2025 Feast of Tabernacles: Taupo, New Zealand

The Feast of Tabernacles this year was both a spiritual highlight, and allowed the brethren from all over New Zealand to keep the Feast with brethren from other countries. Sharing fellowship and family activities, 91 people joined together for this family-themed Feast. Taupo is in the beautiful central region of the North Island of New Zealand. Services were held at the Lake Taupo Yacht Club with views overlooking the beautiful lake. Taupo is a bustling lake town right in the heart of the North Island—the main tourist town on the island. Lake Taupo was formed from a volcano and is the largest lake in the southern hemisphere.

Highlights of the Feast this year included messages that got everyone focused on and excited about the meaning of the Feast and the future ahead of us. On the Eighth Day, a group lunch was enjoyed between services, as well as the spiritual food provided by God. Feastgoers enjoyed activities together throughout the week such as game night and Bible Jeopardy. Family day consisted of a trip to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland which is considered to be New Zealand’s most colorful and diverse geothermal sightseeing attraction. Youth day consisted of a trip to the local trout hatchery where all the youth were not only able to catch trout in a special pond, but were also able to tour the hatchery facilities. They then were off to aMazeme which is a beautiful hedge maze to explore. Along with the maze, there were other family fun games for everyone. 

As we observed and worshipped on these Holy Days, we reflected on and remembered what they mean for the world as we enjoyed this foretaste of the beautiful future that will shortly come to pass.