TAUPO

Recommended
Local Attractions

AC Baths and Events Centre
Off Spa Rd. Pools, hydro slides, climbing wall, café. Open daily.

Craters of the Moon
6kms north of Taupo, boiling mud and steam. Adults $6, child (5 - 12 years) $2.50.

Flightseeing and Charter
Fixed wing, helicopter, float plane, glider, flights to any -where.

Huka Falls River Cruise
The best way to view and photograph Huka Falls.

Huka Falls Jet
Jet boating to the spectacular Huka Falls. Departs every half hour.

Huka Falls Winery
Huka Falls Rd. Wine tastings available to private groups. Bookings essential.

Huka Prawn Park
Wairakei Park. Shawn’s walk, hatchery tour, prawn fishing. Bar and grill also open daily.

Kitenui Deer Farm
Groups by appointment only. NZ’s largest collection of stags’ antlers.

Taupo Museum
Story Place. “Ora Garden of Wellbeing”. Art galleries, displays, exhibitions. Open 10am - 4.30pm daily. Adults $5.

Lava Glass
Taupo - Rotorua Rd. Glass blowing demonstrations, art glass gallery. Open daily from 10am summer (closed Mon/Tues during winter).

Lilliput Farm
Link Rd. Animals, birds, picnic and play area. Open daily.

Maori Concerts
(Wairakei Terraces)
Check with the Taupo and Turangi Visitor Centres.

Maori Rock Carvings
Mine Bay, viewable only by boat. Carvings tell of Tuwharetoa tribe’s arrival in the area. Cruises 10.30am, 2pm (also 5pm summer).

Motorbikes
Four wheel adventure bikes.

Motutaiko Island
Only significant island in Lake Taupo, once a fortified pa of Ngati Tuwharetoa; ancient urepa (burial ground) and burial cave registered with the Historic Places Trust.

Orakei Korako Geyserland and Caves
Thermal activity. Open daily.

Paintball
Adventure games.

Puzzle World
Giant maze, golf simulator, model railway, café and puzzle shop. Open 10am - 5pm, 7 days. Cnr SH 5 (Rotorua Rd) and Palmer Mill Rd.

Rapids Jet
Jet boating the Waikato River below the Aratiatia Dam.

Rock ’n’ Ropes
At Wairakei Park by Honey Hive. High and low ropes course, adventurous, challenging.

Scenic Tours
Tours of local attractions, plus day tours to Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Tongariro National Park and other top spots.

Tandem Skydiving
Freefall at 200kph attached to a qualified tandem instructor.

Taupo Adventure Park
Four wheel bikes, mini golf,
laser tag, animal park, café and labyrinth of masters maze. Taupo - Rotorua Highway 16kms from Taupo.

Taupo Bungy and Cliff Hanger
Spa Rd. Bookings advisable.

Taupo Hot Springs Spa
Taupo - Napier Highway. Waterslide, warm water interactive playground, therapeutic massage. Open daily.

The Creative Cafè
Heuheu St. Paint your own ceramics. Studio, art gallery, beadshop and cafè. Open Tues to Sun from 10am.

Volcanic Activity Centre
At Wairakei. Audio visuals and displays showing the North Island’s volcanic and geothermal features. Open 9am - 5pm week days, 10am - 4pm weekends.

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
Open daily.

Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley
Open 7 days.

Wairakei Terraces
View blue alum pools, man made geyser and terraces, red mud pools, carvings and animal park. Evening cultural performances. Open daily from 9am.

Free Local & District Attractions

Acacia Bay
Turn left just past the bridge on the road to Rotorua.

Aratiatia d Dam
Turn right off SH 5 (Rotorua Rd) north of Wairakei. The floodgates are opened 10am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm daily Oct 1 - Mar 31; 10am, 12 noon, 2pm daily Apr 1 - Sept 30.

Botanical Gardens
At the top of Shepherd Rd. Open daily until dusk.

Honey Hive NZ
Open daily 9am to 5pm. Wairakei Park 6kms north of Taupo. Fun and souvenirs for all the family. Abuzz with activity! Also NZ Fruit Wines.

Huka Falls
5kms north of Taupo, off SH 1. Spectacular views.

Lookout Points
Cnr SH 1 and Huka Falls Rd 1km north of town. Unparalleled views of Taupo, the lake and mountains. Lakefront, south end of Tongariro St through the Reid carvings. Views across the lake to the mountains.

Native Plant Nursery and Wholesale Garden Centre
Centennial Dr, open 8.30am - 4.45pm daily.

Te Tiki Au Tamamutu
At the Spa Hotel (off Spa Rd). A beautifully carved, historic Maori meeting house.

