Taupo is more than just sky dive, triathlon and around the lake cycle track, plenty of artsy-fartsy stuff too. Monica Louis writes about it in the RV Travel Lifestyle Magazine

1. T
aupo is building its reputation as New Zealand’s
endurance sports capital; The IRONMAN every
March with the ACROSS THE LAKE SWIM organ-
ised by Rotary in late February as a warm up. If you
prefer foot slugging, the OXFAM TRAIL WALKER
may be your thing if you can get a team of four together to walk
100km in less than 36 hours. Then there is the 160km ‘LAKE
TAUPO CYCLE CHALLENGE’ and several marathons and half
marathons and I’ve surely forgotten other less popular sports
events. But did you know that there are also plenty of cool
artistic happenings!
The Queen’s birthday weekend gives me three good reasons to
take to the lake to feed my inner culture vulture; THE RIVERSIDE
MARKET taking place every Saturday always features work by
local crafts people. The RE-SPIN vinyl fair is a regular record
swap-sell put on for vinyl collectors and then there is the first
annual TAUPO ART TRAIL.
From where I set out – close to Te Kuiti - the ride to Taupo is
reason enough to enjoy taking to the road. Even if it is a detour,
I’d recommend SH3 over SH1 to anyone travelling from the North
who has an extra hour to spare; you’ll get to take in what I believe
to be the most varied and soothing countryside of the Waikato
including some of my all-time favourite country roads. It confirms
the challenge artists have, trying to compete with nature’s best.
Always when I get to Scott Road (State Highway 30) I start hearing
Paul McCartney in my head. Travelling past the Pureora Forest
Park where the podocarps invade the road, past the giant totara tree
– signposted as an easy tourist walk of about half an hour there and
back, I get to the long stretched rolling hills that lead to Mangakino.
The funny thing is that the trip offers completely different sights
going or coming back; close to Whakamaru the ‘Dragon Mountain’
looks like a sleeping dinosaur and on the other side of Poihipi Road,
LIFESTYLE ARTSY FARTSY TAUPO
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01. No time to check out the W2K trail or Kiwi Outback Adventures 02. Taupo is best known for its endurance sports events 03. The podocarps invade highway 30 04. Past Pureora
Forest Park with Mt Pureora’s distinctive pyramid shape. 05. The giant Totora tree is signposted as an easy walk 06. Mt Titiraupenga – photo Steve Makin
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Can man compete with nature? A culture vulture goes on the trail to discover
Taupo’s art collective, swap some vinyl and test taste buds
AN ARTSY FARTSY
ENDURANCE
WEEKEND IN TAUPO
+ MONICA LOUIS
MAP WAIKATO FROM TE KUITI TO TAUPO, HIGH-
WAY 30/WESTERN BAY HIGHWAY /POIHIPI ROAD

2. 46 RV TRAVEL LIFESTYLE RVMAGAZINE.CO.NZ 47
LIFESTYLE ARTSY FARTSY TAUPO
Mount Titiraupenge gets a different shape with each bend and turn
of the road. On the way back from Taupo to Te Kuiti it is Mount
Pureora that draws the attention. On my way I make a mental note
to get back in touch with John and Mariata Paki from AWHINA
TOURS who operate a farm stay and tourism business in this area.
I have to plan that long promised date to experience one of their
guided wilderness walks.
You can choose different loops to get to Taupo which is a plus
now this region is starting to be back on the map thanks to the
new cycling and walking trails. On the corner of Western Bay and
Poihipi Road I stop off for a cuppa with Mike and Lynn of Bird
Cottage. They tell me that the cycle trails and Te Aotearoa (The
great walking trail) are reviving interest in their place. Lynn shows
me a super cute photo she took of Mike with his new pet hedgehog
discovered in the garden a few mornings ago. We chat a bit about
the feedback from cyclists, mainly city folks, who come to ride the
newly opened section of the Great Lake Trail and often combine
Taupo with the Waikato River Trail or Timber Trail. Then I’ve got
to make haste to be on my way.
I arrive in Taupo in time for the start of the Riverside Market
where my friend Monika Vincent has a stand with her business
partner, raw food chef Carolyn McCormack . From their mobile
food van they sell raw pizzas and chocolate-sauerkraut-brownies
and they sell like the proverbial cakes. I know it sounds yuck but I
can guarantee that not only does it taste fab, it will make you feel
like the Energizer bunny all day. The two enterprising dames have
been feeding the hip, raw food followers of fashion their healthy and
appetizing goods for almost two years now. In anticipation of the
opening of their shop, cakes can be sampled at Taste Café in Taupo
and at events like Wanderlust or at the Riverside market.
With a green shake and crunchy flax cracker in my stomach I
feel the force. Unfortunately there is no time to check out the many
other yummy stands and I have to give Dan the Fishman, Honey
Bob and Bruce’s sausages a miss. There are craft stalls with must-
have tea cosies and rustic furniture, fresh veggies and flower stalls,
handmade chocolates and more but I keep my focus. I head for the
ART LOUNGE where I first get to log several boxes of rare vinyl up
30 steps of stairs before meeting the other vinylphiles who have come
to swap and sell some beauties. There are rare items by Hendrix, Ten
Years After or Chuck Berry and I learn that exceptional albums can
fetch up to $100 or more. Some fine Funk, Blues, Jazz and Rock &
Roll changes hands. I part with my Areetha in Paris with pain in
my heart but acquire a wonderful LP of Dave Brubeck with Carmen
McRaeandswapunlovedLPsforShirleyHornwiththeQuincyJones
Orchestra and a double LP of Joan Baez singing ballads.
