Acacia Bay is just west of the township of Taupo and often a much with a sheltered beach and playground. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in this area, look no further than L’Arte Cafe with it’s beautiful garden setting and lots of art to admire (which is all…
If you have the use of a boat or kayaks at Lake Taupo, it’s worth going out to Mine Bay in the North East corner of the lake to see the huge carving of Ngātoroirangi, an ancestor of the artist, Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell, who completed the carving in 1980. Only accessible by water,…
One of the larger rivers flowing into Lake Taupo, the Tongariro River to the south is very popular with anglers in search of trout. Anyone can have a go, so long as you have the right fishing licence but if walking or cycling is more your family’s thing, then there’s…
Between Turangi and Kuratau, just off SH41 is a long, old wharf dating back to the 1880s when goods were shipped across Lake Taupo rather than being transported by road. Today the wharf is 260m of walkway out onto Lake Taupo and a very peaceful place to spend a couple…
Hiding at the back of a tackle and all things fishing shop is this cute little cafe that serves very tasty food for breakfast, lunch and morning teas. The baking/pastry items are all made in house daily and the counter has a small but good selection to choose from. The…
This walk is not for all families. A good level of fitness is required and planning needs to happen. First off, this is a 19.4km walk that reaches 1,886m at the Red Crater summit so checking the weather forecast is a must and you will need to postpone your plans…
Luke’s is a bit of an institution in Kuaotunu as, along with the café, there’s also an art gallery and a shop making it a hub for this small community. The café also has a full schedule of live music over the summer months and most weekends throughout the rest…
Right off SH2 en route between Auckland and Tauranga/The Mount, the Karangahake Gorge is a very accessible area to explore whether you’re having a holiday in the Coromandel or taking a break during a car journey. The gorge is the site of an old gold mine which began work in…
Set in a large grassy area, this playground stands out along the main road in Kuratau as it must be one of the few playgrounds in New Zealand to have a ‘giant game’ set up. Tucked into the custom made wooden seats, are all the giant sized pieces you’ll need…
***Only open during some school holidays. Check the website or Facebook page before you go*** Set high above the vines, this small café specializes in woodfire pizza, made to order and served piping hot on wooden boards. There’s a range of around 8 different pizzas with a GF base option…
