Waikato & Coromandel Peninsula - New Zealand - page 343

A few kilometres further west, Waitawheta Rd leads across the river from SH2 to
Owharoa Falls . Opposite the falls the Bistro at The Falls Retreat ( www.fallsretreat.co.nz ;
25 Waitawheta Rd; pizza $20, mains $20-36; 10am-10pm) is located in a wooden cottage un-
der a shaded canopy of trees. Gourmet pizzas and rustic meat dishes emerge from the
wood-fired oven on a regular basis, and there's a great little playground for the kids.
There are a range of shorter walks and loop tracks leading from the main car park at
Karangahake Gorge; bring a torch as some pass through tunnels. A two-hour tramp will
bring you to Dickey's Flat , where there's a free DOC campsite (Dickey's Flat Rd) and a de-
cent swimming hole. River water will need to be boiled for drinking. You'll find DOC
information boards about the walks and the area's history at both the station and the main
car park.
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 re-
gions. Tastings are $5, refundable with purchase. 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 it-
self 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 se-
lection 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 (