Escape to Taupō for an epic romantic break

Check into your lakefront stay—make your choice from an array of sleek boutique lodges, lakeview hotels or cosy B&Bs—and settle into the laid-back pace of Taupō. Toast the start of your romantic escape with a drink at one of many bars dotted along the lakefront. There’s no need to rush into anything. 

Start with a stroll around town and ease into the local vibe. Visit boutiques and galleries showcasing a mix of local and national artists, buy something to take home. Combine art and history by visiting the Taupō Museum and Art Gallery, where rotating exhibitions connect contemporary art with local stories.

Share a quiet dinner for two as the sun sinks across the midnight-blue waters of Lake Taupō—plan your tomorrow or simply gaze into each other’s eyes. If you’re more hands-on, you can knead, bake or flame-grill your way to each other’s hearts with a private wood-fired pizza or dumpling class.

Here’s a tip—foodie couples won’t go hungry in Taupō. Choose your culinary highlight, sample award-winning degustation plates at Brantry House or visit Embra Restaurant (proudly holding two Cuisine-awarded hats) for a very special blend of Kiwi, French and British influences. Looking for more action? Visit the town’s waterfront dining precinct for everything from international fare to gourmet burgers and traditional pub meals. 

As evening sets in, rug up and head to the Great Lake Pathway. Hand in hand, watch the sky shift through shades of dusk while the volcanic peaks on the horizon darken into silhouette. Then stay a little longer—it's worth the wait when the stars come out, a perfect end to a romantic evening.

Set the alarm early to see the sun rise over Lake Taupō during a self-guided kayak adventure, or drift downstream along the Waikato River past thermal streams, sheer cliffs and picnic spots. 

If you’re up for it, fully wake up with a sunrise dip at the lakefront—brisk enough to get the blood flowing or maybe just make that a brisk walk. Afterwards, refuel with locally-roasted coffee at The Steaming Bean or follow the aroma of freshly-baked pastries and energy-fuelling breakfasts wafting from town. 

Of course, you could skip the effort, sleep in, and laze about later on eco-yachts and launches, with drinks in hand—or a fishing line to snare a wily trout—destined for immense Māori carvings towering above aquamarine waters. 

Feeling quirky? Set sail from the marina in a floating doughnut with Bluetooth speakers, heaters and a grazing platter—it’s weirdly romantic. Not ready to call it a night? Duck into one of the bars around the dining precinct, catch a local band and hit the dancefloor. 

For warming bathing vibes, ease into the adults-only pools at Wairakei Terraces, where thermally heated water rises from deep underground, filling four silica-enriched pools for a restorative soak. Indulge in a couples massage for the ultimate pampering.

Prefer something quieter? Book a private pool at Taupō DeBretts tucked within a bush-covered valley. But for the most natural experience, there’s Spa Thermal Park where the geothermal Otumuheke Stream mingles with the cooler Waikato River, creating pockets of toasty warm water—places to sit, soak and watch the stars emerge.

Hire bikes to explore the town and nearby mountain bike trails. Pedal through scenic routes together, kilometres of trails wind among vast volcanic scenery, with easy lakeside pedalling through to heart-pumping drops at Craters MTB Park or head out of town to ride the rim of a supervolcano on the Great Lake Trails. 

Challenge your partner to some friendly rivalry at Dropzone at The Landing—ten-pin bowling, arcade classics and virtual reality showdowns. Still not enough to even the score? Embark on a round of mini-golf nearby at Swingers Putt Putt or visit a lakeside course at Taupō Mini Golf. Serious bragging rights can be grabbed at the Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge.

Slow the pace with a self-guided walking tour of Taupō’s laneways, where large-scale murals from the annual Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival bring colour and character to hidden corners of town (grab a map to guide your way). Just out of town, Lava Glass offers an equally relaxed afternoon—browse the sculpture garden, watch daily glassblowing in action and linger over a local wine tasting. Don’t miss the Taupō Farmers Market for local produce and artworks each Sunday.