Wairakei Park
Jet boating, horse trekking, thermal activity, honey village and more. Open 7 days.

Lake & River Recreation

Boating
Hire boats, tours, charters.

Charter or Hire
Float plane, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, catamarans, mini keelers, windsurfers,
yachts.

Kayaking
Guided trips on the Waikato River or Lake Taupo to the rock carvings.

River Rafting
White water rafting on the Tongariro, Rangitaiki and Wairoa Rivers.

Trout Fishing
Fly fishing, harling, trolling. Tackle, guides, instruction, charter boats available. Kayaking, guided lake and river options. Bookings at the boat harbour or visitor centre.

Waterskiing
Equipment, charter boats.

Land & Forest Recreation

Adventure Playground
Spa Thermal Park, Spa Rd.

Barbecues
4 Mile Bay and near Lake Aratiatia. Electric barbecues at 2 Mile Bay and on the lakefront.

Bike Hire
Mountain bikes. See Visitor Centre.

Eco Tours
Wetlands, forest wonderlands.

Golf
Courses to suit all levels. Mini golf and hole in one challenge on lakefront.

Horse Riding
Guided horse treks.

Hunting
Pig, deer, small game.

Snow Skiing
Snowphone 0-900-75466 for updated weather.

Leisurely Pursuits

Cinema
Starlight Cinema Centre multiple cinema complex, Horomatangi St. All the latest movies.

Picnics
Many excellent spots.

Shopping
Good shopping in Taupo.

Sightseeing
Taupo Visitor Centre can help.

Skate Park
Tauhara Road, just off Spa Rd.

Sports/Sporting Venues
Most sports catered for.

TURANGI

Sights, Picnics, Outdoor Activities

Desert Road (SH 1)
11kms north of Waiouru on SH 1. Scenic, picnics.

Hatepe
25.8kms south of Taupo on SH 1. Tennis, fishing, swimming, picnics.

Karioi State Forest HQ
15kms west from Waiouru on SH 49. Information, hunting (within Karioi State Forest).

Kuratau Rest Area
10kms west of Turangi on SH 41.

Lake Otamangakau and Dam
0.7km east from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction, 5kms from main road. Fishing, swimming, boat ramp.

Mahuia Rapids
3kms along SH 47 north east from SH 48 turnoff.

Makatoke Viaduct
24kms north of Ohakune on SH 4.

Mangahuia Campsite
On SH 47. Picnic, scenic.

Matariki Falls
2kms along SH 47 north east of SH 48 turnoff. Ten minute walk from AA signpost.

Motuoapa
10kms north of Turangi on SH 1. Accommodation, boat ramp, boats for hire and charter, café.

Motutere Bay
21kms north of Turangi on SH 1. Picnic, swimming, fishing, boat ramp, water ski lane, walk from motor camp (20 minutes).

Mt Maunganamu
2kms from Turangi, SH 41, turn right after Tokaanu tail race. Walk (30 minutes return), picnic, fishing.

Okupata Caves
Difficult to find, seek advice from Department of Conservation at Turangi phone 386 8607.

Omori/Kuratau Spit
15kms from Turangi on SH 41, 3kms via Omori Rd. Picnic, swimming, walk, boat ramp.

Opotaka Village
11kms from Turangi (11.7kms from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction). Historic, scenic, picnic, Rotoaira/Tokaanu intake, boat ramp.

Oruatua
11kms north of Turangi on SH 1. Fishing, swimming, boat ramp.

Pukawa
18kms from Turangi on SH 41. Boat ramp, swimming, picnics, walk.

Rangipo Intake Road
Industrial (intake structure), popular fishing area.

Raurimu
7kms north of National Park. Raurimu Spiral, horse treks, camping trips, fishing.

Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre
14kms down SH 47 from SH 48 turnoff, 4kms down sign¬posted road (4kms south of SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction). Group outdoor activities by prior arrangement. Phone 386 5511.

Stump Bay
7kms north of Turangi off SH 1. Swimming, toilets, yacht club.

Te Ponanga Saddle Road
(SH 47) Lookout 3kms west of SH 41/47 turnoff. Scenic walk.

Tokaanu
Scenic, thermal bathing pools and marina, walk (20 minutes around thermal park), boat ramps.

Tongariro National Trout Centre and Museum
5kms south of Turangi on SH 1. Viewing chamber, children’s fishing pond. Museum covers history of trout fishing on the Tongariro River, open 7 days 10am - 4pm, free entry. Children’s fishing days one Sunday a month April to Oct, bookings at River Walk Visitor Centre, 386 8085 (10am - 3pm daily), fax 386 8490.

