South of Taupō town, where State Highway 1 hugs the lake, life slows to a lakeside pace. It’s all calm water, dappled-pohutukawa shade, and—when the holiday season arrives—long summer days that drift from swim to barbecue without a schedule.
This is the easy-going end of Taupō—a string of quiet holiday settlements where jandals replace shoes and the lake feels close enough to touch. Mornings start with swims, evenings fade into pink skies and the scent of someone else’s dinner on the breeze. Time moves differently here. Welcome to the southern bays—the quiet coast of Taupō
Start at Motutere on SH1 where campers wake to the sound of water lapping against the stones. Follow the lakeside road to Motuoapa—a popular holiday settlement on the hill above a boat marina—and Tūrangi, then head southwest to reach Pukawa Oreti and Kuratau—small settlements where bach decks face the lake and kids ride bikes barefoot. Locals reckon once you unpack here, you won’t want to leave. With family adventures in abundance, you wouldn’t be the first one to stay on.
Bring a kayak, a picnic, or nothing but time and good vibes. Paddle the bays, cast a line at dusk, or soak nearby at Tokaanu Hot Pools before heading back to a bach barbecue. The Tongariro River Trail sits just up the road for an easy ride or walk, and the peaks of Tongariro National Park stand tall in the distance to remind you where you are.
Not technically part of the southern beaches, but fast becoming an iconic Taupō feature, the Lake Taupō Tree deserves a spot on the list. Just off Lake Terrace near Tūrangi, a lone willow stands in the shallows—this is the Lake Taupō Tree. You’ll see it on postcards and Instagram, but we think it’s even better in person, especially on still mornings when the lake is glassy. It’s our answer to that Wanaka tree, quietly doing its thing with a mountain backdrop—a northern cuzzie, if you like.
Down here, time bends to the lake. Evenings stretch, conversations drift like a dry fly on the current, and the water holds the day’s warmth long after sunset. On Taupō’s southern edge, life runs on lake time.
