Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Across from the car park,
Golden Owl Lodge
( 07-862 7994;
www.goldenowl.co.nz
; 3 Moresby St; dm
$29, r $62-100; )
is a homely, handy tramping base, sleeping only 12. Allow $5 extra for
linen in the dorm rooms.
Further up the same road,
Ohinemuri Estate Winery
( 07-862 8874;
www.ohinemuri.co.nz
; Moresby
St; mains $19-32; 10am-4pm Wed-Sun, daily Dec-Feb)
has Latvian-influenced architecture and
serves excellent lunches. You'd be right if you thought it was an unusual site for growing
grapes - the fruit is imported from other regions. Tastings are $5, refundable with pur-
chase. If you imbibe too much, snaffle the chalet-style hut ($135 per night) and revel in
the charming atmosphere of this secluded place.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Paeroa
POP 3980
Paeroa is the birthplace of Lemon & Paeroa (L&P), an icon of Kiwiana that markets itself
as 'world famous in NZ'. Ironically, the fizzy drink is now owned by global monster
Coca-Cola Amatil and produced in Auckland. Still, generations of Kiwi kids have
pestered their parents to take this route just to catch a glimpse of the giant L&P bottles.
The small
museum
(37 Belmont Rd; adult/child $2/1; noon-3pm Mon-Fri)
has a grand selection of
Royal Albert porcelain and other pioneer and Maori artefacts. Paeroa is also known for its
antique stores.
At the
L&P Cafe & Bar
(
www.lpcafe.co.nz
;
SH2; mains $7-20; 8.30am-3pm Mon-Wed, to 8pm Thu-Sun)
you can order L&P fish and chips or an L&P brekkie, washed down with the lemony lolly
water itself. The cafe shares the space with the
information centre
( 07-862 8636;
www.paeroa.org.nz
;
9am-4pm)
, where you can also rent bikes ($45 per day) to take on the
Hauraki Rail Trail (
Click here
)
.
