Lake Taupo is the size of Singapore and it’s slap bang in the middle of the country’s North island, right in the heart of the Central Plateau region. Originally a giant crater formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, Lake Taupo is the largest fresh water lake in Australasia, with water so clean a few zillion trout call it home. The city of Taupo is located on the Northeast of the lake with the Tongariro National Park off to the South. If you’re looking for clean green New Zealand, with a dash of extreme sports, then this is the place.

The region is one of the top destinations for tourists, pulling in well over one million a year. As well as being an exciting adventure sports playground, the lake provides world class fishing and the volcanic backdrop of snow capped mountains, mud pools and streams is simply stunning. Schedule yourself a little time to explore the rural towns and madcap thrills which abound and the thundering Huka Falls, NZ’s most visited natural attraction.

Taupo is a great base for exploring the area and for booking up all your activities. Bungy and sky diving are very popular here, so get out of your comfort zone and let gravity be your guide. The city also comes with a full complement of backpacker bars, lakeshore cafes and scrummy restaurants. Recently it has become something of a competitive sports mecca, playing host to a whole fleet of sporting competition the year round, including A1 Grand Prix, Ironman, waterski and cycle races.

Tongariro National Park, NZ’s oldest National Park, is a World Heritage site consisting of ancient forests and volcanic landscapes - ideal for the hardy trekkers amongst you. The trails are varied and will take you from lake shore to mountain peaks. Head up the massive Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano which erupted last in 1995, to find New Zealand’s two largest ski areas, Whakapapa and Turoa. The whole area of the Tongariro National Park is legendary for its dramatic and eerie scenery, brought to the big screen as mystical Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.

The plateau is one of the most scenic areas in the North Island and has heaps on offer for the traveler, both in summer and in winter, including fishing, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, tramping, golf, more fishing, thermal springs and a couple of really good delis!

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO
	Strap an elastic band to your feet and jump off of something! Bungy galore round these parts.
	Tootle up the Huka River in a jet boat to the famous Huka Falls and watch as over 200,000 litres of water tumbles over the cliff face every second! Check out the prawn farm along the way.
	Walk the famous Tongariro Crossing or one of the other volcanic trails in the Tongariro National Park. Gasp at the view from the summit of Mount Ruapehu. Take pictures.
	The Holy Cow – one of the best backpacker bars in the country. Pack a spare liver.
	Do the Craters of the Moon walk at Wairakei geothermal park, then enjoy a relaxing hot soak in the thermal baths. Hot pools are the bomb, baby!
	Lord of the Rings fans, check out the chilling Mount Doom (Mt Ngauruhoe) in Tongariro national park.
	Enjoy the sweet sticky stuff? or just have a thing for bees? The Honey Hive in Taupo offers a huge selection of honey based products as well as a few glass-enclosed hives. We can’t get enough of their delicious homemade honey ice-cream!!
	Grab your board or your sticks and check out the black runs at Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields.
	Trout fishing is the best in Turangi – approved by JR Hartley, author of ‘Fly fishing’.
	Skydive – it’s safe, it’s crazy and it’s amazing! Go on, I dare you…..