A friendly, small town vibe

Lakeside may be brand-new, but it is close to well-established Te Kauwhata, a town in the Waikato District with a population of around 2,000 people. Te Kauwhata’s Main Road has the charm of a rural village where you will find a supermarket, pharmacy, vet, and a host of other shops and services. Locals stop in at the village for a coffee and a bite to eat, or a glass of wine at the tavern. There’s also a bakery for treats-on-the-go.

Clubs and community groups include the Waikare Golf Club, Te Kauwhata Rugby Club, and Bowling Club.

As well as its fabulous modern library, Te Kauwhata has several early childhood learning centres, an excellent primary school, Te Kauwhata Primary, as well as Te Kura o Rangiriri (full primary school) and Te Kauwhata College.

Te Kauwhata is one of the first places in NZ to grow grapes for wine and is the home of several vineyards, including Invivo.