Much to see on a Taupo¯ trip

Welcome to our 2018 edition of This Is Lake Taupo¯ , a round-up of things to do over the summer break and events to look forward to.

We’ve rounded up the activities, the attractions and the destinations from around the beautiful Lake Taupo¯ district so that you can easily find what’s going on and where the best places are to go.

While most of the action centres around Taupo¯ , with its cafes and shops, attractions and beaches, we’d also encourage you to venture further afield and explore some of the lesserknown gems of the district. One of our suggested free activities on page 23 of this edition is to take spend a day taking a drive around Lake Taupo¯ — it’s a wonderful way to discover some lesser-known attractions.

If you’re heading west, stop for an icecream at Kinloch and enjoy a stroll along the lakeshore and through the Whangamata¯ Stream Scenic Reserve (check out the water wheel). From Kinloch, you can backtrack slightly and head northwest to visit the lakeside villages of Whakamaru and Mangakino, with hydro lakes, forest, tramping and watersports. If you’ve never seen Mangakino, it is well worth a visit. Nestled on the shores of Lake Maraetai, it’s a popular spot for watersports and a haven away from the hustle and bustle of Taupo¯ .

The drive down the western bays (State Highway 32) has the Waihaha Lagoon walk, the Waihaha and Waihora sections of the Great Lake Trail and the lakeside settlements of Whareroa, Omori, Kuratau and Pukawa, with lovely views across the lake and scenic spots for a swim.

The Tu¯ rangi area has fabulous walks, rafting on the beautiful Tongariro, the geothermal gem of Tokaanu and there’s plenty of tramping and biking to be had too. The cafe´ scene there continues to expand and the town boasts a wealth of talented artists whose works are on display in the Pihanga Art Gallery in the Tu¯ rangi town centre.

The drive back to Taupo¯ has beaches, lakeside villages, rivers and bush walks. For a short bushwalk that’s not too taxing, stop at Motutere Bay and do the Waipehi Stream Track which gives good views above the lake.

Near Taupo¯ , the lakeside village of Waitahanui has coffee and food plus the Wildwood Gallery to browse.

Taupo¯ itself has great mountain biking, walking and beaches; if you’re into shopping, the town has funky little boutiques, cafe´ s and specialty shops.

Whatever you do, and wherever you go, we hope you’ll have fun doing it and enjoy staying in our beautiful region. Please help us to keep the Taupo¯ region beautiful, take care out on our lakes and rivers, and on the roads. We’d love you to stay an extra day or two, or to come again soon.