Taupo is set on an aquamarine lake framed by the snow-capped peaks of Tongariro National Park. Relax with lakeside strolls and leisurely lunches or turn up the heat with thermal hot springs, scenic cycling tours and adrenalin-fuelled activities.

Things to do

Feeling adventurous? Taupo is one of New Zealand's adventure sport capitals and offers a host of high-octane activities. Get your heart racing with tandem skydiving, white-water rafting, jet boating or bungee jumping. Special occasions may call for helicopter charters and floatplane flights.

Indulge at Wairakei Terraces & Thermal Health Spa, where mineral-rich waters cascade over terraced pools surrounded by lush ferns and gardens. The geothermal water is known for its healing and restorative properties.

From the Huka Falls Lookout you can gaze down at the Waikato, New Zealand's longest river, which thunders 11 metres down a rocky chasm and into a crystal-clear pool. Nearby is the stunning Orakei Korako, a thermal area brimming with steaming geysers, rainbow-hued pools and crystalline terraces.

Discover New Zealand's rich Maori heritage at the Taupo Museum. It's anchored by a traditional meeting house, also known as a Te Aroha o Rongoheikume, which is carved from local wood. Boat cruises are the only way to access the Maori Rock Carvings, which were etched into lakeside cliffs in the 1970s.

Getting around

Taupo is best explored on foot or with a rental bike, while local buses run to popular destinations like Huka Falls and Wairakei. Flights arrive at Taupo Airport, eight kilometres away.