Koitaki Country Club: A haven of peace!
Sunset over Koitaki
Going to Koitaki is like heading to your country house. When you go there, you're happy. You know you're going to have a great weekend, breathing fresh air and enjoying the vast open spaces.
It's true that Koitaki Country Club, founded at the beginning of the 20th century by Australians likely missing their homeland, is a peaceful haven in the midst of the mountains. The temperature there is much cooler than in Port Moresby. A gentle, constant breeze blows softly.
The first time we went there, we had only come for the day. It was January 16, 2022. We were with an Indonesian friend. When we left this little paradise at the end of the afternoon, we felt a great sense of frustration at having to head back to the city. The magic of the place had worked its charm. Next time, for sure, we’ll return for a full weekend.
On March 26 and 27, 2022, the long-awaited weekend finally arrived. We had booked a family room with a large double bed, a bunk bed, a bathroom, and a mini-fridge. Nothing else would be needed to enjoy this little getaway in the green countryside.
When we pass the guardhouse at the entrance, we dive into the heart of a vast meadow, ideally laid out with, on one side, a golf course where orange and lemon trees grow, and on the other side, a huge green expanse worthy of English lawns, with two large trees majestically extending their branches over a peaceful pond.
We now walk alongside the restaurant, a sort of clubhouse with its immense terrace, pool table, and its indispensable mahogany bar that reminds me of the pubs of old England. Finally, after a few steps, we reach the large swimming pool. After a good hour's drive from Port Moresby, on a road that is sometimes paved, sometimes muddy or bumpy, a refreshing swim is much appreciated.
Yet, what delights us upon arrival here are the sounds of nature: a silence... but a silence full of life, interrupted by the soft melodies of exotic birds, the chirping of crickets, the distant mooing of a herd of cows, not easily perceptible, and the clucking of the birds that scatter at our arrival.
On the pond we cross, a white wader takes flight. Not far away, a well-behaved horse, expertly guided by an experienced groom, moves at a steady pace, elegantly carrying its rider for the day.
The pride of the rider for the day
This is the perfect opportunity for the child, the lucky one chosen, to take a tour of the meadow from the top of their mount, further expanding their knowledge of the place. Camping tents are set up here and there, barbecue tables with stone rings around the hearth, blackened by soot, testifying to many past fires, and then up in the tree, yes, it’s a wooden cabin. But who could have built it? There is no ladder to reach it.
Tropical flowers, each more magnificent than the last, adorned with warm colors, fill the air with their fragrance, almost intoxicating us.
Here we go, the appetite is growing. Great, we're heading back to the main house. Here, you have to order in advance to be served when we’re at the table. So, a quick dip in the pool it is. This gives the cook time to prepare the much-anticipated dishes. Oh, it won't be gourmet cuisine, but who cares? The stunning view of the surrounding park is enough to delight our senses.
We’re really enjoying ourselves at Koitaki!
