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Tom Rodwell & Storehouse - Erupt Lake Taupo Festival 2012 This gospel-blues-calypso quartet boast entertaining, intense and dance-friendly shows. Having toured extensively in the UK, USA, Switzerland and Holland, they look forward to performing as a stripped down two piece on the Otunui Paddleboat in Mangakino. "Rodwell manages to eschew the cliches that beset blues music. By turns wild, angry, hypnotic and sensual, it’s as uncompromising as it is funky and some of the best live music I’ve seen." Blues in London. River Trail Shuttles Riding or hiking the new Mangakino - Whakamaru Cycleway and Walking Trail? Talk to us about our Shuttle Service. We will drop you off from the paddleboat to cycle or walk back to Mangakino at a distance that suits you. 16km, 8km or 6km all include traversing the new 70m swing bridge. About the cruise The Otunui makes regular trips on Lake Maraetai from the lakefront reserve in Mangakino. Our Lost World Cruise is proving to be quite popular. This two hour cruise heads south down Lake Maraetai towards the Whakamaru Domain passing the golf course, the Waikato River Trail boardwalk, wetlands and farmland before turning into the Mangakino Stream. Passing under the Waikato River Trail swing bridge and the Waipapa Road Bridge, the stream narrows and high cliffs rise above the boat. The sights Lake Maraetai was formed 50 years ago with the commissioning of the Maraetai Dam and today some native trees still stand in the river as ghostly reminders of a drowned landscape. We pass by native trees such as Tanekaha, Ponga, Rimu and some pine and willows while ignimbrite cliffs carved and channelled by water, wind and time, dominate the riverscape. Coots, Teal and Paradise Ducks, Cormorants, Swans and Falcons are a few of the birds we will see, along with many trout and the occasional wild boar along the river edge, curiously watching the boats passing. The experience Approximately 4kms upstream, the river narrows further, and this is our turning point and a great spot to tie up, turn off the engine and relax with a cup of tea or something colder. Using the current and the skipper’s skill, the boat is swung around midstream for the homeward journey where often a different perspective can be had by changing seats from Salon, to Fore or Stern decks for a new view of the passing scenery. A commentary will point out features as we pass by and give a history of the lake, stream and local community. Any questions on the boat or the points along the way can be answered by the skipper or crew. Mangakino attracts holiday-makers who come for its picturesque lake, trout fishing, water sports and river trails. The town’s attraction is its quintessential kiwi lifestyle. |
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| about us | history | about mangakino | media | feedback | contact us |