Support Services in Taupō

For that Event, Wedding, Conference or Incentive Group...

A successful conference or event is about getting delegates, participants or guests together and delivering a great experience. It is the result of careful planning, communication, ideas and very good research. Conferences and major events need attention to detail, hours of work and knowledge to make them a success. In Taupō there are a range of experts and specialists who can assist, support and contribute to make your event a perfect one.

Conference and Event Organisers

Professional conference organisers (PCOs) manage conferences and events on a full time basis. They can make organising a conference or event very easy for you and take away the hassle and worry completely. Taupō has several professional people who can plan that conference or wedding for you. They will also be on site during the event. Visit www.conventionsnz.com for a list of PCOs that will work anywhere in New Zealand. Taupo is a destination PCOs love to work in! Contact the Convention Bureau in Taupō for more information or advice.

Tours and Transport

Air New Zealand

Lake Taupō has an airport facility four kilometres from town that welcomes a small number of scheduled commercial flights. The current schedule to Taupō, direct from Auckland and Wellington, is run by Air New Zealand link and seats 20 people. The timetable changes quite regularly but bookings can be made online at www.airnewzealand.co.nz or by phone: 0800 737 000.

Charter Services

Lake Taupō also has a committed charter flight service available from three operators who provide reliable and affordable charter flights to the Lake Taupō Region. It could be cost and time effective for you to fill a charter plane and get everyone here at the same time. Air NZ, Air National (sales@airnational.co.nz) and Skylink (sales@skylink.co.nz) can all offer charter flight services to Taupō.

Local Tour/Coach Operators

Paradise Tours and Ambassador Tours are two companies that offer exclusive coach charters, tailor made for small or large groups. They can transfer your group to and from the airport, marina, restaurants or activities. While business delegates are at a conference, these companies can drive and guide the attending partners on a tour of the region, on an art & wine tour or to take in the sights.

Other local coach companies for large groups: contact WBL Bus & Coach, Nimons or Turangi Coachlines.

Audio Visual Services

AVP or Audio Visual People will look after all your AV needs, event staging, hire of equipment, installation, videoing, DVD production... all your conference requirements. Most of the local venues have their own equipment set up and have a technical person looking after you, but if they do not, whask for AV services to make your day run smoothly.

Speakers & Entertainment

You may be looking for a band or a DJ, a speaker or an MC. You may have a themed event and need entertainment as part of the theme. Your venue conference coordinator and the Convention Bureau should be able to assist you. However, alternative contacts for your entertainment needs include: Corporate Adventures or Team FX for fun activities or Celebrity Speakers for your evening of entertainment.

Catering

Yum Catering	Telephone	+64 7 378 0540
Eat Catering	Telephone	+64 7 377 3011
Chris's Catering	Telephone	+64 7 378 5920

Off-site Restaurants and Unique Dinner Venues

Maybe you wish to take your whole group to a restaurant or have a progressive dinner, sampling a different restaurant for each course. You may want your board meeting in a private room in the restaurant while the partners enjoy a scrumptuous lunch.

Plateau is ideal for all of the above. A contemporary and stylish venue that offers its whole restaurant/bar to groups of up to 200 and has a private room that can cater for 30.

The Brantry Restaurant is located in a 1950s town house with low ceilings, an open fire and a timeless decor. The food is excellent contemporary NZ cuisine and the restaurant caters for up to 60 people for a sit down function. There is also a private function area that can seat up to 25 upstairs.

Huka Falls Resort Restaurant is located in and around a vineyard. Not only can you have cellar door wine tastings but the restaurant offers excellent dining experiences either on their large veranda overlooking Mt Tauhara, inside the restaurant which holds 40 diners or in their cellar restaurant for up to for 36 people.

On Tap is a bar/restaurant with a casual atmosphere and an excellent choice of cuisine with large servings! A group can book out the whole restaurant/bar.

Lotus Thai offers excellent Thai food. A small group can book a large table and there is a choice of banquet style or a la carte.

Waterside, overlooking the lake, has an upstairs private room that can seat around 60. A menu can be designed to suit and your own bar and theming is allowed.

The Clubhouse is a large venue overlooking the lake. For a more casual style of function, perhaps with a band, this venue could meet your needs.

Scenic Cellars has an underground wine cellar that can cater for up to 60, plus a Bordeaux room seating up to12. The food is excellent, with matching wines for every occasion. This venue is booked for private functions only. You can hold a themed event or you might choose to use the venue for a wine options game only.

Chris Jolly Boats has four boats, each catering for different numbers. The largest boat holds 75 people. Multiple boats can be rafted together, with food and beverages available on each. After dinner, the boats can serve different purposes: one boat can be the party boat, another the quiet talking boat, each with their own bar and music set ups. All catering is done on board and dinner options range from a casual BBQ style to a sit down formal dinner.

Huka Prawn Park restaurant is closed to the public after 5pm so they can offer their restaurant to groups for all sorts of functions. In winter they have the capacity to easily seat 170 around their huge central open fire. In summer, with the glass doors opening onto the river veranda, they can take up to 300 people, inside and out. They offer a huge variety of food choices (including prawns!) with a buffet style for large groups. There are lots of activities on site that can be fun before dark, such as killer prawn golf or prawn fishing.

Taupō Motorsport Park has a number of divided corporate suites which can be opened up to form three larger rooms. Two of these rooms can each cater for 150, banquet style, and the third can cater for 80. You have a blank canvas in which to theme your event or product launch. The venue overlooks the international racetrack and there is lots of parking! You can choose you own caterer.

Kitenui Farm offers a very unique venue: a character barn which needs no theming. There is the Mighty Antler room and the Authentic Gun Room with pre-dinner drinks amongst the zebra! We'll say no more – it is all part of the surprise...

Plateau Restaurant

Lake Taupo