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Here you can enjoy a relaxing getaway, without being too far from the essentials. And when it comes to immersing yourself in nature - Kinloch will always deliver.
How about grabbing your coffee to go from the Kinloch General Store, then you can wander across to the lakefront for a morning stroll. Afterwards you might enjoy a family-friendly bike ride or walk alongside the picturesque Whangamata Stream, where you may spot a spawning trout, or a troutlet (baby trout) in the trout nursery.
Perhaps the afternoon calls for a round of golf, and to finish up your day, head back to the lakefront with some delicious fish’n’chips or watch the boats return to the marina after a day out on the water.
There are also a number of fantastic off-grid/glamping accommodations located around Kinloch, so make sure you book yourself a stay in one of them, you won’t regret it.
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A brief history of Kinloch
The name ‘Kinloch’ means head of the lake, and that’s literally its location as the northernmost bay of Lake Taupō. In 1953, Sir Keith Holyoake (who was the then Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand) purchased the 5,385 acres - which was largely covered in scrub and fern - in partnership with the Gibbs family.
The plan was to establish it as a holiday destination and in 1959 the first sections were sold, with the Kinloch marina built three years later, in 1962.
Originally known as Whangamata Station, the name change came about so as to not cause confusion with the Coromandel Peninsula township of Whangamata. But there was certainly a bit of commotion when new town signs were installed in 2018 and were misspelt as ‘Kinlock’.
With a permanent population of around 800 residents, it can easily double in size with day visitors and holiday makers during the summer months.
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Things to do in Kinloch
If you find yourself spending a few days in Kinloch, make sure you bring your most comfortable shoes - you’ll probably be venturing along some of the well-known biking trails and walking tracks, as well as enjoying the close proximity to the lake (most accommodation is within easy walking distance to the water).