The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Taupō

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Free Activities in Taupō

With the most visited natural attraction in New Zealand being located in Taupō, the town sets the right tone for free things to do.

We’re talking about Huka Falls – just one of a few amazing free attractions found along the mighty Waikato River. These tumultuous rapids are a must-see, accessed just off Huka Falls Road or along the River Side Trail (2 hours return) starting from Spa Park.

We might suggest the latter so that you can take a dip in the free natural hot springs of Otumuheke Stream, which is complete with changing rooms and a pop-up cafe.

For more information on getting to these places via the walking trails, check out the 10 Best Walks in Taupō.

Mix up some of your walks to natural sights with some foodie experiences that you can enjoy for free. For instance, have you tried New Zealand’s famous manuka honey yet? Go down to the Huka Honey Hive in the Wairakei Tourist Park to taste all kinds of manuka and bush honey, as well as honey mead.

There are also honeybee displays so you can watch the little buzzies in action, while their honey tours are quite affordable.

And if you have more time to spare, head to the Aratiatia Rapids for more tumultuous fun. Located just off State Highway 5, the Aratiatia Dam is released every 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm in winter and 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm in summer. This makes for an epic display of rapids charging down the Waikato River.

For more free activities, head over to 15 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Taupō.

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Cheap Activities in Taupō

And for an activity that has an admission fee but is still affordable, you might want to check out Taupō’s cheapest geothermal park, the Craters of the Moon. Venture on the boardwalks with steam billowing below your feet as you explore a geothermal cratered valley.

The main loop takes about 40 minutes to walk, while a side loop to a lookout is an added 20 minutes. The attraction costs NZ$10 per adult.

Typically costing around NZ$40 for a half-day rental and NZ$60 for a full day, mountain biking and cycling Taupō’s bike trails are an affordable way to explore while experiencing adventure.

Ride along the Waikato River to see the attractions mentioned above, cycle on the smooth surface of the Lion’s Walk on the lakefront, and much more!

Check out the 10 Awesome Bike Trails Around Lake Taupō to compare your options. Note – you can get cheaper bike rentals from hostels like Taupō Urban Retreat.

Finally, for a fun and slightly silly thing to do in Taupō, try out the Hole in One Challenge on the lakefront.

The Lake Taupō Hole in One is a driving range on the lakefront itself, where the challenge is to pot a hole-in-one on a floating platform on the lake. If you win, you get a NZ$10,000 prize! If not, well, it only costs NZ$1 per ball or NZ$15 for 18 balls.

© Taupō Debretts Spa Resort

Where to Stay: Affordable Accommodations in Taupō

Whatever your taste, needs or budget, there’s cheap accommodation to suit between the hostels, motels and holiday parks.

Among the more expensive hotel offerings in Taupō, the town holds a substantial collection of backpacker hostels, motels, budget hotels and holiday parks.

Although we outline all your options in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Taupo, as well as 5 Best Backpaker Hostels in Taupo, here are some of our top picks for travellers on a budget.

Taupō Debretts Spa Resort – Budget-Friendly Stay with Thermal Pools

Whether you’re travelling around in an RV or looking for a basic unit with shared facilities, there’s plenty of choice for all travellers at Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort. But it’s not the accommodation that gets us the most excited about this cheap accommodation in Taupō…

DeBretts boasts a thermal pool park complete with hydro slides, but there is a surcharge for using the pools, even if you’re staying here, so keep that in mind.

The holiday park meets motel is a year-round destination offering a range of basic and self-contained units, a communal kitchen and a bathroom block, and many more essential amenities. There’s also an on-site cafe also makes a great option for food.

Discover why Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort is a great base for budget-conscious travellers, and book your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!

Haka House Taupō – Flashpacker Hostel by the Great Lake

One of New Zealand’s most popular hostel chains also has a presence by the Great Lake. What’s more, Haka House Taupō aims for more of the “flashpacker experience” with a free spa pool and WiFi.

