Lake
Taupo
Lake Taupo - think Fresh
When you think of the Lake Taupo region, Think Fresh
.... as in fresh air, snow, trout, volcanoes, rivers,
lakes, people, fun, food and attitudes.
Did you know... Lake Taupo itself was created by the largest
known eruption of the past 5,000 years, it was so big
the sun went hazy in China. Today, what remains is a lake
the size of Singapore and the largest fresh water lake
in Australasia.
Where is Lake Taupo?
In the central north island of New Zealand. Only 1 hours
drive from Rotorua.
Volcanic History
Compared with other parts of New Zealand the volcanic
plateau on which Taupo lies, is very young. Around a million
years ago immense pressures were forcing the North Island
upward above the surrounding seas and the oldest of the
central volcanoes, Tongariro, was beginning to form.
Taupo Volcanic Zone
(Information courtesy of The Institute of Geological &
Nuclear Sciences Limited)
The Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited,
is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute offering the
best in independent scientific and consulting services,
and technical advice.About the Taupo Volcano
The vast and scenic Lake Taupo is not always recognised
as a volcano, yet it has had a fiery and violent history.
It has erupted 28 times in the past 27,000 years. Although
most of these eruptions were small, the most recent -
the Taupo eruption of 181AD - was extremely large and
violent.
The shape of Lake Taupo was largely created by the Oruanui
eruption 26,500 years ago. This eruption formed a 500m-deep
caldera (large collapsed crater) that was enlarged by
the 181AD Taupo eruption.
The 26,500 year-old and 181AD eruptions were extraordinarily
complex and violent, and they have attracted interest
from scientists internationally. The other 26 eruptions
in between were small, many not much larger than a typical
Mt Ruapehu eruption.
Facts & Figures
| Facts
& figures on the District - Area |
|
Lake
Taupo area |
616
km2 |
|
Lake
Taupo |
370m |
|
Lake
Taupo (depth) |
164m |
|
Mt
Ruapehu |
2,797m |
|
Mt
Ngaruahoe |
2,290m |
|
Mt
Tongariro |
1,968m |
Climate
Surface temperature
Coldest winter 10.6ºC
Summer average 18.0ºC (up to 25ºC in the shallows in summer)
If you are looking at visiting us, then this is the weather
you can expect. It`s based on averages over the past 35
years.
| |
Average Daily
Max (Celcius) |
Average Daily Min (Celcius) |
Average Daily Mean (Celcius) |
Monthly Rain
(mm) |
Monthly Sun (hours) |
 |
| Jan |
23.4 |
11.5 |
17.4 |
80 |
231 |
| Feb |
23.5 |
11.5 |
17.5 |
77 |
198 |
| Mar |
21.3 |
9.9 |
15.6 |
80 |
182 |
| Apr |
17.9 |
7.3 |
12.6 |
74 |
161 |
| May |
14.3 |
4.9 |
9.6 |
84 |
134 |
| Jun |
11.8 |
3.3 |
7.5 |
93 |
105 |
| Jul |
11.2 |
2.3 |
6.7 |
101 |
122 |
| Aug |
12.2 |
3.1 |
7.6 |
99 |
133 |
| Sep |
14.2 |
4.7 |
9.4 |
93 |
146 |
| Oct |
16.7 |
6.2 |
11.4 |
84 |
182 |
| Nov |
19.2 |
8.1 |
13.6 |
73 |
197 |
| Dec |
21.6 |
10.4 |
16.0 |
107 |
211 |
A rough guide to the seasons
| • |
Summer
- December, January, February. Warm days
but be prepared for cooler evenings than you might
expect due to the altitude. |
| • |
Autumn/Fall
- March, April, May. Warm at the beginning, cooling
down by May. |
| • |
Winter
- June, July, August. Cooler days, frosts on some
nights. Some snow on the mountain tops, very rarely
around the lake edges. |
• |
Spring
- September, October, November. Cooler days at
the beginning, warming up towards the end. Still
some snowfalls on the mountain tops.Fire and Ice |
Tongariro World Heritage National Park contains three
magnificent volcanoes - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt
Ngauruhoe (which stars as the scary ‘Mt Doom’
in the movie “Lord of the Rings”). Drive right
around the lot on the famous Volcanic Loop Highway. See
them from above on a breathtaking scenic flight. Or if
you want to get real close, the 17km Tongariro Crossing
is considered the best one day hike in New Zealand.
Mt Ruapehu has the award winning Turoa and Whakapapa
ski areas on its slopes. Together they make up the largest
ski area in New Zealand with 1,800 hectares of groomed
snow. Being in volcano country, the region is also famous
for its many geothermal attractions.
Both the Taupo and Tokaanu townships offer weary travellers
the ultimate health spa experience - the chance to luxuriate
in bubbling, hot natural mineral waters with nothing above
you except the stars. Just minutes north of Taupo near
the village of Wairakei are boiling mud pools, thermal
valleys and steaming geysers plus brilliantly coloured
silica terraces. Hot stuff alright.
Adventure Plus
Got ants in your pants or a teenager in your family? The
Lake Taupo region has every adrenalin pumping adventure
you could want. And a heap you’ve never tried before
we bet. Options include jetboating, 4x4 motorbiking, white
water rafting, kayaking jet skiing, tandem skydiving,
bungy jumping, horse trekking, parasailing, replica racecar
driving, mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing, skiing
and snowboarding.
But it’s not just the “man-made” attractions
that make the Lake Taupo region an adventure-junkies paradise.
Take a moment to look around your surroundings. Wild,
unspoilt, unmatched. The little town of Turangi at the
southern end of the Lake is “Adventure Central”.
On its doorstep are the Tongariro River, Tongariro National
Park, Kaimanawa Ranges, Lake Taupo and the Whakapapa and
Turoa Ski Areas.
Visit
the Lake Taupo website
|
