Attractions Guide of Lake Taupo

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About Lake Taupo
The Lake Taupo region in New Zealand's volcanic heartland is rich in Maori tradition. It also has some of the country’s finest untouched, uncrowded and unique landscapes. The lake itself was the result of the most violent volcanic eruption the world has seen in the past 5000 years - the ash affected the sunsets as far away as Europe and China.

Maori legend explains the lake a different way. When Ngatoirangi, the chief tohunga (priest) of the Arawa people, first saw the region he was dismayed to find a barren basin. Realising his people needed resources to live, he plucked a large totara tree and hurled it into the crater to seed a new forest. He aim was true, but the wind flipped the totara and it landed upside down, piercing the ground with its branches. Water gushed up through the holes, filling the basin and creating Lake Taupo.
Getting here & around
Located as it is in the centre of the North Island, Lake Taupo couldn't be easier to find. Many travellers choose to use Lake Taupo as a base for explorations of the surrounding regions. Other centres - such as Rotorua, Hawke's Bay, Tongariro National Park and Waitomo - are only a day trip away.

Getting in and out of Lake Taupo
By Car
The district's two main settlements, Taupo and Turangi, are both located on State Highway 1, which links Auckland with Wellington. Auckland is only 3 hours 30 minutes drive to the north and Wellington a leisurely 4 hours 30 minutes to the south. State Highway 5 - the Thermal Explorer Highway - is a popular visitor route that runs from Hawke's Bay (1 hour 30 minutes drive to the south-east) to Rotorua (1 hour drive to the north-east). A bonus for drivers is that all parking within Lake Taupo district is free.

By Bus
Both Taupo and Turangi are easily accessible by scheduled coach. Whether you are coming from (or going to) Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Hawke's Bay or the Bay of Plenty there will be several coach services available daily.

By Air
Lake Taupo's airport is located 8 km south of the Taupo town centre. There are several direct flights daily to Auckland and Wellington (less than an hour's flight time) with connections to the South Island. Charter services are also readily available. Taupo airport the place to find tandem skydiving and scenic flights.

By Train
One of New Zealand's most spectacular train rides travels from Auckland to Wellington, passing through the ski towns of Ohakune and National Park, where you can disembark to take a bus to Turangi and on to Taupo.

Getting around Lake Taupo
Travelling by car is a great way to explore the Lake Taupo region. If you don't want to drive, there are scheduled bus services between Taupo and Turangi and a minibus service links many of the tourist attractions around Taupo township and the Wairakei Park area.

Three must-do one day tourist drives are:
- The Western Bays Highway, which takes you through the heartland of the North Island, where traffic is light and the communities small and friendly. It's the perfect way to circle Lake Taupo visiting the Puruora Foest Park on the way.
- The Volcanic Loop, which circles Tongariro National Park from Turangi. It's one of the most scenic highways you'll ever travel with spectacular views of the volcanoes.
- The Wairakei Park Tourist Drive, which passes many of Taupo's top attractions including Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Rapids. 
Top Lake Taupo scenic highlights

Lake Taupo has scenery on the grandest scale - the mountains and lake dominate the landscape, changing their colour palate subtly as the seasons slide by.

Lake Taupo - a volcanic crater as big as Singapore
Just about everywhere you look in the Lake Taupo region, you'll see a volcano. The most serene is Lake Taupo itself, created by an eruption so big the sun went hazy in China. Hot spots still exist where warm water oozes to the surface at the lake's edge.

At 616 square kilometres, Lake Taupo is the largest fresh water lake in Australasia with water so clean a few zillion trout call it home. All year round, the lake is a focus for water activities - water-skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, fishing, cruising, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and float-plane landings. There are 47 rivers and streams feeding into Lake Taupo and just one outlet - the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river. Taupo township is located right on the edge of the lake, with many hotels offering views across to the snow-capped volcanoes of Tongariro National Park.

The thundering waters of Huka Falls
New Zealand's most visited natural attraction, Huka Falls provides a fantastic photo opportunity - more than 220,000 litres of water tumble over the cliff face every second. Located in Wairakei Park, just 5 minutes drive north of Lake Taupo or a half hour riverside walk, the waterfall can be seen from several viewing platforms.

Craters of the Moon - feel the heat
This is a walk with a difference. Named for its other-worldly atmosphere, the Craters of the Moon thermal area in Wairakei Park sprang up in the 1950s, when the nearby power station lowered underground water levels. The 30 minute walk visits bubbling craters, mud pools and steam vents. You can also see a lot of interesting plants that have adapted to thrive in the hot, steamy conditions. Enjoy this fantastic geothermal area free of charge along well-formed pathways with elevated viewing platforms.

Volcanic 'Mount Doom'
The Tongariro National Park World Heritage Area at the southern end of Lake Taupo isn't just legendary for its dramatic and eerie scenery. What makes the area especially unique is its accessibility - you can ski on an active volcano or take a one-day hike from alpine meadow to mountain summit, with stunning volcanic landscapes along the way. Thanks to a geologically turbulent past, the area provided the Lord of the Rings crew with the raw material they needed to create mystical Middle-earth, including Mordor, Emyn Muil, Mount Doom and the Plains of Gorgoroth.

Fast water entertainment at Aratiatia Rapids
Every day at 10am, noon and 2pm (in summer, 4pm is added to the list) the spillway is opened at the Aratiatia Dam. At a rate of 90,000 litres per second, water rushes down the Aratiatia Rapids. The rapids are located on the Waikato River, just 10 minutes drive from Taupo township on State Highway 5 towards Rotorua.
Seasonal Tips
Summer (Dec-Feb)
Summer in Lake Taupo means sunny days on the lake and long evenings by the barbecue, enjoying freshly grilled trout and a local Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s highest wine region.

The lakeside offers many beautiful beaches, accessed by road, water taxi or kayak. Water sports and adventure activities are all go at this time of the year. The average maximum temperature during summer is 23°C, but the high altitude means you should be prepared for cooler evenings.

Autumn (Mar-May)
Autumn, with an average temperature of 18°C, is comfortably warm and often sunny. During March and April the landscape still wears summer colours, but by May the vibrant reds of autumn are evident all around.

It’s a great time to visit – there are fewer travellers in town, but nearly all of the region’s activities are possible. Stroll the lake’s edge or follow one of the many short walks to enjoy the colours and moods of the season.

Winter (Jun-Aug)
Winter may have an average temperature of 12°C, but the activities are hot. The nearby ski fields open in July and après ski activity makes Lake Taupo a popular place for skiers to base themselves – the hot thermal pools are a marvelous way to soothe sore muscles.

Snow lies on the mountains that encircle the region but rarely falls at lake level. Cold, frosty mornings often precede clear blue skies - perfect for flight seeing or tandem skydiving.

Spring (Sep-Nov)
In spring the gardens display a kaleidoscope of colours, the lake sparkles and travellers relax at al fresco lakeside and town cafés.

Native trees are blooming. The kowhai is the first to flower – its bright yellow flowers attract native nectar feeders, such as tuis and bellbirds. There’s still a mantle of snow on Mount Ruapehu and spring is often the best time to enjoy sunny days whooshing down uncrowded slopes.
The average temperature in spring is 16°C. 
Key Tips
- Lake Taupo township is located on State Highway 1, midway between Auckland and Wellington.
- Lake Taupo's central location makes it an ideal base for exploring the attractions of the Central North Island.
- Be adventurous – Lake Taupo has the largest tandem skydiving drop zone in the world, and other thrills abound.
- Bring your walking shoes and explore geothermal areas, mountains and forests steeped in Maori folklore.
The above material are taken from Tourism New Zealand

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