Taupo And The Central Plateau – World Travel https://www.worldtraveldb.com Tours the world Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:21:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Turangi Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/turangi-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=482 Once a service town for the nearby hydroelectric power station, Turangi’s claim to fame nowadays is undoubtedly its fish, for which it proclaims itself ‘Trout Fishing Capital of the World’. The Tongariro River, however, can be enjoyed in many other ways, including white-water rafting and swimming. The township provides ready access to the ski-fields and walking tracks of Tongariro National Park.

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]]> Tongariro National Park Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/tongariro-national-park-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=481 The North Island is dominated by volcanic-cone skiing. Rumbling Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park is the premier ski zone.

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Twin resorts Whakapapa and Turoa (07-892 3738, snow-phone 08-322 2182; www.mtruapehu.com; daily lift pass adult/child $80/44), on either side of Mt Ruapehu (aka Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings), comprise NZ’s largest ski area. Lift passes are valid at both resorts. Whakapapa, 6km above Whakapapa Village in Tongariro National Park, has 30 groomed runs. There are plenty of snowboarding possibilities, cross-country, downhill and ski touring, and the highest lift access in the country. You can drive yourself up to the slopes or take a shuttle minibus from Whakapapa Village, National Park township, Taupo or Turangi. Smaller Turoa has a beginners’ lift, snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing. There’s no road toll or parking fee and daily ski-area transport is available from Ohakune 16km away, which has the liveliest post-ski scene in the north.

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]]> Tongariro And Around Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/tongariro-and-around-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=480 Named for nearby Tongariro National Park, this tiny outpost lies at the junction of SH4 and SH47, 15km from the hub of Whakapapa Village. In ski season the township is packed, but in summer it’s sleepy – despite being a great base for activities in and around the park.

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Daily shuttles leave from here to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Whakapapa Village in summer, and the ski area in winter. If you can’t decide between two ski fields, it’s only a short drive further on to Ohakune and nearby Turoa. It is also a base for other adventures, such as canoe trips on the Whanganui River.

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]]> Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=466 Don’t think for a minute that this plateau is some boring old elevated flat landmass (which is what the dictionary will tell you), because this place rocks. For a starter, it ain’t flat. In the middle of the plateau and the heart of Tongariro National Park are the three massive peaks of Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, all sitting like something from another planet. Then there’s New Zealand’s largest lake, Taupo, a vast, water-filled crater, the legacy of a volcanic blast that shattered the island and shook up the world more than 26, 500 years ago. And the area is still active, with Mt Ruapehu often having a hissy fit, the last blast in 2007. This is all part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, a line of geothermal surfacings that stretches to White Island via Rotorua.

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But the drama doesn’t stop there, for this area now rivals Rotorua for spectacular back-to- nature activities and daredevil escapades. Perhaps you fancy fly-fishing in the world-class Tongariro River, hooning up to Huka Falls in a jetboat, or bouncing on a bungy over the Waikato River? Or maybe this is your chance to skydive. If rambling’s your thing, there’s always Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of NZ’s most achievable Great Walks, or the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, touted as one of the world’s top one-dayers. Then again, you could wait until winter, when the mountains are dusted with snow: there’s top skiing at Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields.

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]]> Taupo Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/taupo-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=465 The increasingly exciting town of Taupo now rivals Rotorua as the North Island’s adrenaline capital, with an abundance of skydiving, jetboating and bungy jumping to get your blood pumping. There’s lots of fun to be had in the town itself, more on its fringes, and still more just a little further afield, such as the lost world of Orakei Korakei, an hour’s drive away.

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Taupo nestles among spectacular natural wonders. It sits on the northeastern shores of the lake, enjoying unrestricted views across to the peaks of Tongariro National Park. Lake Taupo is the origin of NZ’s longest river, the Waikato, which flows from the lake at the township, gate-crashing its way through the Huka Falls and Aratiatia Rapids, before settling down for a sedate ramble through the North Island and meeting its maker on the west coast just south of Auckland.

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]]> Ohakune Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/ohakune-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=435 Expect to see carrots crop up all over Ohakune, for this is the country’s carrot capital. Not only do they creep into burgers and pop up on pizzas, they litter the roadside in season. The world’s largest ever carrot, in fact, grown in the area, was preserved and now sits at the entrance to town. To learn more (and you know you want to), why not visit during July’s annual Carrot Festival?

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The irony is, they needn’t even mention liver cleansing and eyesight improvement to win us over to the charms of this ripper little town. A pretty retreat in the summer offering outdoor adventure galore, the town springs to life in winter when the snow drifts down on Turoa Ski Area and the snow bunnies invade (although they no doubt love carrots, themselves).

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]]> Lake Taupo Region Taupo And The Central Plateau New Zealand https://www.worldtraveldb.com/taupo-and-the-central-plateau/lake-taupo-region-taupo-and-the-central-plateau-new-zealand/ Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:21:35 +0000 http://newzealand.worldtraveldb.com/?p=405 NZ’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, sits in the caldera of a volcano which began erupting about 300, 000 years ago. The caldera was formed by a collapse during the Oruanui eruption, about 26, 500 years ago, which threw out 750 cu km of ash and pumice, making Krakatoa (8 cu km) look like a pimple. The surrounding area is still volcanically active and, like Rotorua, has fascinating thermal areas.

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Today the 606-sq-km lake and its surrounding waterways are serene enough to be the world’s trout-fishing capital. International trout-fishing tournaments are held on Lake Taupo annually on the Anzac Day long weekend (on or around 25 April), with much of the action centring around Turangi.

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