The Complete Travel Guide to Taupō

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What to Do in Taupō

Get the perfect balance of adventure, nature and relaxation in Taupō. All of your New Zealand bucket list experiences can be found here between skydiving and bungy jumping, while multiple hot pool complexes give you ways to relax.

See iconic natural attractions like the mesmerising Huka Falls, as well as the largest lake in New Zealand.

The Top Experiences in Taupō

What are the must-dos? Here are some of the Taupō highlights:

• Check out the mighty Huka Falls
• Explore geothermal parks like Orakei Korako Geothermal Park
• Sail to the Maori rock carvings on Lake Taupō
• Skydive over the great lake
• Take on the Taupō Bungy or Swing
• Hit the bike trails or mountain bike parks listed in the 10 Best Bike Trails Around Lake Taupō
• Admire amazing scenery from the 10 Best Walks in Taupō
• Hit the road to nearby Tongariro National Park and other Best Day Trips from Taupō…

… And the list continues over in our 20 Best Things to Do in Taupō. Don’t forget to check out more lake experiences in the 5 Ways to Experience Lake Taupō.

Rainy Day Activities

It’s not always as sunny as it looks on social media photos. Prepare for when the weather goes sour with these activities:

• Keep warm the free hot pool at Otumuheke Stream, or hot pools complex of DeBretts Spa Resort
• Fish for rainbow trout on Lake Taupō or on the Tongariro River
• Go white water rafting with Tongariro River Rafting.

And if they don’t inspire you then maybe the 15 Things to Do in Taupō on a Rainy Day will.

Things to Do at Night

And what is there to do when the sun goes down? Try these:

• Enjoy an evening cruise on the lake in summer with Chris Jolly Outdoors
• Kayak at sunset with Canoe and Kayak Taupō
• Indulge in the soothing mineral waters of the Wairakei Terraces and Thermal Health Spa.

And, of course, there’s a lot more where that came from over in our 10 Things to Do in Taupō at Night.

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Where to Stay in Taupō

Other than the accommodations we recommend on the righthand side of this complete travel guide to Taupō (or at the bottom, if you’re on mobile), we have compiled entire lists of places to stay based on price, what’s best for families or a couples’ getaway, as well as premium stays.

What’s more, each list is compiled by real writers; not some algorithm.

• 20 Best Hotels
• 15 Best Motels
• 5 Best Backpacker Hostels
• 10 Best Budget Accommodations
• 15 Best Family Accommodations
• 15 Best Luxury Accommodations
• 10 Best Romantic Accommodations
• 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations
• 5 Free Camping Spots
• Where to Camp
• Taupō: A Guide to Cheap Long-Term Accommodation

© Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

What is the Best Accommodation in Taupō?

If you’re not a fan of decision fatigue, here are a couple of our favourite stays to help you out.

Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuel Taupō – The Best Hotel in Taupō

A fantastic hotel option with two restaurants, a bar, and a wealth of spa facilities is the Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuel Taupō.

Set on the shores of Lake Taupō, your meals in the restaurant, as well as evenings in your room come accompanied by some of the best views in town.

The design-driven hotel boasts a glamorous elegance across its 12 suites and 39 guest rooms suitable for solo travellers, business travellers and couples.

The hotel also features a heated swimming pool, private grotto plunge pool, sauna and a gym.

Discover why Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuel Taupō is a top choice for travellers, and book your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!

eMotel – The Best Motel in Taupo

As the name suggests, eMotel is a contemporary motel with techy touches, such as receiving your apartment number and code by text/email on the day of arrival, as well as free WiFi and 55″ smart TVs available in each apartment.

Kitchen facilities are also included, as well as welcome extras like a lake view and a private sunny courtyard.

There are two room types at eMotel, including a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment with a super-king bed in one room and two king singles in the other.

Learn more about what makes eMotel ideal for travellers, and secure your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!

© Felicity Witters - Destination Great Lake Taupō (www.lovetaupo.com)

Where to Eat in Taupō

Foodies will also be pleased that they added Taupō to the itinerary. Honey tours, brewery tours, prawn fishing, a community market and trout fishing with your catch being cooked up at a local restaurant…

Oh, don’t get us started on the restaurants – the variety here is enough to rival some of New Zealand’s cities, except you get to dine to views of a stunning lake and enjoy a small-town ambience. Who’s complaining?

Plan your food-oriented trip with The Food Guide to Taupō: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

The Best Restaurants in Taupō

1. Embra (97A Kaimanawa Street)
2. Replete Café & Store (45 Heuheu Street)
3. Sorrento Italian Dining & Wine Bar (42 Tūwharetoa Street)
4. Vine Eatery & Bar (37 Tūwharetoa Street)
5. Bistro Lago (80-100 Napier Road, Hilltop)
6. Edgewater Restaurant (243 Lake Terrace, Waipahihi)
7. Storehouse (14 Runanga Street, Taupō)
8. The Brantry Eatery (45 Rifle Range Road)
9. Roquette Restaurant (13 Tongariro Street)
10. Indian Affair (34 Ruapehu Street)

Again, more details on these eats can be found in The Food Guide to Taupō: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Foodie Experiences and Food Tours

• Catch your own trout for dinner on Lake Taupō
• Catch a prawn for dinner at the Huka Prawn Park
• Taste honey and take a honey tour at the Huka Honey Hive
• Try the local artisan goods and produce at The Taupō Market
• Take a brewery tour at the Crafty Trout Brewery.

