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Taupo, Turangi & Tongariro Family Activities

Fun Family Activities in Great Lake Taupo

There are plenty of kid-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy in the Great Lake Taupo region. Go swimming in the lake, picnic by the beach or try your hand at prawn fishing. So bring your whole family as there’s always something to do here for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about these family activities and where they are located, call in at the friendly Taupo and Turangi i-Site teams. 

Here's our favourite list of family activities in the Great Lake Taupo region. 

Family Things To Do in Taupo

 Huka Honey Hive - Enjoy free tastings of honey, mead, liqueurs and fruit wines at New Zealand’s largest showcase of honey products. View live beehives and learn about the amazing honey bee. Test a wide range of honey based skincare and wellness products including 100% Pure Active Manuka Honey, Royal Jelly and Bee Pollen. Open daily 9am-5pm. Situated off SH1 north in Wairakei Tourist Park, Lake Taupo.

AC Baths Thermally heated public swimming pools. Indoor outdoor leisure pool, two hydro slides, private spas, two 25 metre pools, great family fun. Open from 6am-9pm Mon-Fri and 7am-9pm Sat & Sun. Taupo Events Centre, cnr Spa Road and AC Baths Avenue, Taupo.

Wairakei Tourist Park Taupo NZ is riverside and rural, thermal and thoughtful with something for adrenalin junkies, quiet plodders and most things in between. Combining natural marvels like the magnificent Huka Falls and active geothermal areas with thrilling adventure activites, excellent accommodation and dining options, this area is sure to please every member of the family. 

Playgrounds in Taupo Tongariro South Domain by the Superloo, Mere Road Park, Spa Park. Are you up for the Great Lake Taupo Playground Challenge?

Huka Falls River Cruise Awesome views of Huka Falls and the Waikato River, great platform for photography. Sheltered and indoor seating. Set daily departure times, duration 1 hour 20 minutes.

Huka Prawn Park New Zealand’s only Prawn Park and home to the famous “Shawn the Prawn”. Park’s activities include “Shawn’s Walk”, prawn fishing and “Killer Prawn Golf”. Dine in Taupo’s only Riverside Restaurant. Family passes available. Open 7 days from 9am.

Volcanic Activity Centre Experience the 6.3 Edgecumbe earthquake in the Earthquake Simulator. See if you can make the volcano erupt! Continuous audio-visual presentation. Open daily Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, weekends 10am-4pm. Situated in the Wairakei Tourist Park, off SH1 north.   

Horse Treks through pine forests and over farmland. Pony rides available too.  Check with Taupo or Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centres for times.

Picnic by the lake  Pack a basket and a bottle of wine for some family chill time by the lake. Let the kids play in the water while the adults read a book or catch some rays. Or check out the many water activities available along the lake front for the whole family to enjoy.  

Indoor Climbing Wall 432 sq metres of climbing area with 30 different climbing routes. Open 3.30pm-9pm Mon-Fri, closed Sat, 1pm-7pm Sun (hours vary due to bookings in main stadium).  Fitness Centre also available. Taupo Events Centre, cnr Spa Road and AC Baths Avenue, Taupo.

Lion Express Train Children’s rides on a small monorail. Operates from 10am Public and School Holidays; weekends during summer (weather permitting). Check with Turangi and Taupo i-SITE Visitor Centres during winter months. Tongariro South Domain, Taupo.

Huka Falls - This thundering waterfall is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in New Zealand, and for good reason. The volume of pure water flowing through the rock face of the mighty Waikato River often approaches 220,000 litres per second; enough to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools, per second! Situated off SH1 north on Huka Falls Lopp Road.

Kayaking Explore the Waikato River by kayak. This is a scenic, gentle, flat water paddle that includes a swim in natural hot pools. Children as young as 3 can ride along with an adult. 

Lake Cruises Various boats and yachts cruise Lake Taupo daily. View the famous Maori Rock Carvings. Check with the Turangi or Taupo i-SITE Visitor Centres for details. Prices vary. Lake Taupo Boat Harbour, Taupo.

Walk around Great Lake Taupo - A gentle lakeside walk or cycle with stunning views of the lake and mountains or you can wander around the picturesque Taupō boat harbour, take in the atmosphere and feed the ducks.

Hot Water Beach - Yes, Great Lake Taupo has it's own hot water beach! Athough it's only a small spot along the Lake Front, bring your diggers and spades and kids love to play with the hot water. 

