Enjoying a great central location in town and being an easy five minute stroll from the shoreside of famous Lake Taupo, Haka House Taupo brings a touch of backpacker luxury to the Taupo accommodation scene.
With private and shared room options available, and facilities that include a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living room, movie room, hot tub, outdoor terrace with BBQ and garden, laundry and free Wi-Fi, guests will find Haka House Taupo to be a convenient and comfortable homebase that’s close to cafes, bars, pubs and supermarkets, as well as the many Taupo tourist attractions and activities waiting to be discovered.
And much there is to discover, with Taupo being particularly popular among nature-lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. Nestled along the edge of Lake Taupo – New Zealand’s largest lake with a surface area roughly the size of Singapore – this is a destination where the days can be spent enjoying the likes of trout fishing, mountain biking, hiking and trekking, sailing, cruising, kayaking and river rafting, and the evenings whiled away with lakeside meals and relaxing dips in naturally heated geothermal pools.
Among the must-see places to visit in Taupo are the thundering Huka Falls, the fascinating Craters of the Moon geothermal valley, the beautiful Maori rock carving at Mine Bay, and the deliciously entertaining Huka Prawn Park. All of these are great Taupo family activities, too, for Mum and Dad traveling with the kids.
Ten minutes’ drive from Haka House Taupo, north out of town, Huka Falls is an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature’s power. In what can be described as something like a fire hose being fed into a fine nozzle, the 100-m wide Waikato River suddenly enters a shallow ravine of hard volcanic rock through which the previously placid waters roar and surge before bursting out over the 11-m falls to a turbulent crescendo below – at over 220,000 litres per second.
Just three kilometers from Huka Falls, the hissing and bubbling landscape of geysers, craters and boiling mud pools known as Craters of the Moon can be viewed from a network of wooden boardwalks and viewing platforms.
Reached only by boat or kayak, the Maori rock carving located at Mine Bay on Lake Taupo has become an iconic cultural attraction of the region since being created in the 1970s by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell. The main carving is over 10 m high, and took four summers to complete.
Huka Prawn Park is a 10 minute drive from town, with plenty of entertainment and activities like aqua trikes, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards, water cannons and an interactive adventure trail, as well as a tour through the onsite nursery and hatchery with the chance to hand-feed baby prawns. At the riverside restaurant, giant freshwater prawns can be enjoyed in delectable fashion – by the kilogram tossed in garlic butter, in a curry, or lightly battered with a crisp cider or local craft beer.
During the annual ski season of June to October, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park with its three mountains – Mt. Ruapehu, Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Tongariro – offers world-class skiing an hour and a half’s drive from Taupo. The action is focused mostly on Mt. Ruapehu, with two of its three ski areas – Whakapapa and Turoa – being the largest in New Zealand and boasting some of the country’s longest ski runs.
This 80,000 hectare national park is actually home to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic and most beautiful landscapes. Emerald lakes, subalpine meadows, old lava flows, lush forests, volcanic slopes… it’s an area of staggering natural beauty that rightly places it among the top Taupo tourist attractions and places to visit in Taupo.
Various walking trails offer the opportunity to explore this amazing area, among them the one day Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19.4 km), half day Taranaki Falls Track (six km), and four day Tongariro Northern Circuit (45 km).
As the southern hemisphere welcomes the cooler embrace of autumn, New Zealand transforms into a canvas of warm hues and crisp, inviting weather. Autumn in New Zealand, stretching from March to May, is a spectacle of nature not to be missed. Experience the stunning autumnal colours, diverse activities, and breathtaking landscapes each region has to offer.
Whether it’s on the water, through the mountains, over the racecourse, or in the rugby stands, New Zealand’s sports scene is set to thrill. As you plot which events to participate in or watch in 2025, consider pairing your adventure with comfort and convenience by staying at Haka House.
Wondering where to eat and drink in Queenstown? There’s plenty of foodie spots, including a wide range of great cafes and restaurants to explore. Whether you’re craving burgers or sweet treats, we’ve got you covered. Here are some yummy spots to add to your itinerary!
The road trip from Queenstown up to Lake Tekapo (or vice versa) is a really lovely journey, definitely worth taking. Along the way, you’ll experience breathtaking landscapes and charming towns that will make you want to stop quite often to soak it all in. This road trip offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.