Guidebook for Taupo
Food Scene
Great menu and cabinet food, caters for different diets, and has wonderful friendly staff. Awesome, whimsical and quirky destination café just up the road.
70 locals recommend
L'arté Cafe & Gallery
255 Mapara RdGreat menu and cabinet food, caters for different diets, and has wonderful friendly staff. Awesome, whimsical and quirky destination café just up the road.
Food has never disappointed. Approachable, friendly staff. We recommend you book ahead as we have found them to be full a couple of times we have gone there on a whim!
41 locals recommend
The Bistro
17 Tamamutu StFood has never disappointed. Approachable, friendly staff. We recommend you book ahead as we have found them to be full a couple of times we have gone there on a whim!
Our closest Bar/Restaurant. Cosy atmosphere with a menu to suit any diner- wood fired pizza, bar meals and a traditional restaurant menu. You might be lucky and get some fishing tips if you frequent on Friday nights when the local fishing club meets!
25 locals recommend
The Bay Bar and Brasserie
703 Acacia Bay RdOur closest Bar/Restaurant. Cosy atmosphere with a menu to suit any diner- wood fired pizza, bar meals and a traditional restaurant menu. You might be lucky and get some fishing tips if you frequent on Friday nights when the local fishing club meets!
The Brantry offers incredible food in the centre of Taupo. They have a menu which features 3 courses for $55, or $65 if you have the eye fillet main. Bookings are recommended.
57 locals recommend
The Brantry Restaurant
45 Rifle Range RdThe Brantry offers incredible food in the centre of Taupo. They have a menu which features 3 courses for $55, or $65 if you have the eye fillet main. Bookings are recommended.
Fabulous food and great coffee. Great outside play area for children.
17 locals recommend
Spoon & Paddle
101 Te Heuheu StFabulous food and great coffee. Great outside play area for children.
Our closest takeaways, for a genuine kiwi fish and chip experience!
7 locals recommend
Shaynes Fresh Fish & Chip
150 Acacia Bay RdOur closest takeaways, for a genuine kiwi fish and chip experience!
This is our favorite takeaway- they do have plenty of room to dine in though if you prefer. We have found the meals to be reliably fresh, healthy and delicious, and reasonably priced.
Kebab Turka
35 Tongariro StThis is our favorite takeaway- they do have plenty of room to dine in though if you prefer. We have found the meals to be reliably fresh, healthy and delicious, and reasonably priced.
Essentials
Countdown Taupo
Tongariro StreetPAK'nSAVE
131 Ruapehu StThis is the afterhours pharmacy in Taupo, has extended opening hours but not 24/7 as you may be used to in your home town.
Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy
51 Tongariro StThis is the afterhours pharmacy in Taupo, has extended opening hours but not 24/7 as you may be used to in your home town.
This is one of our 3 local General Practices- for non-urgent medical matters. The practices share afterhours and weekend roster. If you phone here outside of normal opening hours you will be directed to the on call practice.
9 locals recommend
Taupo Medical Centre
117 Te Heuheu StThis is one of our 3 local General Practices- for non-urgent medical matters. The practices share afterhours and weekend roster. If you phone here outside of normal opening hours you will be directed to the on call practice.
Shopping
A busy little market by the river. Food and arts and craft stalls, held every Saturday morning.
29 locals recommend
The Taupo Market
95 Te Heuheu StreetA busy little market by the river. Food and arts and craft stalls, held every Saturday morning.
Everything Else
Loads of free information and helpful advice for visitors here at the Taupo i-site. Located in the centre of town.
31 locals recommend
Taupo i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
30 Tongariro StLoads of free information and helpful advice for visitors here at the Taupo i-site. Located in the centre of town.
Sightseeing
At Huka Falls you can witness the phenomenon of natural hydro power - more than 220, 000 litres of water per second. There are easy and quick lookouts just meters from the carpark, or go on one of several easy longer walks in the area and see more of the Waikato River and NZ Bush.
205 locals recommend
Huka Falls station
At Huka Falls you can witness the phenomenon of natural hydro power - more than 220, 000 litres of water per second. There are easy and quick lookouts just meters from the carpark, or go on one of several easy longer walks in the area and see more of the Waikato River and NZ Bush.
Located about half way between Taupo and Rotorua, we recommend checking out this big pool of bubbling, belching and strangely mesmerising mud! This is free to see, and there is a Carpark right beside it.
Mud Pool
Located about half way between Taupo and Rotorua, we recommend checking out this big pool of bubbling, belching and strangely mesmerising mud! This is free to see, and there is a Carpark right beside it.
Go for a cruise on Lake Taupo on the historic Ernest Kemp. Visits the Maori Carvings, an iconic site that is only accessible by water. The 5pm Cocktail Cruise is great value with pizza, wine and beer included in the ticket price http://www.ernestkemp.co.nz/
19 locals recommend
Ernest Kemp Cruises
2 Redoubt StGo for a cruise on Lake Taupo on the historic Ernest Kemp. Visits the Maori Carvings, an iconic site that is only accessible by water. The 5pm Cocktail Cruise is great value with pizza, wine and beer included in the ticket price http://www.ernestkemp.co.nz/
The Craters of the Moon (COM) geothermal walkway wanders through a weird, other-worldy, landscape featuring bubbling craters and steaming vents. This low-key geothermal attraction is run by a charitable trust. A small admission fee is charged. Open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day) from 8.30am
http://www.cratersofthemoon.co.nz/
42 locals recommend
Craters of the Moon
171 Karapiti RdThe Craters of the Moon (COM) geothermal walkway wanders through a weird, other-worldy, landscape featuring bubbling craters and steaming vents. This low-key geothermal attraction is run by a charitable trust. A small admission fee is charged. Open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day) from 8.30am
http://www.cratersofthemoon.co.nz/
Entertainment & Activities
Thermal Pools, Massage, Maori Experience and thermal walkway. The pools are adult only (14 years plus), so not family friendly but very relaxing! http://www.wairakeiterraces.co.nz/
66 locals recommend
Wairakei Terraces
671 State Hwy 1Thermal Pools, Massage, Maori Experience and thermal walkway. The pools are adult only (14 years plus), so not family friendly but very relaxing! http://www.wairakeiterraces.co.nz/
Go for a parasail 800m up over Lake Taupo! Operates over summer months only and is weather dependant. http://parasailtaupo.com/
14 locals recommend
Big Sky Parasail Ltd.
Go for a parasail 800m up over Lake Taupo! Operates over summer months only and is weather dependant. http://parasailtaupo.com/
A family frendly themal hot pool, several large pools, childrens play area and waterslides as well as private pools (included in admission price, just ask for a key). There is a spa on site as well if you are in the mood for pampering! https://www.taupodebretts.co.nz/taupo-debretts-hot-springs-pools
46 locals recommend
Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort
76 Napier-Taupo RoadA family frendly themal hot pool, several large pools, childrens play area and waterslides as well as private pools (included in admission price, just ask for a key). There is a spa on site as well if you are in the mood for pampering! https://www.taupodebretts.co.nz/taupo-debretts-hot-springs-pools