Taupo - North Island, New Zealand

Taupo, 80 kms south of Rotorua is located on the northern shores of Lake Taupo, Aotearoa's largest lake. It is an extremely popular destination among locals and tourists and is referred to as the skydiving capital of New Zealand.

Just 30 kms southwest of Taupo sit the impressive snow capped volcanoes of the Tongariro National Park. It is in Taupo that the Waikato River begins its journey to the Tasman Sea. Taupo is blessed with both lake and river frontages and lined with parks making it a very attractive place to explore.

Taupo provides unlimited fun activities for entire families and locals have utilised it to the hilt over the years. Swimming and fishing are both popular lakeside activities and there are numerous holiday homes on the lakeshore.

There are lots of things to do especially around the geothermal land of Wairakei Park, to the north of Taupo. Anglers from all over the world make a beeline for Taupo's famous trout fishing spots, extending south to Turangi and along the Tongariro River. Fishing is a year round activity.

Lake Taupo is a 616 square km 185 metre deep geological wonder formed by a single eruption of the Taupo Volcano 1800 years ago. The Taupo volcano is a site of inspection for geologists and vulcanologists who still study the now dormant volcano and analyse the lake as a spirit level formation.

Should there be any tilt in the lake position, then it could indicate a build up below the surface that could trigger another eruption.

Taupo Town

Taupo is a tourist paradise and is home to several breathtaking displays of nature and adrenaline pumping adventure activities. It is also the world's largest trout fishing destination. Lake Taupo is the centrepiece of town and provides all the thrills and frills.

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Turangi

Turangi is located 50 kms to the south of Taupo. It is a small town that provides a lot of trout fishing activities and is popular with anglers who flock in from all over the world.

Turangi - More Information

Taupo and Surrounds

Around Taupo, in fact directly north of Taupo, there are a fantastic collection of natural wonders within minutes of each other. You can see boiling mud, hissing steam and the pristine blue waters of the Waikato River creating churning rapids.

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Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's first major public reserve after it was gifted in 1887 by the Tuwharetoa chief, Te Heu Heu Tukino IV at a time when the European settlers were on a land grabbing spree.

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Taupo Transportation

Interstate buses from Rotorua, Tauranga, Auckland, Napier, Hamilton, Wellington and Palmerston North come into Taupo and halt at the Taupo Travel Centre bus station on Gascoigne St.

The Visitor Centre is on Tongariro St in the heart of the town. Taupo has an airport 10 kms south of the town centre with Air New Zealand flights landing here. The town is best explored on foot or in a taxi.

There is a local Hot Bus that takes visitors to local attractions with costs based on the number of places traveled to. Alternatively you can buy an all-day travel pass. There are guided bus tours visiting most of the popular spots or another way to get around is by renting a bike or a scooter.

Taupo Accommodation

Taupo Activities