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The town of Taupo-nui-Tia
(“the great shoulder cloak of Tia”) or better known by its abbreviated
form, Taupo, got its name from the Arawa canoe explorer who discovered
Lake Taupo.
Lake Taupo covers
608 sq. km (235 sq. miles) and was formed thousands of years ago by volcanic
explosions. Today, Lake Taupo is world famous for trout fishing, yielding
in over 500 tons of rainbow trout annually. For lake excursions, hire
boats are available at the harbor or at the information center near the
restored steamboat, Ernest Kemp. Other special features include:
- Jet-boat rides
across Lake Ohakuri
- The Great Golden
Fleece terrace
- Underground
hot pools in Aladdin’s Cave
 Apart
from lake cruises and activities, do try the famous Taupo Bungy Jump,
which is set against cliff tops high above the crystal clear waters of
Waikato River. Taupo Bungy is one of New Zealand's most spectacular bungy
sites. The scenic backdrop and breathtaking views alone are worth the
visit. Taupo Bungy utilizes the world's first built cantilever bungy platform
that project 20 meters out from the cliff top. The height of the jump
is 47 meters (154 ft) with a river depth of 7-9 meters. Since commencing
operations in 1991, Taupo Bungy has performed over 90,000 jumps, thus
gaining a worldwide reputation for safety standards and professionalism.
Approximately 7 km
(4 miles) north of Taupo is a town called Wairakei,
which offers visitors an interesting geothermal power station. The station
works by drawing heated water from the ground using a series of bores.
This enables the dry steam to be piped to electricity turbines in a nearby
powerhouse. An information center is located at the entrance while the
observation area is at the top of the hill. One of the best international
golf courses in New Zealand is also found in Wairakei.
 Not
far away is the spectacular Huka
(“foam”) Falls
that hurtles down from a narrow gorge over a 12 meter (40-ft) ledge. There
is a footbridge from the opposite side of the river that is probably the
best observation spot. It is also an ideal place for photo shoots. Under
the sunlight, the icy-cold water, a beautiful turquoise-blue color, looks
refreshing and tempting. A short distance away on the banks of Waikato
River is the famous Huka
Fishing Lodge and a replica of the original village.
 For
an awesome experience, observe the frightening abyss of boiling mud or
steam rising from natural fumaroles (chimney-like holes on the ground
although there are some that are just holes in the ground) in the hillside
at the Craters of
the Moon.
The Tongariro
National Park at the southern end of Lake Taupo is a breathtaking
7,600 sq. km (2,930 sq. mile) piece of nature. It contains three active
volcanic mountains, which are Tongariro (1,967 meters/6,453 ft), Ngauruhoe
(2,287 meters/7,503 ft), and Ruapehu (2,797 meters/9,177 ft).
 The
most active of all three mountains is the Ngauruhoe with its last major
eruption in 1954. The awesome snowcapped Ruapehu (exploding hole) introduces
the acidic and bubbling Crater Lake and six other smaller glaciers. The
smallest of the three mountains is Tongariro with a series of small craters
and the Ketetahi hot springs on the northern slopes. For more information
on walking tracks and accommodation huts, contact the Rangers at the national
park headquarters.
For an excellent
view of the snowcapped volcanic summits of the Park, ride on the scenic
flights via floatplanes from the lakefront or fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters.
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