on Sunday."
Drivers representing 20 nations then took to the water in a time trial on jetskis.
The event was a public relations coup for Taupo and New Zealand, as the international media lapped up the mountainous backdrop on a stunning day at the water's edge.
Meanwhile, the Taupo District Council estimates that $23 million will be pumped into the economy as a result of the event.
Destination Taupo spokesman Scott Lee said his organisation would assess the economic impact later in the year.
About 250 locals joined in the festivities on the lakefront reserve and a 20-strong flotilla of vessels on the lake got a closer look at the action.
* Solitaire Lodge is one of New Zealand's most luxurious retreats, attracting and fiercely protecting the identities of a long list of international celebrities in the past 30 years.
The lodge sits on a privately owned peninsula on the shores of the lake with its own beach, jetty and helipad in a native bush setting.
It is a 20-minute drive from Rotorua.
It has 10 suites with exquisite views of the lake and Mt Tarawera, costing up to $1960 a night a couple at this time of the year.
For that price, guests enjoy an evening cocktail hour in the lounge, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and an extensive collection of 19th century New Zealand landscape paintings, a four-course gourmet dinner and fine wines, a sumptuous breakfast and use of dinghies, kayaks and a spa pool.
Last September, Solitaire Lodge was voted the leading resort in Australia and New Zealand at the 2006 World Travel Awards.
- Additional reporting Bernard Orsman
