Taupo Travel Guide
Taupo is on the North Island of New Zealand and sits on the shores of Lake Taupo (hence the name). It’s part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, an area that has had high volcanic activity for the past 2 million years. Lake Taupo itself is the flooded caldera of the Taupo Volcano (and the volcanic landscapes here are truly otherworldly!).
Taupo is one of my favorite spot in the entire country. I just love the small-town vibes, sitting by the lake, and all the nearby hikes. I could have stayed here for weeks.
Taupo has tons of incredible hikes (it’s the jumping-off point for the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing), lots of fishing and boating excursions, charming local markets, and stunning nature (including the impressive Huka Falls).
Think of it like a quieter version of Queenstown, the South Island’s adventure and party capital. Don’t miss Taupo when you visit New Zealand!
This travel guide to Taupo can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit.
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Top 5 Things to See and Do in Taupo
1. Go skydiving
Taupo is known for having the best skydiving in New Zealand. Lake Taupo provides an incredible backdrop with snow-capped mountains and bright blue waters painting the canvas for your descent. You can choose from a 2,743-meter (9,000-foot) jump or a 5,638-meter (18,500-foot) jump. The higher the jump, the longer you get to free fall. You can also take a full-day course to learn how to skydive on your own.
2. Visit Huka Falls
This is one of the fastest-moving waterfalls in New Zealand, with over 220,000 liters (52,834 gallons) passing by every second (that’s an Olympic swimming pool every 11 seconds) on its way to drain into Lake Taupo. You can easily walk here from town in under an hour along a picturesque riverside path or you can also hop on a boat tour to the base of the falls.
3. Spend a day at Lake Taupo
The lake is the main attraction in town, its boardwalk brimming with delicious restaurants and lakeshore hikes. It’s a popular place to go trout fishing, sailing, jet-skiing, swimming, and boating. There are lots of operators right at the piers that you can choose from (that’s how we found our fishing guide). The Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings, a contemporary work of art carved into the rock face using traditional methods, is a popular attraction that can only be viewed by boat. You can take a two-hour sailboat tour of the lake as well.
4. Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Considered the best day hike in New Zealand, this crossing goes through epic dramatic landscapes, including the spot where they filmed Mordor from The Lord of the Rings. The hike traverses Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage Site (for both its natural and cultural importance) and New Zealand’s oldest national park. The 19-kilometer (12-mile) trek is free and takes between 6-9 hours. You can get return transportation as well since you can only park for 4 hours in the parking lot. If you’re doing a longer hike, there are several shuttles to choose from.
5. See the Waipahihi Botanical Reserve
Spanning 34 hectares (86 acres), the Waipahihi Botanical Reserve is a haven for birdlife and native trees. There are numerous walkways and themed trails, beautiful lake and mountain views, and picturesque picnic areas. Some themed trails are dedicated to a particular type of flower, like the rhododendron, and the Floral Walk features a mix of native and exotic trees and shrubs that flower. Spring (September-November) is the best time to see the flowers blooming in the gardens. Admission is free though donations are appreciated.
Other Things to See and Do in Taupo
1. Go bungy jumping
If you haven’t tried it in any other region, do it here as Taupo is home to New Zealand’s highest water touch bungy (you’ll drop from 47 meters/154 feet above the Waikato River). There’s also the Cliffhanger Swing, which lets you swing up to 180 degrees, reaching a speed of up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour! This is one of the more affordable bungy options in New Zealand.
2. Enjoy the hot springs at Turangi
Turangi is a small town located 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Taupo. Here you’ll find a lot of geothermal hot springs. On the short (15-20 minute) Tokaanu Thermal Walk, you can hike through all the geothermal activity, and then end with a soak in the more developed public and private swimming pools. It makes for a relaxing afternoon after all the more extreme activities in the area.
