...and so I arrive

Tokoroa is surrounded by forest and within these forests are numerous reserves, catering for a day with the family out in the wild.
One such reserve is Tiki Tiki, East of Tokoroa, on Panda Road.

As scouts we used the reserve often for our activities. The drive takes you out through Pines and then past Redwoods. The forestry roads are gravel but well maintained. The drive should take you about 30mins from the time you leave town.
I recall the day a few of us decided to walk back to town. We hid each time we heard our leader's car coming along the road in search of us. We weren't the most popular boys when we finally came out of the forest into farmland and were bundled into the car for the remaining 5 mins of the journey.

You must have a permit to enter the privately owned forests. The office to obtain a permit is in town and they should be able to provide you with a good map to the Tiki Tiki reserve after completing the paperwork for the free permit.

Tiki Tiki used to be a train station for the forest rail system. I have spent many many nights in the old hut there but the last time was back in 1989ish and the fireplace was a little too vandalised and the roof a little too neglected. I imagine there's not much (if anything) left of that hut now.

The company did clear the area, grass it, and build a BBQ shelter and a toilet block in the late 80s though so there is still something to enjoy out there if you're looking for a picnic spot in the bush.

If you're looking for a good place to eat in Tokoroa then you won't want to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a meal at Alberico's Italian Restaurant.

I'm sure if you asked any of the town's folk you'd get the same recommendation. Alberico's is a Tokoroa institution that has been serving up great Italian fare for 30+ years.

The establishment is named after the Italian character that owns the place. He is as well known for his food as he is for his sociable nature and his enthusiastic singing towards the end of the night when the rush of cooking orders is replaced by the trickle of a fine red wine!

If you're a fan of Italian food then you'll find everything here to your liking. A good selection of tasty pastas and exciting pizzas are the obvious mainstays but there is a fabulous collection of main dishes to choose from whether cooked Italian style or a tried and true kiwi beef steak.

Entrees are available including the usual olive or garlic breads and meals generally come with a table serving of vegetables everyone can enjoy.

A limited selection of wines to be enjoyed with your meal are available in either red or white and the bar is stocked with the usual non-alcoholic beverages should you be worried you may break into song with Alberico at the end of the night.

The meals, together with the vegetables, should be enough to satisfy you but I always find I am enticed by the delicious deserts on offer and struggle with the decision of which to choose, when I have to make it. A special coffee always rounds off the meal for me.

If you're thinking you may need all evening to enjoy what I've just described there's not normally problem with that. The ambiance of the place is very comfortable and there is no need to rush away straight after a meal (unless perhaps you're due to go to the cinema next door for the late showing).

The deco is an understated mix of Italian and Tokoroa with a mural covering the front part of the restaurant featuring faces of many well known South Waikato people (all friends of Alberico of course) including his wife who will likely be behind the bar or the cash register if she's not serving you at the table.

Alberico's doesn't have electronic payments so you will need to have a pocketful of cash or be prepared to have a credit card zip zapped.

The cost of the meals are quite reasonable although you have to buy the parts that make up the main, i.e. meat and veg, so the price goes up with that. Mains are about $18-$30 depending on what you order.
Wine is a few dollars more than you would pay in the store and unfortunately Alberico's is not BYO so if you want to tipple you have to pay but don't be put off by this, I'm sure at the end of the night you'll see this night as one the good ones in Tokoroa.

The restaurant generally opens at 6pm with Mondays being a night off for the family so it's closed.

It's unlikely you'll need to book to get a table but as this is the pick of the area's places to dine out it might be wise in case others have the same idea.

Meals are also available to take away if you telephone in your order but you'll have to collect it from the restaurant yourself.

If you have time to stop in Tokoroa you should first stop atop Colson's Hill where the local service clubs have created a nice lookout with informative signs and ample parking.

You will see laid before you the lovely green township of Tokoroa which stretches off to the West.

On a clear day you can see several mountains on the horizon including Mt Ruapehu (snow-capped in winter) and Mt Titiraupenga (which is tantalizingly shaped like a woman's titty which helps you remember it's Maori name).

Behind you on the hill are two water towers serving crystal clear spring water to the town. The towers are painted with large murals.

The lookout always seems to be busy but the local council have recently taken to locking a gate at the bottom of the hill at night. They say it's due to unwanted vandalism but I suspect it's to thwart the local youths getting "too busy" in the back of their cars when overcome by the romance of the Tokoroa lights.

Take care going back down the hill, it's steeper than you recall heading up and the tree at the bottom bares the tell-tale signs of too many unwary motorists.