Intrepid Town: Taupo
An adventurer's playground
Taupo is located in the centre of New Zealand's North Island, and is a central hub for adventure and relaxing. The charming tourist town of Taupo is situated on the edge of Australasia's biggest lake, and at the start of the mighty Waikato (New Zealand's longest river). As big as Singapore, Lake Taupo is the source of many activities like kayaking, float planes, water skiing, fishing and jet boat rides.
The great lake feeds the Waikato River, and it starts with a roar in the form of Huka Falls which is just minutes north of Taupo off the main highway. As over 200,000 litres per second surges over New Zealand's largest volume water fall, you will feel and hear the immense power of the falls as you approach this natural marvel. The Waikato River is on average 100 metres wide, but the Huka falls narrows the flow to a mere 20 metres across and adds a 20 metre drop.
Get the adrenaline pumping!
For the thrill seekers looking for an exciting time, you can Sky dive, bungy jump, go jet boating, mountain biking, or quad biking. Adventure tourism is a huge business in New Zealand, and Taupo is no exception. Similar to Rotorua Taupo has its own thermal hotspots in the area, and there is also the popular thermal wonderland of Orakei Korako, with geysers, hot springs, mud pools and the 'Silica Terraces' which are noted as being the largest of their kind since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces on the edge of Lake Rotomahana beneath Mount Tarawera near Rotorua. At the end of a day no matter where you've been, relaxing in a hot pool is a great way to wind down.
Visit New Zealand's largest ski-field only an hour away
Taupo is an hour away from New Zealand's largest ski field, Whakapapa. In 1913 William Perrett Mead and Bernard Drake set about learning to ski on Ruapehu on a pair of skis they'd bought from Switzerland, and they discovered the northern slopes of Whakapapa to be the best place for a ski field.
Since then Whakapapa has seen the construction of many lifts, despite the unusually harsh conditions of wind and ice that Ruapehu suffers. You can also travel a bit further to ski or snowboard on Turoa ski field on Ruapehu's south western face, near Ohakune. Both ski fields see thousands of vistors per day over the winter months, and in 2007 Turoa opened a new lift, faster and higher than any previous lift on the mountain.
Ruapehu is also famous for being an active volcano, eruptions such as the last one in 1996, are a spectacular sight. Constant monitoring of what's happening inside the mountain provides relative safety for seasoned skiers and boarders. 2007 saw the crater lake of Ruapehu overflow with a Lahar, and the remains can be seen down the south side of the mountain.
Own your own bike? Why not hit the trails in Taupo!
Taupo is a great place to get the mountain bike out and hit the trails in Wairakei Forest Park, also fondly known as Craters of the Moon. This extensive network of tracks is maintained by the local cycle advocacy group, Bike Taupo. Taupo Mountain Bike Club, normally host weekly social rides on Thursday evenings between April-October. They welcome all non-members to these rides. You will require a good level of skill and fitness, good halogen night lights and an effective tail-light. Within these requirements, various levels of ability are catered for by dividing groups as appropriate. If this sounds like a bit of you then subscribe to the mailing list on the mountain bike club website. All you need is a bike, a helmet and plenty of enthusiasm to enjoy these rides. Visit biketaupo.org.nz and click through to Taupo Mountain Bike Club for more information.
Keen to go biking but don't own a bike? Not to worry, Rapid Sensations have a Freedom Hire service available starting at $30 for two hours or up to $55 for a full day. Check out
rapids.co.nz for more info
Walk the summit of Mt Doom
To depart the boundaries of the town and discover some world class tramping spots, you can bus or shuttle to New Zealand's oldest national park: Tongariro. The park hosts the famous Tongariro Crossing, which is a six to eight hour moderate walk with a steep patch, 'The Devils Staircase,' but with incredible panoramic views you can sometimes see the width of the country, from east to west. The crossing leads you next to the cone shaped Mt Ngauruhoe (also known as Mt Doom to Lord of the Rings fans). Up to 100,000 people traverse the beautiful track per year, and it's also a fantastic if not more beautiful sight to behold in winter if the conditions are right. The national park is jam packed with many other short walks that cross tussock country, pass thermal lakes and streams, and if your game you can summit the North Islands highest mountains. No matter the weather conditions when you start a track in the Tongariro National Park, be aware that weather on the plateau can change rapidly to become cold, windy and whiteout in high exposed places.
The Tongariro Crossing is beautiful yet can be deadly. Every year unprepared trampers fall victim to the rapidly changing conditions on the mountains. Don't be a victim, be prepared, pack warm clothes even if you don't think you'll need them and always always check the weather forecast.
A fly fisher's heaven...
Taupo is a perfect destination to put your feet up for the weekend as you can leisurely stroll along the shores of the mountain fed lake, take a scenic boat cruise, go for a walk through some native bush, play a round of golf, or catch a trout or two. Taupo has world renowned trout fishing, with hundreds of shallow streams that flow into the colossal lake. There is an assortment of trips you can book that will take you via 4WD, or even helicopter to some back country fly fishing spots to spend the day or weekend. For the more daring, exploring the wilderness by yourself to find your own unspoilt spot may be your preferred cup of tea. Fishing from a boat on the lake is also an option, as you can book a charter boat that will take you to all the finest spots. Picture yourself reeling in a big brown or rainbow trout on the banks of Taupo with the back drop of Mt Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu in the distance.
