| Taupo Township is located in the centre of New | | | | water. There are many air activities in Taupo as |
| Zealand's North Island. Lake Taupo, the largest | | | | well. Scenic flights are popular with visitors and |
| lake in New Zealand is actually the crater of an | | | | flights can be arranged over the mountains, over |
| volcano which erupted many years ago. It was | | | | the Lake or anywhere else in the Lake Taupo |
| one of the biggest eruptions in recorded human | | | | Region. One option is to take a float plane from |
| history. | | | | the lake front of Taupo Township. |
| Taupo is unique because being on the Central | | | | Skydiving is also popular in the Lake Taupo |
| Plateau of the North Island it is close to | | | | Region. Skydiving companies operate from the |
| mountains, lakes, and volcanic activity. The Lake | | | | Taupo Airport area. Skydivers can jump in |
| Taupo Region includes Turangi, Mangakino, and | | | | tandem with an instructor or on their own if they |
| smaller settlements that are near to the Lake. | | | | have done a training course. |
| The seasons in Taupo range from summers | | | | Para-sailing, which is a water and air activity, is |
| which are warm enough to swim in the Lake, and | | | | available on the Lake front as well. A para-sailer is |
| winters which are cold enough so that the three | | | | lifted several hundred feet into the air by a |
| mountains to the south of the Lake are covered | | | | towing boat below. This is a great way to get a |
| in snow. Skiing and other winter activities are very | | | | bird's-eye view of the township as you are towed |
| popular in the winter months. | | | | along the Lake front. |
| Activities on the Lake include water skiing, sailing, | | | | There are large areas of forest with both native |
| fishing, swimming, para-sailing, and fishing. It is also | | | | and exotic trees in the Lake Taupo Region. To |
| where the New Zealand Ironman, which is | | | | the east is the Kaimanawa Forest, which offers |
| broadcast around the world, begins. | | | | good hunting for deer and pigs. To the West of |
| The Tongariro National Park has three mountains | | | | Lake Taupo is the Pureora Forest which is a good |
| including the highest, Mt Ruapehu. The other | | | | forest for hunting as well. To the North-East of |
| mountains are Mt Tongariro, and Mt Ngaruhoe. | | | | Lake Taupo is the large Kaingaroa Forest of |
| During winter months Mt Ruapehu is the best | | | | exotic pine trees which were first planted in the |
| snow skiing mountain and has the Turoa, Tukino, | | | | 1930's. Kaingaroa is a commercial forest and is still |
| and the big Whakapapa ski fields. The whole area | | | | re-planted in blocks after each block has been |
| is great for tramping in at any time of the year | | | | harvested. |
| with the correct equipment. | | | | There are many other outdoor activities which |
| There is also a mountain range to the South-East | | | | are too numerous to mention. A few of them |
| of Lake Taupo called the Kaimanawas which | | | | include hot thermal pools, a velodrome for cycling, |
| stretches from the South of the Lake to Hawke's | | | | the Round-the-Lake-Relay, four wheel driving, |
| Bay, a province on the East Coast of New | | | | horse riding, sports fields and facilities, and lots and |
| Zealand. This range is known for its tramping trails | | | | lots of fishing! |
| and for hunting. | | | | There is surely something for everyone in Taupo. |
| But tourist activities are not limited to land and | | | | |