To the manor
How exciting! We didn't only leave Waiheke today, we left Auckland! What a thrill, after so long, to hit the actual road and go somewhere else. Not that it's anywhere we haven't been before, numerous times, mind: Taupo, a huge, deep lake in the middle of the North Island, formed by a volcanic explosion so powerful that it formed a hole, rather than a cone. Our focus this time though is the little settlement of Kinloch, around the edge of the lake from Taupo town. This is where Kinloch Manor sits, on a hill in the middle of the golf course - the only one in NZ designed, and played, by Jack Nicklaus, golfers are excited to point out - the main building channelling a castle vibe, the villas low-profile in the surrounding grounds.Ours is very lovely, with a beautiful view out across the lake to the distant mountains volcanoes, huge bathroom with standalone bath, big comfy bed, absurdly well-equipped kitchen (I mean, who would use that when the restaurant is so good, and, to be frank, you're comfortable with paying so much for the accommodation that self-catering is surely irrelevant). Best of all, though, is the electric golf cart supplied for easy access to all parts of the property. Good fun! The only down-side is that the metal Labrador at the entrance to reception looks so sad...![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylTXw0XAXPuCmrQoY0p7trXpA603Cl-UiuoeZof3Y5hyztRZoutBywZa5FXMZZeuEkqK0ey0QpssGBQ9YKOD3xkeAGVbh3z16hlvMIsTK0l3Rahg1-ATQexSJW4hmaexaSjSvI1pb4oRB/w640-h406/IMG_0602.JPG)
I nipped out to get a bit of story material at some hot springs I hadn't been to before: Otumuheke Stream, with a little cluster of hot pools just before it flows into the Waikato River, and which is free to access. It was a bit of a mission to find, to be honest, mostly owing to my inevitably choosing the wrong direction when presented with a choice, and ending up in the wilds of a sports park. After beating my way off-track through the bush for a bit, relieved as ever that bears, snakes and pumas weren't part of the picture, I found the back way into the pools, which were pretty, beautifully warm, and patronised by people who had simply strolled there through the front entrance.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gzi8b70C4EPtE3Mn7FA5__pZrMHzLnmSsA0X71ghyphenhyphenrIU2QbqtEZd_kRQM-85jVI11_EsVkBwhLO7NCaDzkdjlU2CrBxK9KYAsuG6H0RdFmc9Hy5kEYipg06SO2bvqcfiZBcLLTY0DDiV/w640-h390/IMG_0521.JPG)
Back at the lodge, there were complimentary (disclosure: it's all complimentary for me) canapés on the terrace watching golfers battling with some of the course's 172 bunkers. Then followed a truly delicious five-course dégustation dinner at a table right in the window with a great view of the sunset over the lake, flocks of welcome swallows flitting about just outside, and ducks waddling over the greens far below. After such a big dinner, I would have been waddling myself, back to the villa - except, with the golf cart, happily there was no need.
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