Christmas in New Zealand was one of the best days of my life because not only it was my first Christmas celebration in New Zealand, I actually celebrated it with my fiancé too. Yes, I am engaged and wedding bells are ringing, peeps! 😀
On Christmas Eve, to my surprise my partner asked for my hand in marriage – and I said yes! And what better way to celebrate the joyous occasion than by taking off to Taupo for a quick Christmas getaway and spend some quality time together at The White House in Kinloch, Taupo.
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The White House in Kinloch, Taupo
The White House I am talking about is not to be confused with the one in Washington DC where the president of the United States of America lives, however, it does share some resemblance. The White House my partner and I spent the night in got its name from its appearance. The simple yet sophisticated black and white colour scheme used throughout the house with the occasional splash of bold colour here and there prompted its owners to name it The White House.
The White House is basically a beautiful single-storey, 3-bedroom bungalow house owned by the dynamic husband and wife duo, Mark & Kerryn. The property is located not too far from the edge of Lake Taupo in the quiet and serene suburban area of Kinloch (about a 15-min drive from Taupo town).
What I love about this property is its location; it is located far enough from the hustle bustle of the city, but close enough to several eateries nearby should we wish to go out and grab a bite. My now fiancé and I wanted to spend our time together surrounded by nature and The White House fits the description perfectly.
Clean, Comfortable & Stylish Private Room
I found the eye-catching private room of The White House on Airbnb and booked a night’s stay for NZD 153 a night (inclusive of a cleaning and service fee plus tax). The check-in process was pretty straightforward and quick. We received directions to the house once our booking was confirmed.
On the day of our arrival, Mark and Kerryn (who is expecting her first baby) and their friendly dogs (Shelby, Zoe and Lily) were at home to welcome us to their abode and made our stay warm and pleasant. They showed us to our room and around the property after a quick get-to-know each other session.
Our private room has its own entrance to the room where we were free to come and go as we please. It also has en-suite bathroom/toilet with hot/cold shower. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable. The facilities in the room include a TV, coffee machine, bar fridge, and air-conditioning/heating unit. Towels and linen were provided.
A Beautiful Sunset & Crystal-Clear Waters of Whangamata Bay, Lake Taupo
The best part about our private room was its view where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a sky full of stars. Thanks to its semi-rural setting, we enjoyed a peaceful and quiet Christmas celebration at The White House in Kinloch, Taupo.
In the morning, Mark and Kerryn surprised us with their generosity by offering us a light breakfast consisting of toast with peanut butter, jam and butter, fresh milk and fruit juice. 🙂 We engaged in another hour’s worth of meaningful conversation with the couple before bidding each other good bye.
Before we drove down to Taupo town, we dropped by Kinloch village and Whangamata Bay which was about 5 minutes away from The White House. There, we soaked in the picturesque scenery before us and marvelled at the crystal-clear waters of Lake Taupo. Nearby, several speedboats and yachts docked at Kinloch Marina.
In a Nutshell
Thanks to the hospitality of Mark and Kerryn, my fiancé and I had a comfortable stay and a relaxing Christmas celebration at The White House in Kinloch, Taupo. It was really nice to get away from the city and explore the surrounding areas of Lake Taupo.
Up next: A visit to the Great Lake Taupo Lookout