Located in the centre of the North Island, Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest lake and a magnet for trout fishing enthusiasts.
Nearby, the thermal area of the Craters of the Moon with their belching sulphurous steam vents offer an interesting experience, enhanced by the Wairakei Geothermal Centre and Volcanic Activity Centre, dedicated to explaining the powerful forces at work below the surface of the earth.
The lake also feeds Huka Falls which is just north of town and is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in New Zealand draining Lake Taupo into the Waikato River in a huge torrent of water.
South of the lake is one of the most scenically impressive locations in New Zealand. Tongariro National Park is home to three major volcanoes, Mounts Tongariro, Ngaurohoe and Ruapehu, and this dramatic volcanic landscape was used to create the kingdom of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mount Ruapehu is the highest point on the North Island standing at 2797 metres and is one of the most active volcanoes in New Zealand, last erupting in spectacular fashion in 1997.
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