We are huge fans of Taupo. You may know that already. You may not.
Nestled in the middle of the North Island, right next to Lake Taupo and within driving distance of the Tongariro Crossing, it’s a New Zealand city with some of the most incredible views.
If you’re coming to town on a budget, there are still a ton of things you can enjoy for free.
Here’s a quick look at three things we highly recommend.
Walk around Huka Falls
Huka Falls one of the most impressive natural wonders in New Zealand. With it’s beautiful powder blue colour and sheer force, it’s an impressive sight to see up close. Lucky for any local visitors, there are walking tracks on both sides of the falls, with viewing spots along the way, which let you take it all in.
2. Hike Up Mount Tauhara
It may not be as well known as the Tongariro crossing, but Mount Tauhara is still such a fun walk, with some incredible views up at the top.
Depending on where you look, the walk is between 2.5km-2.8km and will take about 75 minutes to walk up to the top.
There are awesome views all round once you get to the top, like the one above which Chur New Zealand snapped at the summit.
3. A Swim in Lake Taupo
Oh yes, on a hot summers day, there is no better feeling than heading into Lake Taupo for a refreshing swim. Our Doughboats customers usually have no difficulty spotting hundreds of swimmers out and about from December-March. A few of the winter customers have also spotted the odd person braving the freezing cold water for a quick dip.
We’re a little bit more confident recommending a summertime swim, so if you find yourself in Taupo during the school holidays, a swim in the lake is a nice, free family activity.
We hope you found this list helpful. If you are looking for more activity ideas, check out our blog post here which talks about the fun activities you can enjoy on Lake Taupo.
