Taupo - New Zealand Travel Guide
Smack bang in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island lies Taupo, almost mid-way between Auckland and Wellington.
Taupo is a great place to base yourself while exploring the North Island and don’t like to change hotel rooms every night. From Taupo, almost all major tourist attractions on the North Island are within easy reach. Rotorua is only a one-hour drive away, the Waitomo Caves can be reached in two hours and the Art Deco city Napier (also famous for its wine) is also just two hours from Taupo. The town’s also a popular place to crash for the night after a day of skiing on Mt Ruapehu or before and after the Tongariro Crossing.
The two most famous things to see in Taupo are the incredibly clear Lake Taupo and the Huka Falls, the powerful waterfall. These two locations are on every visitor’s list but there is so much more to do in Taupo! You can bungy, bike, ride jet boats, even hire a floating donut with an engine, to name just a few. You can read more about things to do in Taupo here.
Taupo also lies, as the name aptly suggests, on the Taupo Volcanic Zone that reaches from White Island through Rotorua and Taupo to Tongariro National Park. In fact, Lake Taupo is not just the biggest lake in New Zealand but really the massive crater of an active Supervolcano. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean it’s going to erupt anytime soon. But just like in Rotorua, Taupo has geothermal activity and hot springs.
You probably wonder how long to stay in Taupo. While it is a great base to explore the North Island from, most people stay in Taupo for just 1 night or only stop on the Huka Falls on their way to Tongariro. The area really deserves more multi-night stays…
How to get to To Taupo
By plane: Taupo has a very cute regional airport with direct flights from Auckland. If you’re travelling from Wellington or Christchurch, you can fly to Rotorua, rent a car and drive to Taupo.
By car/motorhome: Thanks to its location in the middle of the North Island, Taupo can easily be reached by car from pretty much anywhere. From Auckland to Taupo, it’s about a 3.5 hours drive (270km | 178mi) while the drive from Wellington to Taupo takes about 5 hours (370km | 230mi). The distance from Taupo to Napier in Hawke’s Bay is 140km | 87mi and takes just under 2 hours.
By public transport: Intercity drives regularly between Auckland and Wellington and stops in Taupo along the way. Taking the bus is the cheapest option to get around New Zealand.
