Lake Taupō
LAKE TAUPŌ
3 ways
Lake Taupō © Destination Great Lake Taupō
WALK IT There’s no resisting a walk along the banks of Taupo’s enormous lake and the 10km Great Lake Pathway (Lion’s Walk) is definitely one of the best. It’s relatively flat and suitable for pushchairs, with plenty of places to stop for coffee breaks, ice cream and swims. If you’d rather walk to Huka Falls, over driving there, sauntering along the banks of the Waikato River from Spa Thermal Park to the falls, takes approximately one hour. For something a little less populous, Pureora Forest Park lies 40 minutes west of Taupō. Walking tracks take trampers deep into a magical and ancient world of moss-covered trees. Within this shadowy abyss, Waihora Lagoon is a large, little-known body of water. When its viewing platform is submerged, standing upon it gives the illusion of walking on water.
SAIL IT The Mine Bay Māori rock carvings are only accessible from the water. These contemporary Māori artworks, which tower 14
metres above Taupō’s emerald lake, tell the story of the great Māori high priest Ngātoroirangi. There are numerous, diverse ways to sail here. You could jump aboard a slick yacht or catamaran on a fully guided trip, or book the more traditional Ernest Kemp, a replica steamboat. If sustainability is important to you, Sail Barbary is New Zealand’s only commercial electric sailboat, and 100% emission and noise free. Sundowner cruises offer a more intimate setting to see the carvings, with beanbags and blankets to snuggle into, while day trips can be more energetic, with passengers getting involved in hoisting the sails and manning the helm. For those more compelled by what lies beneath the water, The Loloma offers Lake Taupō fishing charters and can also accommodate six passengers overnight, offering plenty of downtime for barbecues, sightseeing and water sports.
© Doughboats
DOUGHBOATS ARE A MUST-DO Discover New Zealand’s only doughnutshaped boats: a boat-meets-inflatable doughnut hybrid. Totally self-guided, pack a chilly bin, jump in and explore Lake Taupō.
Finally, there’s also lake kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, or for a different vantage point, parasailing 1000 feet above Lake Taupō in a single, tandem or triple parasail harness.
CYCLE IT The Great Lake Grade 3 Trail straddles the north-western corner of Lake Taupō. This 72km, three-day ride can also be split
into four separate sections (or day rides) comprising the W2K Trail, the K2K, Orakau Trail and the Waihaha Trail. Each section is easily accessible from the lively hub of Kinloch, a 20-minute drive from central Taupō. Highlights include a secret waterfall hidden deep in Waihaha Valley, fantastic views and several secluded swimming spots.
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