Learn more about each experience in the 10 Best Food Experiences in Taupō.

© NZPocketGuide.com

Taupō for Budget Travellers

Natural attractions, galore! Taupō makes it easy to stick to your budget, as it doesn’t cost you anything to snap up a photo of the fearsome rapids of Huka Falls or Aratiatia Dam, nor does it cost much to wander around a geothermal park or hit the cycle trails.

You can even afford the more pricey activities on your Taupō must-do list thanks to the savings you can make on accommodation, with backpacker hostels, holiday parks and countless motels!

Start planning an affordable trip to Taupō with The Guide to Taupō on a Budget or Taupō – Guide for Backpackers.

Things to Do on a Budget

• Check out the tumultuous Huka Falls
• Relax in the hot springs of Otumuheke Stream
• Walk the River Side Trail along the Waikato River
• Have a go at the Hole in One Challenge on the lake
• Hire a bike and hit the trails.

For more information on each activity and more, check out the 15 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Taupō.

Chea Accommodation

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 Queenstown, the town holds a substantial collection of backpacker hostels, motels, budget hotels and holiday parks. Check them out in our 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Taupō, as well as 5 Best Backpaker Hostels in Taupō.

© Skydive Taupo

Taupō for Luxury Travellers

Tranquil waters of a lake contained within the caldera of a supervolcano, the beginning of New Zealand’s longest river, and a wealth of moon-like landscape formed by geothermal activity: doesn’t Taupō sound like a stunning and unique getaway to you?

What’s more, it has the premium tours and luxury accommodations to match between scenic flights over volcanoes and cosying up in a boutique lodge.

Let us guide you in creating the ideal luxury getaway with The Luxury Guide to Taupō.

Luxury Experiences

• Take the Taupō private geothermal bike tour with Social Nature Movement
• Indulge in the mineral hot pools and spa treatments of Taupō’s premium hot pool complexes such as Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort Water Park
• See the lake and volcanoes from above on a scenic flight
• Hit the ski slopes of Mt Ruapehu
• Play golf on some of New Zealand’s most prestigious golf courses.

For more information on each experience and more, be sure to check out the 10 Best Luxury Experiences in Taupō.

Luxury Accommodation

From lavish hotel suites to luxury boutique lodges, there’s something to suit all tastes and styles – even in a small town like Taupō.

See what takes your fancy in the 15 Best Luxury Accommodations in Taupō.

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Taupō for Families

From the family-friendly tours to the accommodations with warm water playgrounds and hot pools, Taupō provides the complete family holiday package!

Kids can enjoy some of New Zealand’s famous adventure activities too with white water rafting, kayaking and jet boating suitable for even the younger family members.

There are also ways to connect with nature through attractions like the Tongariro National Trout Centre or experience Taupō’s unique fishing side with prawn fishing.

Discover more in The Guide to Taupō for Families.

Family Tours and Activities

• Blast down the Waikato River on a jet boat tour with Hukafalls Jet…
• … Or gently float to natural hot springs on a family-friendly kayaking tour with Canoe and Kayak Taupō
• Let the kids loose on the slides while you relax at Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort
• Tackle the choppy rapids on a family white water rafting tour with Tongariro River Rafting
• Venture to Tongariro National Trout Centre.

For more information on each activity, check out the 10 Things to Do in Taupō with Kids.

Family-Friendly Accommodation in Taupō

Your family may prefer self-catering apartments, affordable motels or even being treated to a hotel room.

However, the holiday parks in Taupō are something else. Known more as “holiday resorts”, these accommodations are an attraction in themselves, offering geothermally heated pools with kids’ play areas and much more to keep the whole family entertained.

But we digress, check out a variety of options in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Taupō.

© Felicity Witters - Destination Great Lake Taupō (www.lovetaupo.com)

Taupō for Couples

Romance in Taupō is as simple as a lakeside picnic. But if you want to enhance the romance for a special occasion or just to appreciate travelling with your loved one, you can with the array of romantic activities to experience together.

Wake up with a sunrise flight over the lake, conquer your fear of heights together with the tandem bungy, relax on a sunset sailing cruise to the famous Maori Rock Carvings and conclude the day with a meal at a romantic restaurant. Doesn’t sound bad, does it?

Plan your romantic retreat or honeymoon with The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Taupō.

Romantic Things to Do

• Cruise Lake Taupō at sunset on Kindred Spirit with Taupō Sailing Adventures
• Team up in a double kayak and paddle to the Maori Rock Carvings
• Enjoy a romantic walk along the riverside, in the botanical gardens and more
• Conquer the fear together in a tandem bungy jump or swing
• Explore the steaming and colourful landscapes of a geothermal park.

For elaboration on each experience and others, see the 10 Romantic Things to Do in Taupō for Couples.

Couples’ Accommodation

From well-presented motels, should you be on a budget, to elegant B&Bs and lodges, there’s accommodation in Taupō for any occasion.

Set the tone right by booking into one of the 10 Best Romantic Accommodations in Taupō.