Taupo Walks and Hikes: In Town
Taupō Town Walks
Today you can enjoy a walk around some historically significant sites and more recently added attractions within the CBD. Start at the Taupō i-SITE Visitor Centre and look out for commemorative plaques at some locations.
1. Lakefront Seat
To commemorate Miss Margaret Sweeney’s swim across Lake Taupō on 29 January 1955 from Tokaanu to the foreshore (in front of the seat): a distance of 42 kilometres.
2. Maori Carvings
These carvings are part of the ‘Reid Carvings’ - a collection of 51 pieces, mostly located at the Taupō Museum. They were presented to the people of the Lake Taupō Region for safe keeping by the late Mrs Lucy Rongoheikume Reid, daughter of Joseph Rickit, one of the original Armed Constabulary members that settled Lake Taupō. The carvings are the work of master carver, Tene Waitere, a survivor of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.
3. Lakefront Lookout
In 1961 the Taupō Lions Club built this lookout which provides visitors with an expansive view of the lake and Tongariro National Park (World Heritage Area) at the southern end of Lake Taupō.
4. Electric Trout
The first ‘electric trout’ was created in 1985 for the Dawn Walker International Trout Fishing Tournament. In 1999 the Taupō District Council commissioned this replacement. It was designed and constructed by Callum Guillemont, a local electrician and craftsman.
5. Pakete Lions Cobb & Co Express
The monorail train on the South Domain is owned by the Pakeke Lions Club and operates as a fundraising venture. The train, locally designed and built, began operating in 1993.
6. South Domain Gardens and Carvings
In 1993 the Taupō District Council constructed and developed gardens and a sculpture park in the South Domain.
7. Auntie Ku’s Garden
This garden is dedicated to Auntie Ku (Miss Ellen Rickit, 1882-1958) in recognition of her years of service to the people of Taupō.
8. Taupō Bowling Club
The first school in Taupō was built on land that is now home to the Taupō Bowling Club. The private school quickly became too small for the growing population and in 1894 a new public school was built in Ruapehu Street.
9. BBQ and seating area
Located at the Yacht Club carpark, this coin operated BBQ was built by the Taupō Lions Club in 1991. The small seating area at the river end of the carpark was constructed by Pakeke Lions in memory of past members.
10. Petersen Wharf
The Petersen Wharf was constructed by the Department of Internal Affairs in memory of Lt-Cmdr Peter Petersen RNZNVR (Lake Taupō Harbourmaster from 1955 to 1978).
11. Boat Harbour
Whale boats, used by the Armed Constabulary, were the first European boats on Lake Taupō. The largest boat on the lake before 1900 was 15m long and operated a regular passenger service across the lake to Tokaanu.
12. Taupō Rose Garden
The rose garden was established on the original Armed Constabulary dump site in a project initiated by the Rose Society in 1979. The garden is maintained by the Taupō District Council and is a popular venue for weddings and picnics.
13. Lake Taupō Museum and Art Gallery
The Lake Taupō Museum and Art Gallery occupy part of the original Post Office building which was constructed in 1911. This building housed the Taupō Library until December 1991. Outside the museum rests an old mill steam engine. The Museum and Art Gallery display a comprehensive collection of historical artefacts and a permanent art collection. Visiting exhibitions are a regular feature.
14. Women’s Suffrage Garden
This garden honours the women, like Kate Sheppard, who led the campaign for votes for women in 1893. The garden was created as a centennial project in 1993.
15. Old Oak Tree
This tree was planted in Story Place at least 80 years ago for John Seddon (New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1890 to 1912).
16. Totara Trees
These three totara trees were planted in memory of New Zealand Prime Minister Norman Kirk (1923 - 1974).
17. Library and Information Centre
The Taupō Library was opened in 1991. The first library was established in the 1880s by the Armed Constabulary Unit near the Redoubt. Since then the library has always been located in the vicinity of Story Place (named after Taupō’s first mayor, Joseph Story).
18. Great Lake Centre
This centre was opened in 1992 and contains a hall, theatre, multi-purpose dressing rooms and ancillary facilities. The Great Lake Centre Library and Information Centre were designed to reflect the mountains in Tongariro National Park (World Heritage area). The buildings contain columns with timber branches and canopies to reflect trees and much of the planting around the building has blue flowers to mirror the colour of Lake Taupō.
19. Landmark Canoe (Adjacent to the Taupō Police Station)
This landmark canoe was found in the Opepe area when the land was being cleared for farming. The landmark canoe was brought to this site in 1967 and with any luck may soon move into the museum! It is the property of the Rutene family who allowed the canoe to be moved from its historic site.
20. The Armed Constabulary Hall/Old Courthouse
The Courthouse was built by the Armed Constabulary in 1881 and was called the Armed Constabulary Hall before becoming the Courthouse. Discussions leading to the formation of Tongariro National Park were held here in the mid 1880s. The building was originally sited behind the present Magistrate’s Court until its relocation in 1966. The building is under the protection of the Historic Places Trust and is currently home to a local Te Kohanga Reo (a pre-school facility focusing on Maori language and culture).
21. Redoubt and Powder Magazine
The Tapuaeharuru Redoubt, built around 1870 by the Armed Constabulary (AC), housed about 30 men. The AC was used to ‘put down rebellion, quell disturbances, preserve the peace, prevent robberies and other felonies, and apprehend offenders against the peace’. Their presence provided the foundation for the establishment of Taupō township. Vegetable gardens, soldiers’ tents, the mess, etc. were all located around the redoubt in what is now the Domain. In 1877, with the establishment of a new constabulary force, the AC went out of existence. However, the Redoubt, the trenches and a powder magazine (restored in 1966) still exist.
22. Waikato River Lookout
Breathtaking lake, river, boat harbour and mountain views. The lookout was constructed by the Taupō District Council and designed by the NZ Institute of Architects during their conference in 1993 held at the Great Lake Centre.
23. Waikato River
This is New Zealand’s longest river (425 km) and the only outlet for Lake Taupō.
24. Scented Garden
The scented garden was donated by the Soroptomist International of Taupō with the assistance of the Taupō Lions Club.
25. Control Gates
Built across the Waikato River, the Control Gates were completed in 1942. The gates control the flow of water to eight hydro electric power stations situated on the Waikato River. On average 180m3 of water flows through the gates every second.
26. Settlers' Cemetery
This is the original Settlers' Cemetery. Amongst those who rest here are Thomas Balfour Noble, a long time proprietor of the Lake Hotel and surgeon Samuel Walker, who served with the Armed Constabulary.
27. Taupō Primary School
In 1894 the first building of the present Taupō Primary School was built. It still stands today - one of the few remaining historic buildings in the Lake Taupō Region. By 1914 the number of children in the area had grown so dramatically that some had to be taught in an old shed on the school site.
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