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Things To Do
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- Taupo - 0800 525 382
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Regions
Regions
Explore Great Lake Taupo - Nature's Ultimate Playground in New Zealand. -
Accommodation
Accommodation
Great Lake Taupo’s extensive range of accommodation options will see every box ticked. -
Things To Do
Things To Do
With plenty of award-winning attractions, activities and breathtaking natural landscape, there is never short of things to do in the Great Lake Taupo region.- Adventure
- Attractions & Must Dos
- Biking
- Ski & Snowboard
- Family
- Free Activities
- Geothermal
- Golf
- Great Outdoors
- Maori Culture
- Rainy Days
- Scenic Flights
- Trout Fishing
- Walking & Hiking
- Water Activities
- List Your Business
- Spring in Great Lake Taupo
- Summer in Great Lake Taupo
- Autumn in Great Lake Taupo
- Winter in Great Lake Taupo
- Experiences
-
Shop, Eat & Drink
Shop, Eat & Drink
Taupo town centre is a haven for boutique shopping, free parking, pedestrian-friendly streets and no cluttered malls. -
Events
Events
Great Lake Taupo is widely known as the Events Capital of New Zealand, so there’s always something going on! - Deals
-
Conferences
Conferences
The Great Lake Taupo region promises to create a big impact on your next event. There's no better place for your meeting, conference or special occasion. Looking for a conference venue in the Great Lake Taupo region? Why not try our Conference Venue Search function on the Conference Venue Page?
- SITE Taupo - 0800 525 382
- SITE Turangi - 0800 288 726
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- Ski & Snowboard
- Getting to the snow
Getting to the snow
You've got to Great Lake Taupo, now you just need to get to those white, fluffy, snowy mountains. Here's how!
Whakapapa Ski Area and Happy Valley

Mount Ruapehu Snow Shuttle
Take the stress out of a trip to the snow during the ski season with this coach service to Whakapapa Ski Area and Happy Valley.
Bookings need to be made prior to travelling by contacting the Taupo Snow Depot. The mountain shuttle departs from Whakapapa Ski Area at 4pm to return to Taupo and Turangi.
Taupo to Whakapapa Ski Area Return
Cost - $39 Adult, $29 Youth/Child, 4 years & under FREE
Departure - 8am from Taupo Snow Depot
Turangi to Whakapapa Ski Area Return
Cost - $29 Adult, $19 Youth/Child, 4 years & under FREE
Departure - 8.45am from Turangi Bus Stop
Please note: This shuttle service will operate from 7 July 2018 to 16 September 2018. Bookings essential. Call +64 7 892 4000 or pop into one of the Taupo offices; Snow HQ (open daily 7.30am - 7pm) and Snow Depot (open daily 7.30am - 4.30pm).
Drive yourself
The route from Taupo to Mt Ruapehu is a stunning drive through the landscape of Tongariro National Park. You will drive around Lake Taupo, through native forest, tussock lands and the three volcanoes of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. It’s well worth the trip, even if you’re not planning to ski or snowboard!
Taupo to Whakapapa: About 1hr 15mins
Turangi to Whakapapa: About 40mins
Winter road conditions
There may be times when snow chains and/or 4WD are required on the Bruce Road due to winter snowfall and icy conditions. Chains are available for hire at some rental outlets throughout the region, but not in Whakapapa Village.
It pays to check the road conditions on the Whakapapa Snow Report and hire chains, if needed, before you start your drive. If you don’t want to drive your own vehicle up the mountain in conditions that require chains, mountain transport/shuttle buses are available from Taupo, Turangi and Whakapapa Village.
Turoa Ski Area

Mount Ruapehu Snow Shuttle
A coach service is available from Ohakune to Turoa Ski Area. Bookings need to be made prior to travelling by contacting the Taupo Snow Depot. The last mountain shuttle departs from Turoa Area at 4pm to return to Ohakune.
Drive yourself
Taupo - Turoa Ski Area: About 2 hrs
Turangi - Turoa Ski Area: About 1hr 15mins
Winter road conditions
There may be times when chains and/or 4WD are required on the Mountain Road due to winter snowfall and/or icy conditions. Chains are available for hire at chainfitting areas on the Mountain Road and from some rental outlets in Ohakune.
Road conditions can be checked on the Turoa Snow Report. If you don’t want to drive your own vehicle up the mountain in these conditions, mountain transport/shuttle buses are available from Ohakune.
Tukino Ski Field

Drive Yourself
Taupo - Tukino Ski Field: 1hr 15 min
Turangi - Tukino Ski Field: 40 mins
Winter road conditions
You can drive the first 7km of the road in a 2WD vehicle from the Desert Road to ‘Base Camp’. From here you will either need an off-road 4WD vehicle to continue over the last 7km, or you can contact Tukino Ski Field on 06 387 6294 or 021 0277 4559 and arrange transport to the ski area.
You will need to call in advance to check that a shuttle will be available on the day of your visit. Please note that 4WD vehicles may be required to fit chains in certain conditions.
It is important that you do not attempt to drive up the Tukino mountain road until you have confirmed (via the Snowphone – 06 825 8111 or the online Tukino snow report) that the road is open.