We understand they wanted to avoid a lot of publicity from a grand opening, so I promised to tell only one person at a time. Keep it to yourself. OK?

After over 100 years practice, the NEW Anglers’ Table cafe and tackle shop has now reopened on 187 Taupahi Road, in front of Creel Lodge. It is easy to spot by all the cars parked along the road.

The photos cannot do it justice. Andrew & Lili from Hare & Copper are the experienced new operators with the staff from H&C, plus another jovial bloke anchored in the tackle shop for the last decade, known to all as Steve.

The cafe has been redesigned and extended to cope with the demand. Already it has established a reputation for the best coffee in NZ. It will quickly become another local legend.

Congratulations to Andrew & Lili for their visionary expansion. It is wonderful as it was desperately missed by TRM inmates.

The historic tackle shop has operated on Taupahi Road for over 100 years. It has so many stories to tell (all true!) and has to be the most famous trout tackle shop in NZ.

The address is mentioned at 187 Taupahi Road as it used to be sited further south but migrated on the back of a truck many years ago when other famous local fishing guides, Frank & Carol Harwood operated it with the other Frank Schlosser.

It tries to hide amongst the majestic Redwoods where the council will never find it, but has been a legend amongst fly fishos returning from the Tongariro River, since it was originally established as Joe Frost’s Tackle Shop in the 1920s.

For all TRM inmates it will soon become a compulsory morning coffee visit. Some past history is illustrated in the old photos below.

(Perceptive viewers might notice that Steve is still wearing Joe Frost’s traditional fly fishing shirt one hundred years later – further proof that time stands still in Turangi.)

The previous county council are still seeking the identity of their building inspector who approved the shifting specifications when the building was cut in half… I think they were consulted afterwards.

Good practical thinking applied in those days of yore, with the Turangi version of fast-track planning approval.