Taupo Travelers Recommend

The town of Taupo is a convenient base for exploring central North Island. On a three day trip, you can get to know the town and also explore a bit further afield and enjoy an exciting adventure sport, visit a geothermal park, and hike through unbelievable landscapes. Here are a few things to do in and around Taupo on a 3-day visit.

Day 1: Adrenaline-Filled Adventures

With snow-capped mountains, an enormous lake, and several rivers nearby, Taupo is a hub for all kinds of outdoor adventures. Whatever kind of thrill you’re into, it’s probably possible here. 

On your first day, you can dive into a variety of adventures: Rent a kayak for a gentle paddle on Lake Taupo or ride around it on a bike; bounce along rapids on a white-water rafting trip; zoom up a river on a jet boat; jump out of an airplane on a tandem skydive; or go on a sightseeing helicopter tour. You’ll get your blood flowing and also see some beautiful landscapes along the way. In the evening, unwind with a sunset cruise on the lake; some include dinner and drinks. Alternatively, save your appetite for a burger and a few beers at one of Taupo’s traveler-centric downtown bars.

Day 2: Geothermal Wonders

Much of New Zealand is volcanically active, and Taupo is surrounded by a variety of geothermal sites. Visit the area’s bubbling mud pools, steaming natural vents, and springs of simmering water that is so hot you could boil an egg in it (and then some). There are several parks just outside the city where you see the thermal sites from boardwalks, learn about the science behind them, and discover how local Maori people have harnessed their natural heat and power for centuries. Opt for Orakei Korako Geothermal Park, and you can also take a short boat ride to colorful, steaming thermal terraces. 

After sightseeing, experience a different side of this natural phenomenon back in town. Head to the Spa Thermal Park or DeBretts Spa Resort, and spend the late afternoon or early evening enjoying a relaxing soak in a bath fed with geothermally-heated water.  

Day 3: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Active travelers won’t want to miss the chance to hike the nearby Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is often called one of the best day hikes in the world. Opt for a guided tour that drives you from Taupo to the trailhead (a roughly 90-minute trip) and then picks you up at the other end of the trail. The hike itself is about 12 miles (19.4 km) long, crosses a volcanic plateau, and rewards trekkers with a moon-like landscape, bright turquoise sulfurous lakes, forests, and sweeping views of several mountains. It’s a moderately challenging trek with steep sections, and weather conditions can change rapidly, so make sure you’re properly prepared.

Alternatively, opt for a gentler, family-friendly walk along the Great Lake Walkway on the shores of Lake Taupo. The trip offers great views of the volcanic peaks and is another spectacular way to end your adventures in Taupo.

The lakeside city of Taupo is an adventure lover’s wonderland, with many ways to have fun outdoors. One day in the central North Island city is enough time to try an extreme sport or two or to have a more relaxed time enjoying Taupo’s scenic beauty. Here’s how to get the most out of one day in Taupo.

Morning: Fun on the Water

With the enormous Lake Taupo lapping at the city’s feet, as well as numerous rivers nearby, there are many ways to have fun on the water in Taupo. Join a white-water-rafting trip (with varying grades to suit your experience), rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak, or enjoy the thrill of a jet-boat ride to the mighty Huka Falls. If you’d rather not get wet, relax on a sightseeing cruise on the lake, and keep your eyes open for contemporary Maori rock carvings. 

Afternoon: Geothermal Fun

While nearby Rotorua is well-known for its geothermal activity, the Taupo area offers some equally beautiful and interesting hot-water and mud pools. Spend a couple of hours in the afternoon at Orakei Korako, Wairakei Thermal Valley, or Craters of the Moon. The colorful, bubbling, steaming, pock-marked ground has an otherworldly feel that’s fun for kids and adults alike.

Night: Soak in a Thermal Bath

After a busy day of sightseeing, spend the evening soaking in a thermal bath at Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort. This is a great activity throughout the year: In the colder winter months, the waters will warm you up even when the air is chilly, whereas in the summer there are cooler baths too. You can pay to use a private bath or join a public pool, and kids can also enjoy waterslides and rides.

Adventure sports are big in Taupo, and whether you have experience or want to try something totally new, this central North Island city offers lots of opportunities. Travelers who want a more sedate experience will also find gentle, water-based sightseeing attractions. Here’s how to plan your two days in Taupo.

Day 1: Get Active

**Morning:**Taupo’s scenery is one of its highlights, so spend this morning taking it in. Travelers seeking a serious thrill can get a bird’s-eye view of the caldera lake and surrounding area on a tandem skydive over Lake Taupo, formed by a supervolcanic eruption centuries ago. Alternatively, join a white-water-rafting or jet-boat trip for a less terrifying thrill.

**Afternoon:**Change the pace in the afternoon by renting a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or hop on a sightseeing cruise on Lake Taupo. Whichever you choose, the contemporary Maori stone carvings in a corner of the lake are a lovely spot to check out while paddling or sailing past.

**Night:**If you didn’t opt for an afternoon sightseeing cruise on Lake Taupo, join an evening one instead. In town on a Friday night? Grab dinner at the Friday Night Food Market and tuck in while strolling along the lakefront. 

Day 2: Geothermal Activity

**Morning:**The central North Island is a geothermal wonderland, with hot mud pools, bubbling waters, steaming vents, otherworldly colors, and some interesting smells. Spend your second day in Taupo at a geothermal park just outside the city, and learn about this geological phenomenon, as well as how the local Maori people have used geothermal resources over the centuries.

**Afternoon:**Warm up—or cool down—at Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort in the afternoon. The geothermal water park offers private bathing rooms and outdoor public pools that are warmed to different temperatures. Kids can also enjoy waterslides and other water features.

**Night:**Taupo has a lively, backpacker party scene, so whether you want to grab a local beer (or two) on your last evening in the city and call it an early night or dance into the wee hours, you’re covered.

Stretching all the way from the Great Lake Taupo to Rotorua, the Taupo Volcanic Zone is one of New Zealand’s most famous volcanic regions. Here’s what to expect on a visit, from dramatic craters and bubbling mud pools to steaming geysers.

Orakei Korako

The Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park is one of the country’s largest and most impressive thermal parks, featuring a colorful landscape of fault-stepped silica terraces, hissing geysers, and naturally heated thermal pools. Adventurous travelers can even arrive by jet boat, zipping along the Waikato River through Tutukau Gorge.

Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley

A short drive northeast of Lake Taupo, the Wairakei Valley boasts a wealth of natural wonders, with popular attractions including the Craters of the Moon and Huka Falls. Don’t miss a visit to the Wairakei Terraces, where the silica terraces offer a dreamy backdrop for a dip in the steamy hot pools. 

Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley

Located in Te Puia, just south of Rotorua, the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley is teeming with hot springs, some of which are open for bathing (others are so hot, they’re used to boil food). Additional highlights include a Kiwi bird sanctuary, the Te Puia Maori Arts and Culture Institute, and the Pohutu and Te Horu geysers. 

Waikite Valley

Located along the road to Rotorua, the Waikite Valley thermal pools offer family-friendly hot pools fed by mineral-rich geothermal waters, as well as private pools available for hire. Alternatively, head to nearby Kerosene Creek, where you can take a dip for free.