Lake Taupo Sports & Outdoors

An activity for the thrill seekers to one of NZ’s most popular tourist attractions.... Take the plunge and bungy jumps at Taupo over the Waikato River.

This bungy site is set against cliff-tops high above the crystal clear waters of the Waikato River and is one of NZ's most spectacular bungy sites. If you're not into bungy, the scenic backdrop and breathtaking views alone are worth the visit!

Taupo Bungy opens daily except on Christmas Day.
Summer jump times: 9am - 5pm (extended to 7pm October - March subject to bookings)
Winter jump times: 9am - 5pm

Taupo Bungy utilises a world first cantilever bungy platform, which projects 20m out from the cliff-top. The height of the jump is 47m. Since commencing operations in 1991, Taupo Bungy has performed more than 170,000 jumps gaining a worldwide reputation for safety standards and professionalism. They offer solo jumps and tandem jumps as well as specialising in water touches. The maximum combined weight for tandem jumping is 180kg.

Equipment: YOUR DARING SOUL!!!

A 30 minutes of fun and excitement takes you along a beautiful river environment, lined with native bush and natural Hot Springs. Enjoy the sensation as you skim close to cliffs & slide past trees @ at 80km/h. Then get ready for a 360 degree spin, as the boat turns on its own length!

Huka Jet will take you right up to the base of the foaming Huka Falls, where you get a spectacular water level view to NZ most visited natural attraction, watching 220,000 litres per second tumbling over the cliff face towards you.

Huka Jet opens all year round. Trips depart around every 15 minutes depending on demand.
8:30am - 5:30pm Summer (October - April)
8:30am - 4pm Winter (May - September)

Prices:
NZD$79 Adults
NZD$49 Children (under 15 years)
NZD$219 Family (2 adults + 2 children)

Lake Taupo and surrounding rivers are infamous for Rainbow and Brown Trout.

Lake Taupo and the river mouths are open for fishing all year round. Most of the rivers that flow into the lake are open all year round, except for restrictions on many upper reaches during the New Zealand winter. These closures are usually between June 31 and December 1. This is to allow for spawning of rainbow trout.

There are over forty rivers and streams flowing into Lake Taupo. The other lakes in the area such as Otamangakau are open from December 1 to June 31.

Much of the fishing can be reached easily by car and, or boat. For more remote fishing helicopter and raft fishing is readily available

The Seasons:

Some months overlap because, well, weather makes its own rule s.
Summer is November through March
Autumn is March through May
Winter is June through September
Spring is September through November

The average sized trout caught in the region is 2.2 kg, (4.5 lb.). The minimum size limit is eighteen inches. All the trout in the area are wild trout.

Equipment: A Lake Taupo Trout Fishing Licence is required.
Adult- $13.50 per day or $27 for a 3 day license.
Children- $3.50 per day

Most trout tour operators can help you with the license and supply fishing gear.

This year I entered the Wattyl's Cycle Challenge which is a 160km "challenge" around the perimeter of Lake Taupo. A friend and I entered in a relay style format completing 80km of the circuit each. We did it in a time of 6 hrs 29 mins 42 secs (475th place) which is a place that is based on all female relay teams. Not bad for a couple of beginners!

There is a classic race option which is for serious riders and the challenge which consits of solo or relay teams.

There were 10,000 cyclists in total in 2004 which is over 2,000 more than the year before that!!! There were people from all over New Zealand and even other countries!

Equipment: You will need a bike although it doesn't matter if it isn't a road bike! There was a unicycle and a penny farthing bike this year :-)

4 hours return
Cross the Huka Falls bridge (if you're at the Huka Falls car park you couldn't miss it if you tried) and head left, past the last viewing platform and follow the track along the bank of the Waikato River.
The track follows the Waikato River before climbing over cliff tops with an awesome view of the river below, then gently descending to the Aratiatia hydro dam and rapids. The control gates are opened several times a day-a truly spectacular sight-so check times with the Taupo Visitor Information Centre to coincide your arrival with an opening.

2 hours return
From the Spa Park car park head over the grassy stretch towards the river and veer left over the small bridge.
This is a great track for runners as well. The track meanders alongside the Waikato River (a vivid turquoise along this stretch), ending at the Huka Falls.

Equipment: Bring your swimwear and a towel so you can have a soak in the natural hot pools at the start of the track. There are spots along the river to swim, but be careful you don't get caught in the current as it powers its way to the falls.

Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and has many good spots for trout fishing. Whether you have your own boat or hire a fishing boat or book a cruise it's fun and the scenery is stunning.