Taupo

The bustling resort town of Taupō is an ideal base for exploring: restaurants and accommodation options abound; there are numerous art and craft galleries and hot thermal pools for relaxing. The small town of Turangi, on the southern shores of Lake Taupō, is the hub of Trout Fishing Turangi and Lake Taupo in the region.  Fishing lodges are plentiful and the local streams are usually dotted with anglers standing thigh-deep in the water!  The drive around the eastern shore of the lake, from Taupō to Turangi, is a great scenic drive offering stunning views.

Situated at the crossroads of the North Island, Taupo is easily accessible from both Auckland in the north and Wellington in the south so if you are arriving in New Zealand by air there are regular coach connections between the two cities and Taupo. It will take you about three and a half hours to get there from Auckland while the journey from Wellington is about four and a half hours. There are numerous companies operating services which connect all three locations the most popular of which are InterCity, Newmans and Alpine Scenic Tours. All three will leave you at the Taupo Travel centre which is located at 16 Gascoigne Street. For those of you who are not on a budget there are also connecting flights between Taupo Airport and both Auckland and Wellington as well as with the South Island. Finally, there are daily connections with all the major centres on the North Island including Turangi, Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay and the Bay of Plenty.

The Lake Taupo region has warm, humid summers and mild winters.

Average temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C (72°F–82°F) in summer (December–February) and between 12°C and -5°C (54°F–23°F) in winter (June–August). The average annual rainfall is 1,100mm. As an inland area, sheltered by the Hauhungaroa Range, Taupo is prone to frosts and fog.

Taupo Calendar of Events

The last Saturday in November is the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge . In October, more than 3,000 cyclists gather for the Powerade Day-Night Thriller, the largest mountain-bike event of its kind in the world. The annual Taupo Half Marathon takes place in August.