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Opshops’ song for Taupo

September 7, 2010 By Carl View Comments

So not to outdone, Opshop also put pen to paper, or should I say music to guitar, and came up with this lovely acoustic song about Taupo.

The great lake Taupo in Maori tradition is referred to the great cloak of Tia and best described below

Taupo Moana is the sacred cloak of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. It is weaved from the many rivers that flow into it. At the Southern end, which is Te Mātāpuna or upper end of the cloak, is the sacred pattern that sits closest to Te Heuheu and Tongariro Mountain.

Hope you enjoy the song, and although the lake erupted some 1000 years ago, I’m not in any great hurry for it to blow again.

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Filed Under: General, Taupo

Scenic Cellars

May 13, 2010 By Carl View Comments

So tonight I went to Scenic Cellars Red Wine tasting event, now I don’t want you thinking that your favorite blogger is a big drinker, I aren’t.

However, good wine is like all things good, they should be appreciated!

So the Scenic Cellars is as the name suggests a wine cellar, with fantastic views, with tens of thousands of wines to tempt every palate and budget. What is so unique about the cellars is the underground experience, a staircase leads you down to a number of spaces, deep in the Taupo sub soil, it is here that you can truly appreciate the number and variety of wines.

Anyway getting back to the wine tasting, every month Scenic Cellars hosts an evening like this one, it is small and intimate group of about 30-40 people and with over 150 wines, teasing and tempting their palates with some extraordinary treats. And you don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to be there, I talked to a number of people that enjoy a nice wine, and tonight was seen as an opportunity to enlarge their knowledge, (at no risk). To the serious wine tasters who sniff, swirl and spit!

So TravelMonkee highly recommends the Scenic Cellars next time you travel to Lake Taupo, it is experience shopping at the best, but hey can’t wait to get to Taupo Scenic have one of the most comprehensive online shops, http://www.sceniccellars.co.nz/ where you can get that special wine. PS. after testing you get to take some of the wines home with you…I got the Frizzell! http://www.frizzellwines.co.nz/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great selection of Wines await you at Scenic Cellars

A great selection of Wines await you at Scenic Cellars

 

 

Wine Tasting evening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Dining, General, Taupo, Travel Advice

Hilton Lake Taupo

April 27, 2010 By Carl View Comments

This week was very exciting, as I got a personal tour of the Hilton, by the Hotel Manager Clinton Farley .

The Hilton has joined forces with Taupo’s most historic Hotel the Terraces and is located on the Napier Taupo Highway.  The hotel is one of the Hilton chain, and as expected it is stunning from the outside and inside. With over 100 rooms, the Hilton delivers on style and  excellence. the guests are treated to rooms that are luxurious and well equipped, the tones are earthy and relaxing, the beds very comfortable, and bathrooms spacious.

Facilities include Restaurant, Bar, Gym, Lap pool, sauna and undercover secure parking.

So the rates as you expect are in keeping with the Hotel, but keep an eye open because there are specials, and if you plan your wedding at the Hilton Lake Taupo, you can book out the whole Heritage wing, (the original Terraces)

So what else do you need, Wi-fi yes, concierge yes, Conference yes, so the Hilton gets the big yes from Travelmonkee, I know you will love it!

So if you are on Holiday and want to get away, check out the http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/AKLLTHI-Hilton-Lake-Taupo/index.do
View of lap pool at the Hilton

View of lap pool at the Hilton

The grounds are well cared for

The grounds are well cared for

Large kitchens and living space, make for a relaxing visit

Large kitchens and living space, make for a relaxing visit

The heritage wing displays photos of Taupo's past

The heritage wing displays photos of Taupo's past

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Filed Under: Accommodation, General, Taupo, Travel Advice

Opepe Walk Lake Taupo

January 31, 2010 By Carl View Comments

This Saturday TravelMonkee, and his daughter and one of her friends walked the Opepe trail, this is a short walk about 50 minutes long on the western side of SH 5 Napier Taupo highway. The walk is delightful, and is an easy grade which most walkers will manage, not only is the walk great, there is a real smattering history there. Starting with visiting the grave sites (on the eastern side) of a number of soldiers that were killed there by a mauradering band of Maori lead by Te Kooti as he traveled north from the Hawke Bay. The sites are well maintained in their memory, leaving there we crossed the road and walked to the Pit -Saw, this is a fantastic piece of history, as the pit is still deep and a large log is straddling it. From there the track winds its way down to a watering hole, and eventually the down to Taupo, (though the road now is over grown and impassable) walking back up towards the car park you pass through an old village, and the remains of a shack are all the is left of a once small but important staging post.

Make sure you put this walk on your list of things to do when you travel to Lake Taupo next!

The sign remembering the soldiers at Opepe Lake Taupo NZ

The sign remembering the soldiers at Opepe Lake Taupo NZ

The graves at Lake Taupo Opepe walk

The graves at Lake Taupo Opepe walk

A large Matai log on a pit-saw Opepe walk Lake Taupo

A large Matai log on a pit-saw Opepe walk Lake Taupo

A well sign posted track Opepe Lake Taupo NZ

A well sign posted track Opepe Lake Taupo NZ

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Filed Under: Free Activites in Taupo, Taupo Tagged With: , ,

Great Walks in Taupo

January 26, 2010 By Carl View Comments

There are lots of fantastic walks that you can do while you stay in Taupo, and this is one of Travelmonkee’s favorites

Whakamoenga Walking Track

Relaxing on the rocks at the point Lake Taupo

Relaxing on the rocks at the point Lake Taupo

Time: 1 hour return via the same track
Follow Acacia Bay Road to the road end car park.

Begin on the Rangatira Point Track. Turn right at the first junction. An easy graded track runs through the bush beside the lake around to Whakamoenga Point. There are good views across the lake from many points along the walkway. Please respect adjacent private property by staying on the track.

Note: The Rangatira and Whakamoenga Point Tracks can be walked together (2.5 hours return).

This is one of my favourite walks, if you have just a short time and want great vistas of Lake Taupo, and Mount Ruapehu.

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Filed Under: Free Activites in Taupo, General, Mountains around Taupo, Taupo Tagged With: , , ,