Lake Taupo

Base yourself on the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake in the centre of a region offering a myriad of outdoor activities in an unforgettable landscape.

An impressive lake is the lynchpin of a varied landscape offering all manner of activities and sights that will fix themselves in your memory: 220,000 litres of water per second pouring over the Huka Falls or early morning sunshine sparkling on Lake Taupo against a backdrop of volcanic mountains. The bustling resort town of Taupo is an ideal base for exploring; restaurants and accommodation options abound, there are numerous art and craft galleries and hot thermal pools for relaxing. The small town of Turangi, on the southern shores of Lake Taupo, is the hub of trout fishing in the region. Fishing lodges abound, and the local streams are usually dotted with anglers standing thigh-deep in the water! The drive around the eastern shore of the lake, from Taupo to Turangi, is a great scenic drive offering stunning views.

DO IT. Ride a high-speed jet boat to the base of Huka Falls, fish for trophy-sized trout in Lake Taupo, soak in geothermal hot pools at Taupo,  Tokaanu Skydive above stunning scenery, go flight-seeing over Mt Ruapehu, catch the Ironman NZ competition in March.

Destinations

Taupo Sparkling year-round resort town, the centre of the region.
Turangi Trout-fishing capital of the central North Island.

Getting there and around

Air Taupo Airport, 10 minutes from town, offers domestic flights to and from Auckland and Wellington. International flights are not available. The nearest international airport is in Auckland.
Road Taupo is located in the central North Island, midway between Auckland and Wellington. It is 4 hours by road from Auckland and 5 hours from Wellington. Scheduled coach services and shuttle services operate between central Taupo, Mt Ruapehu and popular visitor activities.

Insider's tip

Drive the Volcanic Loop Highway around Lake Taupo for a memorable road trip in stunning scenery.