3. Visit the Lake Taupo Museum and Art Gallery
This small museum, located near the center of town, contains exhibits on the Maori, volcanic events, and early European history of Taupo. A Maori meeting house is also recreated within the building and exhibitions by local artists are ongoing. Don’t miss the Moa skeleton which was found by two young boys nearby in Waikaremoana back in 1969. You can also visit the award-winning Ora garden, filled with native flora and geothermal springs. The garden was the 2024 winner of the Chelsea Flower Show gold medal.
4. Climb Mount Tauhara
This dormant volcano sits on the eastern edge of town and can be climbed fairly easily. You can start at the parking lot at the end of Mountain Road and follow the signs up the hill. (FYI: The start of the climb is a little steep.) The 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) hike takes about 1.5 hours to get to the top. There are a lot of birds around, and the view at 1,008 meters (3,307 feet) above sea level over the lake is pretty remarkable.
5. Relax in Butcher’s Pool
NNamed for one of the first settlers in the area, Butcher’s Pool fills from both hot and cold mineral springs. A natural thermal spring fills the man-made pool and this spot is rarely crowded. It’s also free to visit. It’s located 40 kilometers (25 miles) from town, but if you can get out here, I highly recommend going. Though it’s not surrounded by forest, it’s very easy to access and provides a lot of seating within the pool.
6. Go skiing
If you’re visiting in winter, head to the Turoa Ski Area, home of New Zealand’s highest chairlift. Located in the Tongariro National Park, its slopes are suitable for all levels. Thanks to Mount Ruapehu’s southwest slopes and its unique volcanic terrain, this area is famous for its steep chutes, dramatic drops, and snow-filled basins. There is gear for rent or purchase, as well as a ski school. Passes for prices vary depending on if you’re going on a weekday or weekend. They become a bit cheaper if you buy a multi-day pass. You can also get a package that includes a group ski or snowboard lesson, lift pass, and gear rental costs.
7. See the Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon is a walkway that meanders through an otherworldly geothermal lunar landscape, filled with steam vents and craters. The landscape is relatively new, too, resulting from human settlement in the area. The main track is an easy-going 45-minute loop through the area, but you can add an extra 20-minute hike for better views from a higher viewpoint. There’s a small fee to access the trail, which starts 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Taupo.
8. Go jet boating on the Waikato River
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, try jet boating on the Waikato River, the longest river in New Zealand. You’ll hit some rapids, pass through scenic forests and volcanic landscapes, and get up close to the massive Huka Falls. There’s a natural hot spring you’ll pass through and get a chance to feel the warm water. You’ll learn about the Geothermal Power Station along the way and get a chance to spot native birds in their natural surroundings. Rides last 30-45 minutes.
9. Walk around Western Bay
Western Bay has some pleasant walking trails and scenic viewpoints. The Rimu Walking Track takes just 30 minutes and is a pleasant loop through beautiful forests. For something a little longer, try the three-hour Waihaha Tramping Track. There are also several cycling paths in the area. The Port to Park trail will give you incredible views of the harbor, and the Historic Tauranga trail will take you past historical sites where you can learn about the interactions between the Maori tribes and British settlers. The bay is just 45 minutes away from Taupo by car.
10. Go trout fishing
Lake Taupo and its rivers are a trout fishing mecca. The town of Turangi is known as the ‘Trout Fishing Capital of New Zealand’ and is a great place to base yourself to experience the best that New Zealand trout and fly fishing has to offer. You can book a six-hour excursion or a full-day trip is around through organized operators, though you can usually find guys who will just take you out on their boat for a lot less than the formal groups. Most restaurants in town will cook your catch for you if you don’t have access to a kitchen. You can read about my experience trout fishing here.
11. Hike Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu is a 90-minute drive from Lake Taupo and offers some excellent hiking. The Skyline Ridge hike can be done in 1.5-2 hours, round trip. The route climbs to an altitude of 2,300 meters (7,545 feet), where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo. You can also hike Meads Wall, which is a spectacular volcanic rock formation popular with rock climbers.
How to Stay Safe in Taupo
Taupo is a safe city with a low crime rate, making it a safe place to backpack and travel. Still, all travelers should take the normal precautions you would at home, like being aware of your personal belongings at all times, and never leaving your drink unattended in a bar.