Taupo Puzzle World - Interactive activities for all the family. Maze, Golf Simulator, Model Railway, Remote Control Boats, Electronic Drum Kit and more! Café and puzzle shop on site. Prices vary. Free entry to this interactive family fun park and cafe. Just pay for activities. Open daily 10am - 4pm. Situated 10 mins north of Taupo on SH5 towards Rotorua. 

Mountain biking & cycling - Great mountain biking and cycling trails for all levels. Bike hires available. Pick up a mountain biking or cycling map from the Taupo i-SITE Visitor Centre for a small cost.

Lake Taupo Museum of Art and History Home of the Pure Ora Garden of Wellbeing, winner of Gold at the 2004 Chelsea Flower Show, permanent and temporary displays and exhibitions. Open daily 10am-4.30pm, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Story Place, Taupo.

Orakei KorakoView geysers, silica terraces, hot springs, boiling mud pools and the majestic Ruatapu Cave in the Hidden Valley. Located 25 minutes north of Taupo off SH1.

Parks and Reserves There are a number of parks and reserves to enjoy at no cost! Pack a picnic and a rug and enjoy!

Taupo Community Park on cnr Heu Heu & Titiraupenga Streets, Wharewaka Point and McDonalds!  

Segway at Taupo Segway Personal Transporters available for hire on hourly basis, weekends and holidays, for guided tours, and for short hire near 2 Mile Bay.

Starlight Cinema Centre Five theatres, check newspapers or phone 378 7515 for viewing details. Located in the Starlight Arcade, between Horomatangi and Tamamutu Streets, Taupo.

Taupo DeBretts Mineral outdoor and private pools, hydro slide and children’s interactive playground. Massage for health and Day Spa. Open 7 days, 7.30am-9.30pm. Located on SH5, the Napier-Taupo Highway. 

Taupo Mini Golf 18 holes of fun on the lakefront. Open 7 days, from 9am to dusk. Northcroft Street, Taupo.

Taupo Public Conveniences Taupo Superloo is situated on the Tongariro South Domain on Tongariro Street. Cost 40 cents; showers and lockers available; free mother’s room. Free toilets located at the Boat Harbour, Tuwharetoa Street outside Farmers, Suncourt Shopping Centre, on the Tongariro North Domain, and behind the Fire Station.

 

Family Things To Do in Turangi Tongariro

Playgrounds Turangi: McLaren Park, Ohuanga Road, Taupahi Reserve and Taupahi Road. 

Mountain biking & cycling - Great mountain biking and cycling trails for all levels. Bikes are available to hire. Pick up a mountain biking or cycling map from the Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centre for a small cost.

Day Walks There are a number of day walks around the area ranging from 30 minutes up to full day walks. Pick up a brochure from the Taupo or Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centres.

Rafting Leisurely family float trips or the ultimate White Water Rafting adventure for those with children 10 and older.  Raft the Rangitaiki River (grade 3-4) or the Tongariro River (grade 3).  Family float prices available.

Southern Lake Taupo Mini Golf 18 themed holes. Open daily 9am-5pm (later in summer). 19 Ohuanga Road, Turangi.

Vertical Assault Café and Climbing Wall with 26 routes, 14 metre vertical climb,20 metre lead climb. Open daily 10am-6pm. Ngawaka Place, Turangi.

Turangi Public Conveniences Located at the Town Centre and i-SITE Information Centre.

Tongariro National Trout Centre View wild Taupo trout in the Waihukahuka Stream through the underwater window, or feed trout in the children’s pond. Lots of displays to see including the hatchery and visitor centre. Lovely bush setting, BBQ and picnic facilities. Trout food available to purchase. Open daily 10am – 3pm. SH1, just south of Turangi.

Tongariro River Loop Walk - One hour walk alongside the world famous Tongariro River. Watch people fly fish and enjoy the views of the Kaimanawa Ranges. Pick up either a local brochure or the Great Lake Taupo Guide to Walks and Hikes brochure from the Taupo and Turangi i-Site for a small cost. 

Tokaanu Stream Kayaking Enjoy kayaking down the Tokaanu Stream, out onto the lake and then back up the Tokaanu Canal if you are feeling energetic. Hours and prices on application. 355 SH1, Turangi.

Tokaanu Thermal Pools Thermally heated outdoor pool plus private pools. Open 10am-9pm. Mangaroa Street, Tokaanu.

Tokaanu Thermal Walk - Located adjacent to the Tokaanu Thermal Pools. Free thermal bush walk, 15-20 minutes of bubbling mud and silica springs (wheelchair accessible). 

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