Adventure, culture, nature, family fun relaxation- these describe what one can find when visiting Taupo, New Zealand. Taupo has many activities including golfing, riding, boating, hiking, fishing, sightseeing, skiing, snowboarding and relaxing.
The town of Taupo can be found tucked away in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand. A popular place to visit is Lake Taupo, which is the largest lake in New Zealand and the second largest freshwater lake in Oceania. Lake Taupo is famous for its fishing. It is home to the largest trout fishery in the world. In addition, visitors can enjoy the water by waterskiing, boating, kayaking or parasailing.
North of Taupo, visitors will find Wairaki Park, home of the Huka Falls. The Huka Falls are the most popular natural attraction in the country. The Huka Falls are part of the Waikato River, which is connected to Lake Taupo. The Huka Falls are located in the where the two bodies of water meet. There are several ways to enjoy this spectacular piece of nature: a boat cruise, a Hula jet ride, or a nature walk along the river.
While in Wairaki Park, stop to visit the Craters of the Moon. Over 26,000 years ago a volcano erupted on the North Island and Lake Taupo was formed. Today, it sits in a volcanic zone. During the 1950’s, the northern region began to get hot and started to release steam. In addition to some volcanic activity, the mud began to boil. These events led to the Craters of the Moon attraction. Visitors can walk along experiencing the effects of steam vents, boiling mud pools, bubbling craters and fumaroles, which are cracks in the surface that release gasses and steam.
The Tongariro National Park is home of three active volcanoes: Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe. One popular activity is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Hikers can explore the beautiful landscape and spectacular volcanic scenery as well as enjoy Lake Taupo and Mount Taranaki. Mount Taranaki offers river rafting, surfing, and snowboarding. In addition to the Alpine Crossing, there are other hikes available that are shorter in length. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful scenery including waterfalls and craters. Those who enjoy skiing and snowboarding can visit Mount Ruapehu. Mount Ruapehu has two ski areas that are generally open between June and October.
For those interested in art and history, the Taupo Museum is located in the heart of Taupo. The museum has an art gallery that features a large variety of New Zealand artists and many different types of art including painting, sculpting, quilting and photography. Visitors can also walk through a huge gallery that displays many artifacts that tell the history of Taupo and New Zealand. In addition, the museum has the beautiful Ora Garden. It is a breathtaking representation of the natural vegetation found in New Zealand.
With moderate temperatures throughout most of the year, and a large variety of attractions and activities, Taupo, New Zealand is a great place to visit during the summer as well as the winter.
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