I still remember my first visit to Lake Taupo. I was fourteen years old, with a group of swimmers, on our way to a national swim meet. It was a long trip by car and the team managers decided we’d stop for a lunch and a quick training swim in the lake. It was cold, refreshing and memorable.

Memorable is a good word for Taupo, both the lake and the small tourist township. Situated in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, midway between Auckland and Wellington, it is the perfect stop over for travellers. There is much to offer locals, those passing through and those choosing to stop a while. An estimated 1.2 million visitors go to this tourist resort each year, the busiest time being in summer over the Christmas – New Year period.

Lake Taupo

Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand, with a surface area 616 sq. km and a perimeter of approximately 190 km. Back dropped by the central plateau mountains to the south, the calmness and beauty of the lake is deceiving. It was formed by a volcanic eruption over 26,500 years ago and has erupted at least 28 times in the last 27,000 years. The township of Taupo is nestled on the north eastern corner of the lake, on State Highway 1.

Tourism

Tourism is the main contributor to the economy in the Taupo region. Famous for its trout fishing, anglers come from all New Zealand and the world to fish for rainbow and brown trout. There are many smaller fishing communities and holiday spots around the lake.

Outdoor adventure and sporting events attract many visitors to Taupo each year. There are two significant annual events in and around the lake.  One is the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, with cyclists of all ages abilities attempting the 160 km race, usually completing the distance in between four and ten hours. The other is the Taupo Ironman event. This February event consists of a 3.8 km swim in the lake where the temperature is around 19C, a 180km road cycle and a 42km run.

Other sporting activities include fishing, swimming, bush walking, sky diving, jet boating, sailing and golfing. The Wairakei International Golf Course is not far from town and is world renowned.

Being part of the volcanic region, many motels and hotels provide hot thermal pools for their guests and there are also public pools in which to soak and relax. No tourist centre would be complete without its shops, cafes and night life. There is a wonderful range of local and New Zealand art and craft available within the town and boutique outlets scattered nearby. Local food industries are well represented, such as a tourist centre honey hive and shop and a nearby prawn farm.

The list of activities and attractions in Taupo is too long to do justice to here. There is something for everyone in this central North Island location, making it an ideal holiday place at all times of the year.

Fascinating Facts About New Zealand