This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Taupo.
Taupo is often overlooked by visitors to the North Island of New Zealand, but with the town sitting on the shores of a lake the size of Singapore, that just means there's a lot of travelers missing out on one hell of a town.
Taupo has everything that a backpacker could want! For lively nightlife, there are plenty of options available. If you like beautiful scenery, there are miles and miles of lakeside walks and springs abound; the Huka Falls are spectacular and in the distance there are the mountains of the Tongariro Range including Ngauruho, better known as Mount Doom in the "Lord of the Rings" films. Adrenaline activities are covered as well. There's bungee jumping, jet boating, rafting; also Taupo is one of the best and cheapest places in the world to scare yourself witless by jumping out of a plane. Taupo hostels, of which there are many, will happily arrange deals and discounts for all these activities and more.
In addition, there are geothermal parks (perfect for a spot of pampering), trout fishing, thermal baths, sailboats on the lake, the Tongariro Crossing (reckoned by many to be the best one-day walk in the world), winter skiing, and horse riding! Taupo is certainly not a place to sit still!
The town has all the facilities a backpacker needs, with plenty of large supermarkets, cafes, bars, restaurants, and other travelers. It's a great pitstop between Rotorua and Wellington and a place where it's easy to lose track of time and watch a week or two drift by.
Written by local enthusiast for Taupo hostels
Howellsey
