Location: Taupo
Top Things to do in Taupo
Top 10 Nature & Parks in Taupo, North Island
This adrenaline-pumping city offers an abundance of skydiving, jetboating and bungee jumping. Discover the marvels of Orakei Korako thermal park, featuring caves, hot springs and boiling mud pools. Gaze across Lake Taupo to see the spectacular volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park, and make sure to visit Huka Falls, one of the great watery wonders of New Zealand.
Restaurants in Taupo
1. Adventure Shuttles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Get the Buzz in the Central North Island outdoors by bike or on foot. We love helping people explore our place. At Adventure Shuttles we are passionate outdoors people who have biked, hiked and climbed extensively in New Zealand and overseas. Kiwis with over 40 years experience exploring the Central North Island outdoors
Reviewed By ScottSomerville70
We booked a last-minute self-guided trip with Garth and he couldn't have been more helpful. He responded quickly and we had everything arranged within an hour of contacting him. He picked us up from our accommodation the next morning and drove us to the start of the Great Lake Trail. He gave us some valuable tips about the track, too. The bikes were good and we were provided with a tool kit as well. Once we were finished biking, we had a great lunch at the Tipsy Trout in Kinloch (a tip from Garth), and we just texted Garth to let him know he could come pick us up. It was great not having to be back by a certain time and enjoy the ride at our own leisure. Would highly recommend!
2. Lake Taupo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Naina-Damani - London, United Kingdom
New Zealand’s largest lake with stunningly crystal blue fresh water of Lake Taupo, home to some of the best trout fishing in the world.
3. Huka Falls tracks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,294 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By SteveBaldwin-NZ - Hamilton, New Zealand
Really amazing sights and walk, very relaxing walking along the tracks, great facilities and car park too which makes the visit easy. Never get tired of visiting here
4. Waipahihi Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 177 reviews
Reviewed By Naina-Damani - London, United Kingdom
Waipahihi Botanical Garden is an amazing park of native trees and colourful bushes, shrubs and plants which boasts spectacular views over Great Lake Taupo.
5. Motutere Recreation Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
6. Spa Thermal Park and Riverbank Recreational and Scenic Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 376 reviews
Reviewed By batchhen2017 - Timaru, New Zealand
This is so close into town, its very available and easy to find. What a delightful thermal river and hot pools (man made little pools in rocks ) at the side of the larger pool. I was pleasantly surprised how modern the facilities are, changing rooms and toilets very clean. Someone told me its had an upgrade. This is a beautifully made attraction and its free to use, how about that in NZ? It was only 2d when I went, but the fog lifted and I had a lovely soak. I was expecting it to be hotter like 35 to 39d but it was prob about 3od. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and stunning scenery around the river.
7. Great Lake Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
The Great Lake Trail is a 70 kilometre purpose built mountain biking/walking/running trail situated close to Lake Taupo in the centre of New Zealand's North Island. The trail follows the western shore of Lake Taupo, and takes in stunning views across to the volcanic mountains of the Tongariro National Park. Anyone with a moderate level of fitness can, and should, experience The Great Trail.
Reviewed By huggyfamily - Auckland, New Zealand
Have now cycled all 3 Great Lake Trails, each on a different trip to Taupo in the last four months. Enjoyed them all. The first one we did was K2K (December), loved it, especially now as it can be done as a loop from Kinloch. Couldn't wait to go down in January to do our second trail, the W2K (return), starting at Kinloch, doing the Headland Loop (great flowy mountain bike trail! and lovely views on a lovely day), then down to Whakaipo Bay, slept on the warm stones while my husband had a refreshing dip in the lake, then we cycled back to Kinloch - yes it was hard yakka going back up the hill (slow and steady wins the race), but oh what a joy it was sweeping back down to Kinloch in the late afternoon. Fabulous day. Finally in April we did Waihora and Waihaha, return (57km) - no water taxi for us! Started the day at 9am from the top of the Waihora track, a great 17km ride down to the bay (2 and a half hours), had a lovely picnic, then rode back up (2 and a half hours), rode the farm road to the top of Waihaha track (10km - one hour, with a break to see cute alpacas!), then down Waihaha track (13km (two hours, with breaks to see the beautiful views of the river, canyon, waterfall, and setting sun). Managed to finish back at the car at sundown, 5.45pm, just as it was getting dark. Exhilarating! We are in our fifties. We were so exhausted that when we got back to Taupo we sat for an hour in a thermal pool and went to bed at 8.30pm without bothering with dinner! We can't say which trail we liked best, as they were all different, and brilliantly built. I am writing this review because a lot of websites and reviews say "a water taxi is required" for the Waihora Bay trail. Well, we proved it isn't Just make sure you have enough daylight hours...
8. Kinloch Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By Naina-Damani - London, United Kingdom
Kinloch is a sandy beach which stretches along the Whangamata Bay with spectacular views of Lake Taupo and mountains of Tongarino National Park.
9. Lilliput Farm Fun And Animal Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Reviewed By reonb2014 - Taupo, New Zealand
Every time I come here I have to drag my two girls away, they just love it!! Great local farm park for kids, takes about an hour to walk around feeding the animals, then there is a cool playground area with picnic tables everywhere and a few ducks, guinea pigs, and a cheeky cockatoo that sits in the middle like he owns the place :) fun place for sure.
10. Joan Williamson Rose Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Naina-Damani - London, United Kingdom
Rose garden is full of fragrant roses which is nestled in the heart of Taupo. It had a large gazebo surrounded by beautiful colourful shrubs including camellias.
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