The ART LOUNGE is good example of new age entrepreneurs
creating a lifestyle away from the rat race by combining talent with
somebusinesssense.PhotographerBrianMSmithandMiraCorbova
– Smith who makes what she calls abstract energy art - have found
each other in more ways than one. The couple puts on events like the
record fair and concerts. The lounge doubles as a gallery exposing
their work as well hosting guest artists. Brian helps me with my crates
and introduces me to the others. The day passes quickly thanks to
some great encounters with colourful characters that fill me in on
trivial knowledge about the habits of Stan Getz and the falling out
of Sly with the Family Stone. I’m loving it!
07. Dragon Mountain at
Whakamaru 08. At the
Art Lounge I part with
some oldies and acquire
some new gems during
the monthly record fair
RESPIN 09-10. Raw
Balance sell sauerkraut
chocolate brownies like
the proverbial (raw) cakes
11. Brian in front of his photos and Mira’s energy art
12. Mira Corbova sitting pretty with her artwork in
the back and some photos of Brian visible
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3. LIFESTYLE ARTSY FARTSY TAUPO
There isn’t enough time today to catch up with Mira and Brian but
I’m staying overnight because the next day Monika ( my namesake
and raw food friend) is booked to perform with her husband Jersey
Bob. Bob and Monika have previously performed in our own urban
salon in Benneydale – The ArtDoc Gallery - and I have become a
fan instantly. Bob has released 14 CDs filled with his Bob Dylan like
blues and tomorrow’s performance is his homecoming gig after a
lengthy New Zealand Tour.
Musicians and RV Gypsies have something in common, sharing
both the passion and pain of being on the road; we know about
missing out on birthday party invitations or weekly bridge clubs
- once you’ve become a true vagabond people stop asking you
after a few attempts, thinking that ‘you are never at home anyway.’
Being on the road can be hard slog, depending on weather or other
conditions like the need for a fixed arrival time or destination. But
all this is outweighed when you meet the other hobos and get to
share stories of adventure. This stuff is the material for Bob’s song
writing which he mixes with playing a mean guitar and harmonica
and telling tons of anecdotes during his performances. If you see
him billed anywhere, I’d recommend to take time to catch him
in concert. Monika joins him on stage when she can, playing
percussion and making the performing and the travel that much
more enjoyable for Bob.
I have stayed over with Monika and Bob and managed to sneak
in my favourite pastime in Taupo; soaking in the hot pools at night
when the steam and ferns turn the scene into a fantasy dreamscape.
In the morning there is just enough time for me to check out some
of the galleries on the 2015 Art Trail. This is a project organised by
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TAUPO ART CONNECTION, a group of local artists ranging from
the professional to the enthusiastic hobbyist. The project has the
intention of bringing visual artists from the region together. Painters,
wood turners, sculptors and printmakers share their love of art and
socialise on a monthly basis to network and encourage each other
creatively. The Art Connection website was launched over a year ago
and the trail is one of their projects as is the planned production of
the 2016 Art Calendar that will feature work by local artists.
In all there are almost 30 galleries or studios open to the public
during Queens Birthday weekend. I only have time to visit LAVA
GLASS, home to glass artist Lyndon Over. Here wood turner Nikki
Penlington is the guest artist. At the TAUPO MUSEUM several local
artists are exposed and their work is for sale. One of the guest artists
at the Art Lounge is Allan Trembath who uses automotive paints
and airbrush to create landscapes. During the vinyl fair his work is
a bit on the back ground but the next day art lovers no longer need
to compete for space to view the expo.
I leave Taupo, fully fed on soul food with raw herbal brews, fine
music, conversation and visual arts blending in my mind. I leave
before dark with the intention to stop at Kiwi Outback Adventures
because I’ve always been curious about their glowworm tours. I’m
not that keen on their paint gun battle field but wouldn’t mind
having a go at riding one of their ATV buggies.
As always there is lack of time; I don’t get to Outback nor do
Monika and I walk the track from Spa Thermal Park to Huka Falls
and I forgo the intended detour to the Western Bay Highway to
check out the Waihora Lagoon walking track.
The French say SOIT – SO BE IT. All the more reason to wait
for finer weather and base myself at the KAKAHO CAMP SITE in
Pureora Forest Park; from there I can check out the lagoon walk
and cycle the extended trails from Kinloch or take our dog Blue
on the W2K track (Whakaipo to Kinloch) That way I have a good
excuse to test the cycle Ferry and no doubt will get to report back
to you in a future edition of RV Lifestyle. That’s all part of l’Art de
vivre – the art of living day by day.
13. Jersey Bob – Bob Dylan by night and Bike Bob by day 14. Jersey Bob at his day job
15. Back with a mind full of art at ArtDoc Gallery 16. My favourite pastime -soaking in
the hot pools - gets an extra dimension at night 17. Taupō Museum has two galleries and
was featuring and selling artworks by local artists.
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