491andersh
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My wife and I ended our recent four-week vacation in Australia and New Zealand with a six-night wind-down stay at Takatu Lodge and Vineyards. It was heavenly!||The open courtyard lodge is perched on top of a hill with pastoral views in all directions. Our bedroom was very comfortably furnished and had a full wall panoramic window opening out eastward to a private patio with a wonderful view of the vineyard, rolling hills and Kawau Bay and Island in the distance. The very large bathroom also shared this view from the tub by the panorama window. Meals were taken in the central main building with a library and a very large common room, where a mild breeze was allowed by full wall glass doors on three sides, and where breakfasts and dinners were prepared and served by Sharon Greene, our hostess and lodge manager.||Sharon was the Lodge’s primary asset. A skilled chef, she used fresh local ingredients to create exquisite culinary masterpieces which were, of course, expertly paired with Takatu Vineyard whites, rosés and reds from Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot varietals. Matching her talents, her sweet personality is eminently well suited for her role and responsibilities. Welcoming, friendly and personable, she made us feel immediately at home and relaxed, while she generously shared her wealth of knowledge about the area and region. A true Kiwi gem!||The lodge is located 5-10 minutes drive from Matakana, where a handful or restaurants and stores offer good food, local wines and shopping within a small area. Several vineyards, offering tasting - in some cases with food pairing, are located within a 30-minutes drive radius from Takatu Lodge. The area also boasts galleries with eclectic fine and modern art displayed indoor, in beautiful gardens and along art trails. The art displays can also be enjoyed with wine tasting.||Outdoor enthusiasts, as we are, we spent many hours hiking the trails of the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary, located 20 minutes SE of the lodge, via a very winding road. The large, beautiful peninsula, surrounded by a marine reserve offers hiking, swimming and surfing in serene surroundings. The South Coast track to Maori Bay, winding below steep slopes, along waves breaking against volcanic boulders, provided both excitement and good exercise. The return path high above, wound along a string of hills with stunning views of Kawau Bay. The Eco Trail took us through forested hills, gullies with quiet streams along a well maintained path, alive with birdsong and sightings, exotic and rare for us Northerners. We took long walks on the north coast beaches, watching surfers and munched on grapes while reading and sketching atop the grassy My wife and I ended our recent four-week vacation in Australia and New Zealand with a six-night wind-down stay at Takatu Lodge and Vineyards. It was heavenly!||The open courtyard lodge is perched on top of a hill with pastoral views in all directions. Our bedroom was very comfortably furnished and had a full wall panoramic window opening out eastward to a private patio with a wonderful view of the vineyard, rolling hills and Kawau Bay and Island in the distance. The very large bathroom also shared this view from the tub by the panorama window. Meals were taken in the central main building with a library and a very large common room, where a mild breeze was allowed by full wall glass doors on three sides, and where breakfasts and dinners were prepared and served by Sharon Greene, our hostess and lodge manager.||Sharon was the Lodge’s primary asset. A skilled chef, she used fresh local ingredients to create exquisite culinary masterpieces which were, of course, expertly paired with Takatu Vineyard whites, rosés and reds from Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot varietals. Matching her talents, her sweet personality is eminently well suited for her role and responsibilities. Welcoming, friendly and personable, she made us feel immediately at home and relaxed, while she generously shared her wealth of knowledge about the area and region. A true Kiwi gem!||The lodge is located 5-10 minutes drive from Matakana, where a handful or restaurants and stores offer good food, local wines and shopping within a small area. Several vineyards, offering tasting - in some cases with food pairing, are located within a 30-minutes drive radius from Takatu Lodge. The area also boasts galleries with eclectic fine and modern art displayed indoor, in beautiful gardens and along art trails. The art displays can also be enjoyed with wine tasting.||Outdoor enthusiasts, as well as are, we spent many hours hiking the trails of the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary, located 20 minutes SE of the lodge, via a very winding road. The large, beautiful peninsula, surrounded by a marine reserve offers hiking, swimming and surfing in serene surroundings. The South Coast track to Maori Bay, winding below steep slopes, along the waves breaking against volcanic boulders, provided both excitement and good exercise. The return path high above, wound along a string of hills with stunning views of Kawau Bay. The Eco Trail took us through forested hills, gullies with quiet streams along a well maintained path, alive with birdsong and sightings, exotic and rare for us Northerners. We took long walks on the north coast beaches, watching surfers and sat munching grapes, reading and sketching atop the grassy dunes.||Scuba diving in the North Island waters can be found in Leigh, 15 minutes north of the lodge, where “Dive Goat Island” takes guests on shore or boat dives in the Marine Reserve. Two hours farther north, “Dive Tutukaka” offers boat dives at Poor Knight Island, a well-known and popular dive site. I found both well worth the effort and travel time. ||Altogether, our stay at Takatu Lodge exceeded all our expectations. We sampled broadly from the smorgasbord of sights and activities and left sated, satisfied and rich with new experiences, memories and new friendships.||Scuba diving in the North Island waters can be found in Leigh, 15 minutes north of the lodge, where “Dive Goat Island” takes guests on shore or boat dives in the Marine Reserve. Two hours farther north, “Dive Tutukaka” offers boat dives at Poor Knight Island, a well-known and popular dive site. I found both well worth the effort and travel time. ||Altogether, our stay at Takatu Lodge exceeded all our expectations. We sampled broadly from the smorgasbord of sights and activities and left sated, satisfied and rich with new experiences, memories and new friendships.
