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North Island
NAPIER - TAUPO (143km/ 89miles,
2hours)
Drive in your Budget Campers Motor Home Rentals north
from Napier on State Highway 2 and turn left at the Napier/Taupo
intersection onto State Highway 5. Travellers will now find
themselves on the Thermal Explorer Highway touring route to Lake
Taupo.
Lake Taupo, created from a major
volcanic eruption and New Zealand's largest lake, is one of the
North Island's most popular holiday destinations both in summer
and in winter.
Taupo's attractions and
activities include:
- Trout fishing: charter
an excursion to catch the elusive rainbow or brown trout
on Lake Taupo, or go fly fishing with a local guide up
one of the many rivers in the area
- Bungy jump: leap over
the Waikato River
- Craters of the Moon:
walk around an active thermal area with mud pools,
craters and steam in the Wairakei Tourist Park
- Thermal baths: a
number of hot pool complexes have been developed for
visitors, to take advantage of the natural hot water
- Wairakei Geothermal
Visitor Centre
- Huka Falls: watch as
over 200,000 litres/44,000 gallons of water fall over the
cliff face every second, or take a jet boat ride or river
boat cruise to the base of the Falls
- Prawn Park hatchery:
tour the geothermal hatchery then head to the restaurant
for a meal of prawns
- Boating on Lake Taupo:
hire a boat or take a scheduled cruise
- Cherry Island trout
sanctuary and restaurant, on the Waikato River -
great for families
- Scenic floatplane flights:
get a bird's eye view over the area, including Mt Ruapehu
Return to Napier for the night.
For more information on the
Taupo region visit www.laketauponz.com
The Ruapehu district is located just south of the Taupo region.
State Highways 1 and 4 run through the district, providing
equally good access and forming the western and eastern
boundaries. The connecting State Highways 47 and 49 provide the
northern and southern boundaries respectively.
The 80,000 hectare/197,531 acre Tongariro National Park makes up
most of the Ruapehu district, with its centrepiece Mt Ruapehu
(2797 metres/9170 feet) rising dramatically from the surrounding
countryside. Alongside Mt Ruapehu are two smaller volcanic
mountains - Mt Ngauruhoe (also active) and Mt Tongariro. Mt
Ruapehu is the site of the North Island's premier skifields at
Whakapapa and Turoa, which have world-class facilities.
Activities and attractions in the area include:
- Whakapapa ski area:
travel 45 minutes from Turangi to Whakapapa. (Season:
June to late October/mid-November.) Whakapapa ski area is
reached via a 6 km/4 mile sealed road from Whakapapa
Village. All levels of skiers are well catered for. There
is an excellent beginners' area called Happy Valley. For
intermediate skiers there are over 30 groomed trails
while expert skiers can explore steep chutes and
couloirs. As well as marked trails advanced skiers can
take advantage of excellent off-piste skiing.
- Turoa ski area: go
skiing just 20 minutes from Ohakune. (Season: June
to late October/mid-November.) Turoa is characterised by
wide open terrain and long runs. The skifield is reached
via a 17 km/11 mile road from Ohakune which is sealed and
particularly scenic
- Visitor centre at
Whakapapa Village: as well as seeing interesting,
well presented displays and audio-visuals, visitors can
obtain up-to-date track, weather, volcanic and skifield
information
- Day walks: visitors
can enjoy walks ranging from 10 minutes to a full day.
Most walks begin within walking distance or a short drive
of Whakapapa Village.
- The Tongariro
Crossing: this one-day, 17 km/11 mile walk
takes seven to eight hours, going past volcanic
features and the beautiful Emerald Lakes. It
begins and ends at different points so visitors
will need to organise transport
- Ngauruhoe summit:
the walk to the summit is often done in
conjunction with the Tongariro Crossing, but for
a more leisurely trip with time to spend at the
top, it is best done separately. The return trip
is 16 km/10 miles and takes six to seven hours
- Ruapehu crater:
the easiest and safest way to climb to Mt
Ruapehu's crater is to join a guided walk with
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts. Over the summer months and
weather permitting, walks leave daily from the
base of Whakapapa skifield at around 9.30am
- Overnight tramping:
follow the Tongariro Northern Circuit for a tramp through
some of the best scenery in the Park. Walkers can spend
one to four days on either the entire circuit or a
portion. Hut passes, which can be purchased at the
visitor centre at Whakapapa Village, are required
For more information on Ruapehu
district visit www.ruapehu.tourism.co.nz
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