Crime (including petty theft) is extremely rare. While you still won’t want to flash your valuables around, you needn’t be hyper-vigilant here. It’s a very safe small town. Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions apply like never leaving your drink unattended at the bar, walking home alone intoxicated at night, etc. Check out one of the many solo female travel blogs for specific information.
When hiking or spending time in the outdoors, be sure to check the weather in advance. Always bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Be sure to tell someone where you’re going (and when you expect to be back) as well.
If driving to a hiking trail or park, don’t leave any valuables in your car. Break-ins are rare but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As earthquakes and tsunamis do occur in New Zealand, consider downloading the Hazard App from the Red Cross. It has all kinds of advice and tips for natural disasters and also sends out warnings and notifications should a disaster occur.
If you do experience an emergency, dial 111 for assistance.
Always trust your gut instinct and ake copies of your important documents like your passport.
The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance, especially if you’re participating in any adventure activities. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:
Where to Stay in Taupo
Despite being a small town, Taupo has some nice hostel options along with affordable hotels. Here are some of my recommended places to stay:
Taupo Travel Costs
Accommodation
- Hostel Dorms – 40-60 NZD per night
- Hostel private rooms – 100-150 NZD per night
- Budget hotels – 130-170 NZD per night
- Traditional B&Bs – 220-275 NZD per night
- Luxury Hotels – 300+ per night
- Airbnb private rooms – 85-120 NZD per night
- Airbnb apartments – 120-170 NZD per night
- Campsite – 20-25 NZD per night
- Cabins – 60-100 NZD per night
Food
- Cheap eats (sandwiches, pizza) – 15-35 NZD
- Casual take-out places – 30-36 NZD
- Sit-down restaurants – 50-85 NZD
- Fast food (think McDonald’s) – 15 NZD
- Beer – 10 NZD
- Glass of wine – 9-15 NZD
- Cappuccino/latte- 5-6 NZD
- Bottled water – 2 NZD
- Groceries for a week – 120-170 NZD
Taupo Suggested Budgets
Backpacker – 125 NZD Per Day
On this backpacker budget, you’ll stay in a hostel dorm, cook your own meals, limit your drinking, use public transportation to get around (or walk), and stick to mostly free activities like hiking. If you plan on drinking, add 20 NZD to your daily budget.
Midrange – 275 NZD Per Day
On a midrange budget, you can stay in a private room, eat out for most meals, drink a few beers, enjoy a few budget attractions, take some taxis here and there, and share a rental car to get around. You won’t live large but you’ll be comfortable.
Upscale – 500+ NZD Per Day
On this budget, you can stay in an upscale hotel, eat out for all your meals, take some guided tours, rent a car to get around, and do pretty much anything you want. The sky is the limit if you’re spending this much!
Taupo Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips
Unless you plan on doing a lot of adventure tours in Taupo, you can easily stick to a budget here. Your biggest expenses are going to be food and drink so limiting both will give you the biggest savings! Here are some additional tips to help you save money in Taupo:
Bring a reusable water bottle – Tap water is safe in New Zealand so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic consumption. For extra security, use a LifeStraw bottle as it has a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe.
Explore for free – Taupo has heaps of free activities like hikes, visiting the lake, and going to the mountains. There’s always something to do here for free, especially if you enjoy the outdoors!
Shop at the Saturday market – Every Saturday from 9am-1pm (rain or shine) there is a market selling fresh produce and local crafts. There is also an art exhibition which you can wander around for free.
Cook your own meals – Restaurants here aren’t that cheap. I suggest cooking your own meals as often as you can to keep your budget intact. It’s not glamorous, but it’s affordable!
Stay with a local – While there are not many Couchsurfing hosts available in the area there are still some. Not only will you get a free place to stay but you’ll get insider tips from a local!
Reedeem hotel points – Make sure you sign up for hotel credit cards so you can use the points to pay for accommodations on your trip. Most cards give you 1-2 nights free just for signing up, which can save a lot of money. Here’s a post that will help you get started with the basics so you can start earning points now and have plenty saved up by the time you leave.