Each bunk is equipped with a privacy curtain, personal power socket and reading light, while private rooms with and without an ensuite bathroom are also available.

The communal spaces are also pretty sweet with a very functional kitchen, cosy lounge and deck area and even a volleyball court that’s free for guests to use.

Whether you’re chilling inside or outside, you’re sure to feel right at home.

Learn more about what makes Haka House Taupō perfect for flashpackers and budget travellers, and secure your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!

© Krystle Rakatau - Destination Great Lake Taupō (www.lovetaupo.com)

Cheap Eats in Taupō

You don’t need to break the bank to eat well in Taupō. For hearty Kiwi-Chinese takeaway, Double Happy Takeaways (Rifle Range Road) is a local favourite with combo meals like fish and chips, battered mussels, dumplings, or burgers for under NZ$10.

Pie fans should head to Paetiki Bakery Café (Spa Road), where steak, butter chicken, or sausage-roll pies are served hot from the cabinet, all under NZ$10.

For sushi on the go, Suncourt Sushi (Tamamutu Street) has NZ$5 packs, while The Fish Box (Rainbow Drive) is still the go-to for classic fish and chips by the lake for just NZ$10.

Fast food lovers will find plenty of budget bites on Roberts Street, including Domino’s Mini Value Pizza with Choc Lava Cake for NZ$7.99, BurgerFuel burgers from NZ$7.70, or the “Coolest McDonald’s in the World” inside a DC3 plane.

For something more filling, Prime Roast (Gascoigne Street) does a roast chicken with potatoes for NZ$12, and Pauly’s Diner (Paora Hapi Street) serves monster gourmet burgers starting at NZ$12.

Get more recommendations in our Cheap Eats in Taupō.

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Must-see in Taupō

Taupō has a few attractions well worth the megabytes in your camera! From raging rapids to magnificent sculptures, the lakeside town has plenty to see while you’re out exploring.

Huka Falls – This impressive display of rapids is said to be the most-visited attraction in New Zealand! Watch as 220,000 litres (58,118 gallons) squeezes, thrashes and thunders through this narrow gorge every second. Huka Falls can be accessed by car (well-signposted off State Highway 1, north of Taupō), by bike or by walking (check out the trails below).

Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings – These impressive and intricate rock carvings are only accessible from the water. Join a boat tour with Chris Jolly Outdoors or Sail Barbary to snap this wonderful sight up! A cruise to the carvings is one of the 10 Things to Do in Taupō at Night.

Alternatively, kayaking to the carvings with Canoe and Kayak Taupō is a great way to make an adventure out of it!

The McDonald’s Plane – It’s McDonald’s… in a plane! What more is there to say?! Found on Roberts Street.

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More About Adventure Activities in Taupō

Taupō is the ideal base for adventure in the North Island. There are heaps of ways to get the adrenaline pumping from bungy jumps to skydiving to jet boating and more!

Bungy Jump – Bungy jump New Zealand’s highest water-touch jump and take on the Cliffhanger extreme swing at Taupō Bungy.

Skydive – Jump from either 12,000ft or 15,000ft over Lake Taupō with views right across the country. Taupō Tandem Skydiving not only take you on the thrill-ride but they’ll also pick you up in a Hummer limo.

High Ropes Course – Jump, climb and more at Rock n’ Ropes near Huka Falls.

White Water Rafting – Have an ‘oarsome’ time on the rapids of the Tongariro River, Turangi. The grade 3 rapids are a great introduction to white water rafting. Pick-ups and transport from Taupō can be arranged with the activity providers: Rafting New Zealand and Tongariro River Rafting. Rafting New Zealand also runs grade 1 river floats down the Waikato River in Taupō.

Jet Boating – Take a high-speed blast on various parts of the Waikato River complete with 360 spins and near misses. Two operators in Taupō are Rapids Jet and Hukafalls Jet.

Skiing and Snowboarding – Mt Ruapehu, home to three ski fields, is a 1 hr 30 mins drive away from Taupō. Operators in town can organise ski hire and transport.

See more recommendations in 10 Best Adventure Activities in Taupō.

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More About Walking and Hiking in Taupō

Taupō is not only surrounded by magnificent walks, just take a look at 10 Wonderful Walks Around Lake Taupō, but a great selection of these walks can be accessed from the town itself, or just a super short walk, drive or bike ride away.

Many backpackers use Taupō as a base for doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (6-8 hours one way), one of New Zealand’s most popular day walks, thanks to the many transport shuttles operating between the track and Taupō.

For more information on the Crossing, check out Guide to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Huka Falls Walkway (2 Hours Return)

Walk along the banks of the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, between the geothermal area of Spa Park and the ferocious rapids of Huka Falls.

To get to the start of the track from Taupō, take Tongariro Street into Spa Road, then left into County Avenue and drive/walk into Spa Park. Follow the walking tracks toward the river and you’ll find the Huka Falls Walkway.

Don’t forget your swimmers to bathe in the natural hot spring seen on the walk!

Huka Falls to Aratiatia Dam (4 Hours Return)

From Huka Falls head to the last viewing area where at the back of the viewing area, the track climbs up to reveal awesome views of Huka Falls. Continue on this track all the way to the Aratiatia Hydro Dam where the gates open 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm (and 4 pm in summer).

Great Lake Walkway (Lions Walk) (10 Minutes – 2 Hours One Way)

This one is hard to miss and the most accessible from the town centre. Just walk toward the lake from any point and you’ll find a walking/biking track following the perimeter of Lake Taupō.

The walk goes all the way to Wharewaka Point, taking about 2 hours one way to get there.

Mt Tauhara (2 Hours Return)

Just a 15-minute drive on State Highway 5, just out of Taupō, is the adventurous climb of Mt Tauhara.

Hike on a roughly formed track through the forest of this volcano to the top revealing epic panoramic views of the Taupō area, as well as views of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe.

For more ideas, see 10 Best Walks in Taupō.

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More About Mountain Biking in Taupō

The Lake Taupō district is a mountain biker’s dream! Multi-day rides to adventurous forest rides can be found within driving distance of Taupō, which you can check out more in 10 Awesome Bike Trails Around Lake Taupō.

When biking on Taupō’s roads, be sure to follow the City Cycling Rules in New Zealand.

Bike rides and mountain bike trails accessed from Taupō include:

Rotary Ride (Grade 2)

Blast between Spa Park and Huka Falls is the Rotary Ride (5.5 km/3 mi), which you can either do on foot or by bike. Follow the signs from the end of County Avenue off Spa Road to the track crossing the Otumuheke Stream.

To extend this ride, team it up with the Aratiatia Dam trail (see below).

Aratiatia Dam Trail (Grade 2-3)

From Huka Falls, the track initially climbs quite steeply but evens out for the remainder of the ride. Continue on this 7 km (4 mi) track to the Aratiatia Dam which opens 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm (and 4 pm in summer). Return the same way.

Redwood Track (Grade 1-2)

An easy single track on the opposite side of the Waikato River provides an alternative ride back to Taupō from Huka Falls. The 2.5 km (1.5 mi) track follows Huka Falls Road.

When you reach the highway, use the cycleway on the edge of the highway to avoid traffic. Cross the control gates back into Taupō where you can then follow Spa Road back to the Rotary Ride.

Great Lake Walkway (Lions Walk) (Grade 1)

This one is hard to miss and the most accessible from the town centre. Just bike toward the lake from any point and you’ll find a walking/biking track following the perimeter of Lake Taupō. The trail goes all the way to Wharewaka Point, which is 30 km (19 mi) return.

Craters of the Moon MTB Park (Grade 2-5)

Craters of the Moon MTB Park is on Karapiti Road, off State Highway 1 north of Taupō. There are around 50 km (31 mi) of trails through pine forest to choose from.

You need to get a Taupō Bike membership (valid for 7 days) to use the bike trails at Craters. Visit a Taupō bike store to purchase one for around NZ$10.