NEW ZEALAND FISHING LODGE : OTHER ACTIVITIES

For the non-fishing spouse or travelling companion, the Taupo region offers an abundance of things to do.  As part of your vacation at our New Zealand fishing lodge, we are happy to assist you with your choice of activities.

Around Lake Taupo itself, your choices include leisure activities, including boutique shopping, sidewalk cafes and upscale restaurants, spas, beautiful bush and lake walks, and one of New Zealand's finest wine cellars.

For those interested in more adventurous pursuits, a wide range of adventure activities are available, including bungy jumping, tandem skydiving, jet boating, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, parasailing, sightseeing via helicopter or floatplane, gliding, rock climbing, 4-wheeling, sailing, hiking, lake cruises, golfing, horseback riding and more.

Within 2 hours' drive of Taupo, you can explore any or all of the following:

Rotorua is a one-hour drive from Taupo and is one of the most famous destinations in New Zealand. From the moment people arrive in Rotorua they know they're somewhere quite different. There is a scent of sulphur in the air, and at nearby geothermal hotspots there are spouting geysers, acrid-smelling mud pools bubbling and belching, and warm geothermal pools and ponds that create a kaleidoscope of colour. 

Rotorua is also the heartland of New Zealand's Maori culture, and visitors can enjoy a performance of song and dance, followed by food cooked in a traditional hangi (cooked in an earthen oven). 

http://www.rotoruanz.com

For more than 100 years the Glow Worm Caves of Waitomo have attracted millions of people from all over the world. A small glowing insect no bigger than an average mosquito has fascinated and intrigued people from all walks of life. In an average year, 400,000 people travel to Waitomo to experience the trip of a lifetime. Well laid out scenic tracks through beautiful native bush surround the Caves, offering pleasant walks of varying distances. A guided tour of the limestone cave and a boat ride through the darkness of the Glow Worm Grotto where numerous insects glow reflecting off the water deep under the ground is a trip not to be missed.

http://www.new-zealand.com/WaitomoCaves/

Tongariro National Park's volcanic terrain offers a fascinating look at a very alien environment, complete with twisted lava formations, volcanic steam vents and colourful crater lakes. The scenery is so fantastic—so otherworldly—that Tongariro was used as a setting for Peter Jackson's film Lord of the Rings.  

One avenue that allows visitors to see all of this is the 12-mile Tongariro Crossing, often called "the best one-day hike in New Zealand" because of the magnificent scenery it reveals and the changing terrain it traverses.

http://www.thetongarirocrossing.co.nz/tongariro.htm

Hawkes Bay is a region of striking scenic contrast with dramatic sea cliffs, park-like farm lands, winding stony rivers and rugged hill country. Adding colour and interest to an already beautiful landscape are orchards, old homesteads, historic settlements, and vineyards of all sizes which produce internationally regarded wines. 

The twin cities of Napier and Hastings provide a wide variety of attractions for visitors. Napier, the Art Deco capital of the world, is famous for its Art Deco architecture, a legacy of the great 1931 earthquake. It is also well known for the many attractions along the Marine Parade including Marineland and the Aquarium. Just 20 minutes drive away lies Hastings with the surrounding countryside featuring a number of stunning vineyards and orchards. Hastings city itself boasts beautiful parks and unique Spanish Mission architecture.

http://www.hawkesbaytourism.co.nz

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