Covid-19 update: Taupō is currently at Alert Level 2.
Aroha ki tenei wahi. Arohaina Taupo. Love this place. Love Taupo. Experience Taupo’s Maori culture and connect with local people and local stories.
Whether it’s foraging for flora and fauna in the wild with Kai Waho, relaxing with a traditional Maori massage, taking part in an interactive experience of traditional Maori songs and kapa haka (performance) with the Haka Shop, or discovering the giant Mine Bay Maori rock carving that tells the story of the great Maori high priest Ngatoroirangi, you will leave Taupo having connected with local people and local stories.
Discover more about the heritage of local iwi Ngati Tuwharetoa at the Taupo Museum, as well as viewing a mighty 15m waka crafted from a single totara log.
You can also visit some of New Zealand’s most significant Maori pa sites (fortified villages) where you can learn about the history of the famous Ka Mate Haka at Opotaka Historic Reserve or discover the site where the last major engagement of the New Zealand Wars was fought in 1869 at Te Porere Redoubt.
Embark on your own special journey into the culture, local history and kai (food) of this region.
Maori Hangi dinner & Cultural show- Meet the real locals to hear the real stories of our tribal area. The Haka Shop welcomes you! Or take a walk with guide "Snow" or weave a mini kete with our expert weavers.
Daily scenic cruises to the Maori Rock Carvings onboard the Ernest Kemp, a replica steamboat. Ernest Kemp cruises daily all year round - four times during summer and twice in winter. Enjoy stunning Lake Taupo and the carvings on this 2 hour cruise.
See steaming hot mineral pools and spluttering mud pools on this short, easy walk.
Kai Waho is an experience that is shared in the true essence of ‘manaakitanga’ with all visitors interacting with all activities.
Offering scheduled daily cruises to the world famous Māori Rock Carvings with the iconic replica steamboat Ernest Kemp, or private charters aboard the luxurious Regal Flyer showcasing beautiful Lake Taupō.
Opotaka is a historical Maori pa site (fortified village) where you can learn about the history of the famous Ka Mate Haka, see the remains of the Maori settlement, and enjoy spectacular views across Lake Rotoaira to Mt Tongariro.
Silcia terraces, thermal bathing pools, massage therapy, Maori cultural experiences, geothermal tours.
Nau mai Hāere mai - Greetings and Welcome. Backyard Tours transport services customers to and from having fun in the snow at Ruapehu Whakapapa Ski fields and hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Ask us if booking groups or other need of transport.
INFLITE Experiences Taupo offers unforgettable helicopter tours, showing the best of Taupo's powerful volcanoes, thermal reserves, tranquil wilderness areas, colourful local lakes, sparkling rivers and coastlines.
Let Canoe & Kayak take you on a kayak adventure across stunning Lake Taupo while taking in all the beautiful views of the surrounding coastline and neighbouring mountains before getting up close and personal to the iconic Maori Rock Carvings.