As spring lengthens and warms our days, then end of year approaches and summer holidays near, we celebrate sensational new operators and offerings that have sprung up around Taupō.
French Chef Marie Legoux worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in France before opening her deli in the Suncourt plaza complex. Her shop celebrates premium New Zealand products alongside an assortment of her French favourites, including cheese from her home town. Marie makes the pastries, pates, tarts, crepes, filled baguettes, ready-to-heat meals and plenty more. She is also stocking handmade chef’s knives, created by Taupō craftsman Lee Perry, from Inner Wild.
The sky’s not really the limit for dynamic siblings Thomas and Alice Orr. He’s a heli pilot who helped create the unique Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures heli-biking. She’s a qualified jet boat driver and marriage celebrant. Their new family-owned company is already offering premium heli tours and experiences but December will see them add their own fixed wing luxury charter flights to the mix. They have also teamed up with chief pilot Eddy Jackson to launch services for visiting private jets, including a VIP lounge.
The husband-wife team behind Turangi’s respected Hare and Copper restaurant are launching a second eatery. Andrew Wood and Liliana Calva are in the throes of kitchen renovations at what was Creel Café, which will reopen with a new name and new culinary offerings in mid-November. Fishing fans can rest assured the iconic, historic Taupahi Road tackle shop remains untouched, and the Anglers’ Table Café & Tackle at Creel will continue to offer expert fishing gear and local advice alongside a cafe serving coffee, brunch, lunch and treats.
Ex Ironman competitor Scott Forsythe has opened a new downtown tasting room and retail space for his award-winning distillery. Tasting tours will operate from the cellar door at 16B Oruanui St, which is the best spot to try and buy the full range of gins and vodkas that have collectively gathered 22 medals in the last five years. Scott also has a new honey vodka that’s in development and will be released later this year.
August was a good month for Lakeman, which collected four gold medals, five silvers and six bronzes at the NZ Beer Awards. The brewery fared particularly well in the IPA class, where it took three of the nine gold medals awarded. Soon after, the Lakeman’s Primate Pilsner was named among the New World Top 25 Beers & Ciders for the third year running. And look out for the innovative brew crew’s latest offering; their Dubai chocolate stout is a liquid take on an internationally-popular pistachio chocolate bar.
A multimillion dollar renovation project is well underway at this handsome resort-style hotel, off Napier Road. Almost half of the hotel’s 113 rooms and suites had been refurbished by late September, with the remainder tagged for completion in September 2026. The refreshed and repainted rooms now have more contemporary décor, including leather headboards and new furniture.
This artisan butchery has not yet celebrated its first birthday, yet owner Huw Taylor and his all-female butchery crew continue to innovate. They are turning out made-from-scratch European-style sausages, natural dry-cured bacon and all kinds of specialty meat cuts. In September, Heritage Meat launched a range of ready-to-eat meals that utilise their products, made by a local chef. Think handmade pasta in the lasagne and a 12-hour braised beef cheek dish with red wine, herbs and kumara mash. Their locally-made tallow skincare range flies out the door, and they also sell Taupō-made scented tallow candles.
Astronomy educator John Rowe is offering personalised back yard stargazing experiences to families and small groups. His engaging, educational one-our night sky sessions include storytelling, constellation viewing, celestial navigation and the opportunity to use a telescope. He brings all the necessary gear to private venues or holiday accommodation, and aims to share “the mind-blowing scientific realities of our vast universe.” https://www.beyondearth.co.nz/
A stellar renovation has helped transform Suncourt Hotel’s restaurant to a dining destination for locals and travellers as well as in-house guests. Expect great food with Italian leanings and top service, often with European accents. The development was led by hotel general manager Chrissy Simmen, alongside hotel owner, celebrated helicopter rescue pioneer and Taupō mayor John Funnell.
Four new lakefront units have sprung up right next to the Great Lake Walkway, a short stroll from downtown Taupō. Each unit boasts unimpeded water views and direct lake access, as well as a hot tub, kitchen and king beds. Soak up a deckside sunset, or duck down to the lake to kayak or swim amidst steam at the nearby hot water beach.
Two chef friends have traded their food truck for a permanent spot at the recently-launched southern US-inspired eatery on Spa Road. Or more accurately, they’ve moved their food truck indoors – it’s part of the décor inside this small-scale franchise that specialises in carnivore-pleasing smoked meat trays and burgers but also does tacos, waffles, southern fried chicken and plenty of desserts and side dishes. Look out for live gigs and summer drinks in the garden bar.
