Waitangi Weekend in Kinloch, Taupō

We headed down to Kinloch for Waitangi weekend. It’s not far from Auckland, but with everyone else thinking the same thing, the traffic was slow going at times. Still, once we arrived and turned into our friends’ place, it all felt worth it.

Staying with friends always makes a trip nicer. Very homely and relaxed. Just easy mornings, cups of tea, a bit of this and that, and no one in a hurry.

The weather behaved itself beautifully. Warm sunshine during the day, hot and sunny, then those cooler evenings where you’re happy to pull up a blanket and sleep like a log.

Kinloch sits on the north-western edge of Lake Taupō. Years ago it was mostly simple timber baches and families coming for fishing trips and summer holidays. Many of those old places are still around, though you’ll spot some gorgeous new homes among them too. The marina has grown over time, but it hasn’t lost that calm, lakeside feel.

We spent our days wandering along the lakefront and down to the marina, watching boats heading out and coming back in. One afternoon I sat in the front yard with a piña colada in hand, looking out over the water towards the three mountains in the distance — Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. They weren’t covered in snow yet, it is currently the peak of summer, but they were still very clear, rising in layers, one behind the other. Hard to complain about a place like that.

After dark, we did something we hadn’t done in years. We switched off all the outside lights, laid a tarpaulin on the grass, and stretched out to watch the clear night sky with a glass of limoncello. There was no moon at all and no light pollution from city lights, so the stars were sharp and bright. The Southern Cross shone clearly and seemed so close, and there were so many more stars than we can see from the city. But what really caught our attention were all the satellites — one after another drifting steadily across in the darkness. I don’t remember seeing anything like that when we were young! It was strangely fascinating, cool, dark and wonderfully peaceful.

The local shop, or “dairy” as we know it, has a reputation for great ice cream and pizza. We wanted to try it, but Basker preferred to cook at home instead. That night, Basker fired up the BBQ and grilled his spicy marinated NZ lamb chops while our hostess served smoked trout with wine. The next night, another husband in the group cooked noodles with salmon and vegetables. We were very spoilt.

Taupō township is only a short drive away, so we popped in there too. I found a kitchen shop where I wanted to buy everything in sight. I behaved myself… mostly. I’m still thinking about a couple of things I left behind. Oh well, maybe next time?

We also stopped at L’Arté Café. It’s bright and colourful, full of mosaics and quirky garden art. I love mosaics, so I was in my element. I’m grateful to the others in our group for indulging me in my interest and they happily visited with me. Lunch at the cafe was busy and the food was nice, sausage roll for Basker and a bacon and egg pie for me. I couldn’t resist buying a ceramic flower for me and one for Nisha—they’ll brighten up the garden nicely. And, coincidentally, as a thank-you gift, I also gave our friends a mosaic trout I’d made just the week before, and it has promptly been put on full display in their garden—feeling a bit chuffed!

By the time we packed up and headed home, we were pleasantly tired and very content. A short drive, good company, lake views, and a sky full of stars — that sounds like a pretty great weekend to me.

Until the next little getaway,
– ♡ Janet