April 6, 2025
New Zealand’s biggest lake, Taupo, is in the center of New Zealand’s North Island. We thought it would make an ideal midway spot to meet up for a weekend with good friends, Marcus and Vasu, who live in Wellington. We had a great couple of days hanging with them and their dog, Piku. We spent a beautiful day at Kinloch, which sits on the edge of the lake. We started out doing a walk along the Whangamata stream. It was very beautiful and extra interesting because it turns out that the stream is an ideal spot for Brown and Rainbow trout to spawn. Although they are well camouflaged, we were able to spot a few gently swimming against the current and staying in one spot at the edge of the narrow stream making shallow depressions in the gravel to lay and fertilize their eggs. Here are some photos from the walk.
If you look carefully you may be able to make out the well hidden trout in these photos.
We came across this grove full of whimsical bird houses.
Afterwards we headed down to the nearby beach for a swim.
Mal and Lauren 