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

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.

A rough guide to the seasons

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, 4×4 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.