Things to do in Taupo

Visiting Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland was fantastic. Our driver, Herns — 86 years old — was incredibly humorous, attentive, and provided great commentary throughout the journey. He drove very smoothly, which made the trip even more enjoyable. The vehicle was the most comfortable we experienced in New Zealand. If you’re heading toward Taupō, this is definitely the transport to book!

We had an amazing tour experience with Trent! From the moment we met him, he made us feel welcome with his warmth, hospitality, and genuine kindness. He was incredibly accommodating throughout the entire tour and went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience. What we appreciated most was how knowledgeable he was about the history of the places we visited. He shared fascinating stories and insights that helped us better understand and appreciate each location. Thank you, Trent, for making our trip so memorable. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a friendly, professional, and engaging tour guide. We would gladly tour with him again! 😊

We are a honeymoon couple who took your tour from March 16th to 17th. We departed promptly at 5:50 AM from the pickup location near our hotel. Our guide, Michael, was incredibly kind to us, despite our limited English. He was also an excellent driver and managed the entire itinerary perfectly. He is witty and knowledgeable about New Zealand and Maori history, providing excellent explanations. The itinerary itself was fantastic. We primarily visited Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Wai-O-Tapu, Huka Falls, and Hamilton Gardens. In addition, Michael introduced us to and allowed us to explore other worthwhile spots along the way, such as Lake Rotorua, Arapuni Suspension Bridge, and a viewpoint to see Huka Falls from above. We were very satisfied with this tour as it allowed us to visit all the places we had planned to see since we were in Korea. As a small suggestion regarding the itinerary, we spent about 20 minutes at Huka Falls, which is a spectacular sight, so it might be good to allocate more time there. (It's a good idea to be aware of the long travel times when booking.) We found out about our hotel on the day of arrival. We were assigned to Ibis, but they upgraded us to Novotel. The location was right next to Eat Street, so we could easily find dinner nearby. Michael recommended Polynesian Spa, which we visited after dinner. Luckily, we were able to book and use it on the spot, which helped us relieve our fatigue after a tiring trip. We highly recommend this tour to anyone considering it, and we extend our sincere gratitude to Michael for making our Auckland trip so wonderful!

This experience is 10/10. Scott (our driver) was so funny and his experience and depth of knowledge really shined through the experience.A little scary, I sat at the front and I am a smaller build so definitely during the spins I had to hold on REAL TIGHT 😆 Side note: I would recommend a light breakfast. I have motion sickness and towards the end, I wasn’t feeling the greatest but I think that’s just a me thing. It was so fun, got to see the waterfall up close and everything. Do it !!

Great experience, but a small family run business. the ship is a camataran which is an added bonus.

a beautiful vessel with wonderful crew. the trip was so peaceful but once we got to the carvings it was a whole other level. the art was fantastic. also got an opportunity to swim in the beautiful fresh water of Lake Taupo, jump off the bow and roof of the catermaran

What better way to celebrate turning a year older (and none the wiser)!! I had the best skydiving partner in Nathan Purver who made a jump from 12000 ft high up in the air seem like a nice, leisurely stroll in the garden. My nerves, which would have otherwise been ballistic, were relaxed AF to say the least, all thanks to Nathan who was as cool as the wind up there! The entire team was extremely nice, warm and friendly who took us through the whole process like day 1 of being kindergarteners. Cannot recommend this place enough.

An absolutely perfect experience! It's great for families to enjoy a boat ride and admire the scenery 🌊 The weather in late March was fantastic! The blue skies and white clouds made for beautiful photos! The boat offered complimentary coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages were available for purchase 🍺🥂 The boat tour lasted an hour and a half. We saw carvings on the rock walls, and the crew even demonstrated trout fishing (though our group didn't catch any fish). There were fish dishes available to eat, and muffins were also provided. The entire trip was incredibly relaxing and fun. We saw some stunning scenery. I really loved this tour; the crew was very friendly, and it offered excellent value for money. You definitely have to try it!