Top ’O Bruce/Iwikau Village
6kms from Whakapapa Village. Skifield, guided walks to crater lake during summer.

Turangi Township
Visitor Centre (Kaimanawa State Forest Park, Tongariro National Park, industrial development, history, general), open 7 days. Fishing, scenic flights, golf, white water rafting, horse treks, play-ground, picnic, covered swimming pool, climbing wall. Phone 386 8999.

Turoa Skifield
17kms from ranger station on Ohakune Mountain Rd.

Waihi Village
8kms from Turangi via SH 41 and signposted side road. Scenic, historic. Private village, no entry, can be viewed from the lakeside at Tokaanu. St Werenfrid Church service 7.30am Sunday.

Waiouru Township
Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum (allow at least 2 hours round trip), golf courses.

Waipakihi Road
26kms from Waiouru, 38kms south of Turangi via SH 1, 5.5kms from turnoff. Picnic, scenic, fishing, swimming, camping. Easy riverside track into the Kaimanawa Forest.

Waitetoko Boat Ramp
13kms north of Turangi on SH 1. Swimming, fishing.

Waituhi Saddle
35kms from Turangi on SH 41, turn off at summit and follow access road to lookout. Not suitable for caravans and campervans. Picnic, scenic.

Whanganui Intake
1km east from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction, 3kms from main road, 18kms from SH 47/48 junction. Dams and intakes, boat ramps.

White Water Rafting
On the Tongariro River. Grade 3. For bookings call the Visitor Centre 386 8999.

Walks & Tramps

Mangatepopo
5kms north east from SH 47/48 turnoff (13kms from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction). Not suitable for caravans. Scenic, walks 20 - 25 minutes to hut (walk standard),
access to tramping area, valley.

Mangatepopo Camp School
South west of Turangi 2kms along SH 47 (5kms from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction). Phone 386 5598.

Mangawhero Falls
13kms from Ohakune ranger station, Waitonga Falls 11kms from ranger station. Walk (standard) 2 hours return.

National Park
Fishing, swimming, mountain biking, horse treks. Walks: Fisher’s Track (standard), take Carrol St from SH 4, cross railway line and park beside Waimarino Scientific Reserve sign (total 11kms drive); Tupapakurua Falls, follow Fisher’s Track (5 hours return).

Taurewa Lodge
Avondale College Education Camp. South of Mangatepopo Camp School off SH 47. Follow the road and cross the walking access bridge to start of walk through forest, 3 hours return (standard walk).

Te Porere
16kms north east from SH 48 turn off along SH 47 (1.5kms from SH 47/Lake Rotoaira Rd junction). Historic, walk 5 minutes lower redoubt, 15 minutes upper redoubt (walk standard). Track, behind upper redoubt (15 minutes bush walk, track standard). Scenic.

Tongariro River Loop Track
Begins northern end at SH 1 bridge or at southern end from Major Jones footbridge, Koura St, 1 hour loop.

Tongariro River Walkway
Start from township (Koura St) to Red Hut Pool 5kms south of Turangi or vice versa. Walk standard (11⁄2 hours each way), fishing.

Tree Trunk Gorge Road
24kms south of Turangi, SH 1, 5kms down side road. Scenic (view of gorge), walk to Kaimanawa Rd, 11⁄2 hours each way, walk standard.

Waihohonu Track
Tongariro National Park, 33kms south of Turangi on SH 1. Walk 11⁄2 hours (track standard) to Waihohonu Hut.

Whakapapa Intake
Follow side road off SH 47 6kms north east from SH 48 turnoff, 6.5kms to intake. Fishing, walk (follow road above intake on foot).

Whakapapa Village
Tongariro National Park, 6kms along SH 48, turn off on SH 47.
Golf course, park visitor centre, disabled persons trail (alpine garden) 200-300m above the visitor centre, walk to silica
rapids/springs (2 hours), Taranaki Falls (2-3 hours), Tawhai Falls 3kms from SH 47 along SH48, Whakapapanui Walk 4kms from SH 47 along SH 48 (2 hours
round trip), Tama Lakes (5 hours return). Camping ground administered by DOC. Accommodation, restaurants, scenic.

TOKAANU VILLAGE

Just 5kms from Turangi, on the Taumarunui road (SH 41) is the village of Tokaanu, recognisable for the huge tailrace pipes that reach up the hillside behind the village.
There is a thermal park with 20 minute walk, hot mineral pool complex, accommodation, restaurants, fishing, swimming, picnics.
Once the headquarters of Te Kooti, Tokaanu became an
Armed Constabulary post and port for the steamers that plied the waters of Lake Taupo. Two boat ramps.