Taupo is a town of twenty-two thousand people on the shores of Lake Taupo, in the central North Island.
The lake is famous for its trout fishing. The adjacent Tongariro River is the main spawning ground. The lake and its rivers – Tongariro and Waikato – are also playgrounds for jet-boating and kayaking. The Maori carvings at Mine Bay are most easily accessed by boat.
Taupo is part of a large geothermal area, with the volcanic Mount Tauhara just east of the town. There are many hot pools of natural mineral water to enjoy a soak in – perhaps after doing the Craters of the Moon Geothermal Walk. Or you can take in the geysers and mud pools at Orakei Korako, then view the silica terraces and go caving.
At Taupo Museum you’ll find Pure Ora Garden, which won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show before being transplanted to Taupo.
For something different, Taupo hosts a jousting tournament every January.
