It's the biggest fresh water lake in Australasia at 616 square kilometres and it's clear, fresh and full of trout! Lake Taupo, in the centre of New Zealand's North Island is a fisherman's dream come true. It's home to the brown and rainbow varieties of trout and the angling, fly fishing and just about any other type of fishing is world class. It draws fisherman from Europe and North America to fly half way around the world. To protect the stock levels, you can't buy trout in the supermarkets or restaurants so the only way you can taste the delicacy is to catch one yourself.
There is more to Lake Taupo than just fishing though. It is home to the fearsome Huka Falls. The lake is one of the feeders to this awesome display of power. 200,000 litres of water per second get pushed through the narrow gap. There are many a gasp of admiration and astonishment.
One of the most exciting ways to see them and experience the mighty roar of the water is by jet boat. It's an exhilarating ride out to the falls going past cliffs and trees at around 80 kilometre's a hour and holding on tight as the boat performs it's trademark 360 degree spin.
If all you want is to relax and see more of the lake then you can travel by steamboat, motor launch or old yacht. On the way past, check out the Maori rock carvings and you'll hear the history of the lake's geothermal origins. It lies on a caldera formed by a super volcanic eruption. Over thousands of years, volcanic action has created a landscape of simmering craters, boiling mud pools, fumaroles and steam vents. See these at the Wairakei Geothermal Valley near by.
Taupo
