Things to Do in Lake Taupō

A few facts

Lake Taupō is the largest lake in New Zealand and roughly comparable in area to Singapore. It’s technically a dormant volcano: a vast caldera formed by the Oruanui eruption around 26,500 years ago, one of the largest volcanic events anywhere on Earth in the last 70,000 years. The crater it left behind filled with water to become the lake we know today, which feeds the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest.

We spent four days in the town of Taupō and managed to fit in a lot. Driving down from Auckland takes around three and a half hours and feels a world away from the hustle of New Zealand’s biggest city. Below is what we got up to, a sort of suggested itinerary if you’re planning your own trip.

In this article

• Walking
• Mountain biking
• Fishing
• Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort
• Huka Falls
• Craters of the Moon
• Aratiatia Rapids
• Taupō Bungy
• The Māori rock carvings cruise
• The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, close by
• Your questions answered

Walking

You can walk stretches of the lakeshore itself, but the most popular tracks are a short drive away. We visited Opepe Reserve (about 15 km from Taupō) and spent a few hours on the cemetery track, bird spotting and taking in the bush. Another good option is the Great Lake Pathway, still known locally as the Lion’s Walk, a shared walking and cycling track built by the Taupō Lions Club that runs roughly 10 km from the Boat Harbour out to Five Mile Bay. There are swimming spots, hot water pools along the shore, playgrounds and toilets dotted along the route, and it’s an easy, flat walk with lovely views across to the Tongariro National Park mountains.

Beauty of a spot in Taupō.

Mountain biking

Our bikes come everywhere with us; they make getting around a breeze. New Zealand was made for mountain biking, and Taupō is no exception. The Great Lake Trails run for around 90 km along the lakeshore across three sections (Waihāhā, Kawakawa and Whakaipo), rideable year round thanks to the free-draining volcanic pumice soil. We rode a portion of it, and it’s easily a multi-day ride if you want to do the lot.

Fishing: the thing to do in Lake Taupō

Lake Taupō is well stocked with brown and rainbow trout, plus native crayfish and whitebait in season. The lake is large enough that you’re never shoulder to shoulder with other anglers. The best time to fish is during spawning season, though fish can be caught year round, and the spots where rivers and streams feed into the lake tend to fish best. If you’d rather have someone take you out, Chris Jolly Outdoors is still operating and comes recommended.

One thing worth knowing: Taupō has its own separate fishing licence, distinct from the rest of New Zealand, administered by DOC. For the 2026/27 season the daily bag limit was increased from six trout to eight, so check current rules and buy your licence online before you head out.

Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort

DeBretts (now trading as Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort) is a thermal hot pool complex. It takes a little getting used to, swimming and paddling in naturally warm water, but it’s quite an experience. Drink plenty of water while you’re in the pools; it’s easy to get dehydrated, and you shouldn’t drink the pool water or put your head under.

DeBretts hot pools.

Huka Falls

No trip to Taupō is complete without a visit to Huka Falls, less than 2 km from town whichever direction you’re coming from. The Waikato River narrows dramatically here, from around 100 metres wide to a canyon just 15 metres across, and the result is a genuinely powerful waterfall, with well over 200,000 litres of water a second forced through the gap (and considerably more at peak flow, depending on how the upstream control gates are set). It’s worth seeing from the walking bridge above, and if you fancy something more adventurous, Hukafalls Jet still runs jet boat trips right up to the base of the falls.

Huka Falls.

Craters of the Moon

A short drive from Huka Falls, Craters of the Moon (Karapiti) is a geothermal walkway through steaming vents, bubbling mud and craters, and genuinely worth the stop even if you’ve seen geothermal areas elsewhere in the central North Island. It’s open daily from 9:30am to 5pm (last entry 4pm), with an adult entry fee of around NZ$10 as of writing, though we’d always recommend booking or checking current pricing online before you go, since these things change.

Aratiatia Rapids

Just north of Huka Falls, the Aratiatia Rapids are a genuine spectacle and completely free to watch. Three warning sirens sound a few minutes apart, then the dam gates open and the dry riverbed becomes a churning white-water rapid in a matter of minutes. Releases currently run around four times a day in summer (roughly 10am, midday, 2pm and 4pm) and three times a day in winter, each lasting about 15 minutes, though we’d check the current schedule before you plan your visit, as release times can shift. Arrive ten minutes early to get parked and find a good viewing spot.

Taupō Bungy

If you fancy an adrenaline hit, Taupō Bungy is a short drive from town and claims New Zealand’s only clifftop bungy jump, around 47 metres above the turquoise Waikato River. You can jump solo or tandem, and choose whether to stay dry or get dunked. It’s open most days of the year; book online for current pricing and availability.

The Māori rock carvings cruise

The Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori rock carvings were our wildcard purchase on our trip; we had a spare day and hadn’t yet been out on the lake. The carvings, towering 14 metres above the water, were carved between 1976 and 1980 by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell and a small team of artists, so they’re relatively recent by Māori carving standards, but they’re of huge cultural significance, both to local iwi and to Taupō tourism today.

There are several ways to see them, reachable by boat only. We went with Sail Barbary, which now runs New Zealand’s first commercial electric sailing yacht on the lake, completely emissions and noise free. The cruise itself was genuinely enjoyable rather than boring, and the crew told the stories of the carvings and the lake’s history with real enthusiasm, and even let us have a go at sailing. Other options include the Ernest Kemp replica steamboat, or paddling yourself out by kayak if you fancy a bit more adventure.

Māori rock carvings.

Top tip: Book accommodation well ahead of your visit. It’s easy to underestimate how busy New Zealand gets between September and March. We’d suggest BookaBach for private homes you won’t always find on Airbnb, and your usual booking site for current availability of motels, hotels and guesthouses in the area.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, close by

If you have an extra day, Taupō is one of the easiest bases from which to tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, widely rated one of the best day walks in the country. It’s around 73 km, roughly an hour and twenty minutes’ drive or shuttle ride from town, and several operators run early morning pickups direct from Taupō accommodation. We’ve written a full guide to the wider national park, including what else to do there beyond the Crossing itself, if you want to make a few days of it.

For a little more adventure closer to the lake, you could also kayak out to the rock carvings instead of cruising. Or do what we did after four straight days of activity: grab a couple of local beers, sit back, and let the lake do the rest.

Taupō will always hold a special place for us; it’s the first place we ever went skydiving, back in 2009. If you’re building out a longer trip, our New Zealand travel itineraries hub has full route ideas, and our guide on how to travel New Zealand on a budget will help you stretch your money further across all these activities.

Are you heading to Lake Taupō? If you had another day there, what would you add to the list? We’d love to hear from you via our contact page.

Your questions answered

How many days do you need in Taupō?

We’d suggest at least three to four days to cover the highlights properly: Huka Falls, Craters of the Moon, the Māori rock carvings, and time on or around the lake itself, without feeling rushed. Add an extra day if you want to tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing while you’re there.

How do you see the Māori rock carvings at Mine Bay?

They’re only reachable by water, so you’ll need a cruise, a sailing trip or a kayak. Options include Sail Barbary’s electric sailing yacht, the Ernest Kemp replica steamboat, or paddling yourself out on a guided kayak tour.

Do you need a special licence to fish in Lake Taupō?

Yes. Taupō has its own fishing licence separate from the rest of New Zealand, sold online through DOC. Bag limits and rules are reviewed regularly (the daily limit rose from six to eight trout for the 2026/27 season), so check current regulations before you go.

When does the Aratiatia Dam release water?

Currently around four times a day in summer and three times a day in winter, with three warning sirens sounding a few minutes apart before each release. Times do shift occasionally, so check the current schedule before you plan your visit, and arrive about ten minutes early for a good viewing spot.

How far is Taupō from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?

Around 73 km, roughly an hour and twenty minutes by road. Several shuttle operators run early morning return services directly from Taupō, which makes it an easy add-on to a few days based in town.

Is Huka Falls worth visiting?

Yes, and it’s free to view from the walking bridge above the falls. The Waikato River is squeezed from around 100 metres wide into a 15 metre gorge here, creating a genuinely powerful waterfall. If you want a closer look, jet boat trips run right up to the base.