Taupo is for Water Lovers
Dip into Hot Pools, Lake Taupo, the Huka Falls and Aratiatia Rapids
Aug 21, 2009
In the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, in the center of the Central Plateau, is Taupo, a tranquil village dwarfed by an enormous lake. Despite being set in the middle of nowhere, Taupo is hardly rustic. The lakeside town is blessed with an abundance of modern amenities and a vibrant nightlife and café scene (don’t miss L’Arté, whose art gallery, sculpture garden, and bigger-than-life mosaics are worth more than the price of a cup of coffee).
Along with Rotorua and Queenstown, Taupo forms part of New Zealand’s tourism triumvirate. The similarities between the three are undeniable; not least of all because each paradoxically unites serene landscapes with extreme sports. In fact, with more than 30,000 jumps per year, Taupo is one of the most popular places to sky dive in the world. However, what truly makes Taupo sparkle, shine, and stand out from its sister cities is its water.
Lake Taupo
The city of Taupo sits on the northeastern shores of Lake Taupo. At 606 sq km (or roughly the size of Singapore), Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and the largest freshwater lake in Australasia. Located in the active Taupo Volcanic Zone, the lake inhabits the caldera of a volcano that collapsed approximately 26,500 years ago.
A leisurely walk along the waterfront is certainly one of the best (and cheapest) ways to appreciate the lake and its postcard-perfect views of the three peaks of Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro). Not surprisingly, water sports of all kind, including jet boating, kayaking, waterskiing, and swimming, are practiced here. Famous for its trout fishing, Taupo also lures anglers from all over the world.
Waikato River, Huka Falls and Aratiatia Rapids
Lake Taupo is the source of New Zealand’s longest river, the Waikato. About an hour’s walk north of town are the Huka Falls, which are formed as the normally 100-meter-wide river squeezes through a narrow gorge before plummeting 11 meters into a pool below. Over 220,000 liters of water race past per second, making the Huka Falls New Zealand’s highest volume waterfall. The falls can best be witnessed from a nearby footbridge, or by booking a river cruise or jet boat trip.
Even farther away from town is the Aratiatia Dam, where the natural force of the river is converted into environmentally sustainable hydroelectric power. Each day at 10am, 12 pm, 2pm (and 4pm in the summer), the floodgates are opened and the river flows through the Aratiatia rapids at its natural rate (up to 90,000 liters per second). After thirty minutes, the spill gates are closed and the water recedes, leaving behind a dry riverbed.
Hot Springs and Spa Pools
Like all good geothermal wonderlands, Taupo is replete with geysers, colorful silica terraces, steam vents, and, of course, hot pools. En route to the Huka Falls is Spa Thermal Park, where a low bridge crosses over natural hot pools. Surrounded by trees and plants, these small, shallow pools are the perfect spot for soaking in therapeutic mineral waters. Keep in mind that both the pools and bathers are exposed to the elements (and to the wandering eyes of passersby), and there is no place to change into a bathing suit, other than the bush. More modest or domesticated travelers may prefer the relative privacy of Taupo Hot Springs Spa complex. Whether lounging in an outdoor thermal pool, strolling by the lake, or marveling at the mighty Waikato River, there is no denying that Taupo is an aquatic paradise.
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