Taupo: Paradise for adventure sports
Taupo city is located along the banks of Lake Taupo. The city of Taupo has a unique and interesting history. It was created in 186A.D. when a major volcanic eruption left a 660 square km hole in the earths crust. That hole was gradually filled with water and today it is the largest lake in the Southern hemisphere, Lake Taupo. The volcanic explosion was so huge that historians from as far as China and Rome had recorded the flaring skies. The earliest settlers were the Tuwharetoa Maoris who came here in the 13th Century. Europeans arrived here in 1830 and along with them came Christianity, trading and geologists.
The Europeans introduced modern farming and cattle rearing practices and slowly Taupo started gaining importance as a major business, tourist and geological hub in the Southern hemisphere. Town planning had started in 1880 and by 1890 the city was a flourishing trade and tourist destination.
Through the nineteenth century the city kept on growing and has become what it is today, a major tourist attraction for people traveling the country of New Zealand. Lake Taupo is a major centre for adventure water sports like kayaking, boating, skiing and jet boating. Apart from the activities the scenery around the lake is breathtaking. The best way to enjoy the lake is to charter a kayak or a boat and enjoy a ride till the Maori Rock Carvings.
The other activities in the lake area where one can experience pure adrenaline rush are windsurfing, parasailing, wake boarding and water skiing during the summer season. The Tongariro River is another must see for water sports enthusiasts. One can hire a jet boat and drive at speeds up to 80km/hr down the river. Skiing and snowboarding are other favorite activities in Taupo. Mount Ruapehu is an ideal spot for skiing. It has the highest vertical drop in the continents of Asia and Australia. Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields are located in this area. They have a combined are of 1050 hectares making them the largest ski fields in New Zealand. There is variety of terrain to suit all levels of skiers, from beginners to experts.
The longest ski trail here is 4 km long. There are dedicated areas for tubing and tobogganing. The city boasts of the countrys oldest national park, the Tongariro National Park. It offers long trails for soothing nature walks and an ideal place for a picnic with friends and family. One can also see exotic wildlife and plants of New Zealand, especially the ferns for which the country is so famous.
Visting Taupo is incomplete without a visit to the Huka village to see the breathtaking Huka Falls. These waterfalls are simply magnificent and seeing them is a great experience.
Taupo drew me into it and I ended up staying much longer than planned due to all the exciting activities in the city and region. You’ll feel the same way. It is an adventure city in a country known for adventure travel. Be sure to pack some lingerie too!