Avoid the high season – Prices will be upwards of 30% higher during the summer months. Avoid peak tourist season if you can!
Find deals at bookme.co.nz – If you’re looking for tours and activities and are flexible with your dates, this website often has great deals. (You can find activities for up to 50% off!). Also, try grabone.co.nz for more deals.
Get a temporary job – If you’re running low on money and still have plenty of time left in New Zealand, check Backpackerboard.co.nz for temporary paying gigs.
Get a Bee Card – The Bee Card will save you a ton on public transportation. A single bus ride is 4 NZD if you pay cash, but it’s only 1.20 NZD if you have the Bee Card. It also caps your fares for a week at 10.80 NZD. The card costs 5 NZD to get, but you’ll save that much with your rides (there are 10 total regions that use this card). You can order a card online or pick one up at designated retailers in the area.
Transport vehicles – Campervan and car relocation services will provide you with a free vehicle and gas as you drive it from one destination to another. This can be a great way to save a lot of money if you’re flexible with timing. Check Transfercar.co.nz to see what’s available.
Stay in a campervan – Exploring the Taupo region via campervan is a popular way to save money. Download the Campermates app to find campsites, gas stations, and dump stations.
WWOOF it – WWOOFing is a great way to work for your accommodation and food if you’re on a budget. In return for working on a farm or B&B, you get free room and board. It’s a popular activity with travelers because it lets you stay in a place cheaper and longer. You can do it for a few days or a few months. Keep in mind, that most farms require you to have some experience, as too many inexperienced workers have caused trouble in the past.
How to Get Around in Taupo
Taupo is a small town and you can go almost anywhere in town on foot.
Public transportation – The Taupo Connector is the local bus. One-way cash fares start at 4 NZD. You can get a Bee Card to lower your fares to as little as 1.20 NZD. Bee Cards cost 5 ZND and can be loaded with money. There’s a weekly fare cap of 10.80 NZD with the Bee Card, so you’ll never pay more than that for a week of bus use.
For intercity travel, buses are your cheapest option. The bus to Auckland takes around 5.5 hours and costs 35-70 NZD while going to Wellington costs between 35-80 NZD for the 6-hour journey.
Bike rental – You can rent bikes for 35 NZD for two hours. Expect to pay around 65 NZD for a full-day rental. E-bikes start at 125 NZD for a daily rental.
Taxis – Taxis start at 3 NZD and go up by 3.80 NZD per kilometer. Avoid them if you can since they aren’t cheap!
There is no Uber here.
Car rental – For a small car, expect to pay around 55 NZD per day. Make sure you have an International Driving Permit as they are required. You can get one in your home country before you leave. To find the best rental car prices, use Discover Cars. You can get a free quote using this widget:
When to Go to Taupo
It’s best to visit Taupo in the summer, from December to March (remember we’re in the southern hemisphere). Even though it’s peak tourist season, you’ll have a pleasant temperature (22°C/71°F) and it won’t rain much. Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy all the outdoor activities!
The temperature is not that cold in winter, which is from June to August, but it rains a lot and the hills are snowy. Expect daily highs around 9°C (48°F). Some businesses close down or have limited hours in the winter. That said, winter is a good season for fishing should you be interested.
You can also visit Taupo in spring and autumn, but the weather is a bit unpredictable. It’s much cheaper during this time so if you’re on a tight budget this might be your best choice.
Taupo Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources
These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.
- Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
- Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
- Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
- Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
- EatWith – This website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that you can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
- bookme.co.nz – You’ll get some really good last minute deals and discounts on this website! Just select what area you’re traveling in, and see what activities are on sale.
- treatme.co.nz – The locals use this website to find discount hotels, restaurants, and tours. You can save up to 50% off things like catamaran sailing lessons or three-course dinners.
- SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
- LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
- Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
- Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
Taupo Travel Guide: Related Articles
Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Taupo travel and continue planning your trip:
