Arrival Information

Please find an overview of your arrival information for Taupo Bay Lodge. If you have any queries though, please get in touch with us.

• Rubbish

  All general items and waste can go into the large green wheelie bin, preferably in a plastic shopping type bags (there are plenty of these in draw in kitchen).  All plastic, paper and glass goes into the recycling wheelie bin. The bins are either in the courtyard off the laundry, or just beside the fence of that courtyard.  Please put food scraps in either the waste master, or into green compost bin which is on the path by the garden, under the deck.

• Internet

  There is free WiFi. Password/access key number is on the underside of the modem.

• TV/Sky

  Sky channels provided include movies and sports.

• DVD’s/Games/Tourist Information

  There is a selection of DVD’s available in the TV cabinet or otherwise stored in one of the draws in the wooden chest in the lounge.

• Cell phone coverage

  Cell phone reception is good through-out the lodge and property in general. The landline number is (09) 406 2212.

• Access to beach

  Via the bush track – through the gate at the bottom of steps in the garden (a 10 minute walk).  There are some small, steep steps in the middle part and for the last few metres, please be careful here. After rain the track can be a bit wet and muddy so not suitable if carrying lots of stuff down to the beach in both hands. If the gate has a chain with padlock, the key for this will be inside on a hook near the fridge.

  Update on track as of Aug 1013:  The track is safe to use for access to the beach, it’s just a bit slippery. Some of the steps have suffered damage over winter and work is planned over September and October to improve these. Thank you.

• Shops/Cafes

  The nearest shops for bread, milk, coffee, butchery and other general food items, along with petrol, cafes and takeaways, are at the seasidevillageofMangonui.  This is a 15 to 20 minute drive (approx 20km’s north from the lodge).  Large supermarket shopping is best done at Kerikeri on the way north toTaupoBay, then its only 40 minute drive with food in the car.

  There is a good sizedFour Squareat Coopers Beach too, practically a supermarket.

• Garage Door

  There is an automatic opener and the switch is just inside on the wall to the right after you enter garage from hallway. Before using it, there are two bolts along the bottom of the garage door that need to be unbolted first. They just simply lift up, turn and secure them, then go back and use automatic opener switch.

• Sports and beach equipment in the garage

  There are boogie boards, fishing rods, mask and snorkel sets, beach cricket set and other various games. Please feel free to use everything, giving it all a rinse down and hose with fresh water afterwards, and stored back in same place. Things can drip dry onto the garage floor if need be.

• Garage info

  There is a spare fridge in the games room, good for surplus food, storing ice, beer and  fish bait.

• Kayak

  It’s a 2/3 person kayak and there’s life jackets for all sizes, please enjoy. There are some cool caves to explore, best to head right across the bay, along the headland following the coast. To explore properly, it’s about an hour each way from where you launch on the beach. Remember to take weather and sea conditions into account.

  For those that want a bit more adventure, another half an hour further along the right hand coastline, and you’ve made it toWhangaroaHarbour. This area is ideal for kayaking. Easily spend an hour or two exploring all the bays and coves in this area. After use, please give kayak, paddles, seats and life jackets a good rinse with hose. To take the kayak down to beach, its best to use either roof rack of car, or sticking out the back of your station wagon ( if you have one) while someone holds the other half inside!

  Or better still, if you have a tow bar, use the old trailer parked up beside the top garage. If doing this, just cushion the kayak using old blankets or pillows that are in the garage, then use tie downs or rope to attach to trailer.

• Wood for fireplaces

  There should be firewood, logs and kindling stacked next to the main fireplace in big lounge, enough for at least two fires for either fire place. For more wood, under the deck alongside the path next to the garden, there is a stack of dry wood all ready to be used.

• Kitchen

  In the pantry are the basics of tea bags, sugar, salt , pepper , paper towels etc, help yourself. If for any reason the oven doesn’t seem to work, it’s highly likely that the clock hasn’t been set. Occasionally up atTaupoBay, there can be the odd power cut. Thank fully a lot less now than in the past when there was stormy weather. If there was a short cut, and then the power came back on, this would mean the clock on the oven would need re setting before it would work. The waste master is fine to use, however if you would like to put food scraps in the green compost bin under the deck, that’s even better! The water is tank water supply collected off roof so fine to drink.

• Spa Bath

  Please ensure that the water level is covering the jets before turning them on. (kids will love it if you use bubble bath liquid at same time as air bubbles!)

• Sauna

  Don’t forget to turn off after using. Use the ladle and bucket with some water to pour over the stones for extra heat if you like.

• General

  Prefer if no shoes when inside the house, leave at front door hallway area or under shelter on the deck off the kitchen. No smoking inside the house and careful when disposing of butts outside. No dogs rule is largely due to the presence of kiwis in the bush as well as the poison bait traps laid around the perimeter of the property to control the rabbits. Any breakages or spills inside the house whether accidental or otherwise during your stay, please inform prior to departure. Like to adopt a pragmatic approach and resolve any issue, should there even be one, in a friendly manner.

• Feedback

  Lastly, if there is anything  you’d like to make mention of, outside of leaving a comment in the guest book, we really appreciate feedback concerning your thoughts or ideas on ways that we can add some extra touches to the lodge for future visitors. It may be a comment about something you felt was needed in the kitchen, or it could be that something was not functioning on the BBQ, or whatever it is that you noticed during your stay, and you felt needed bringing to attention, please do take the time to send me an email/or call.

Enjoy your stay at Taupo Bay Lodge.