← Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon·2 nights

Taupō: A Lakefront Base With Hot Water

Two nights beside New Zealand's largest lake, with thermal pools, a short flat walk to Huka Falls and an easy drive from Hawke's Bay.

Duration2 nights
TransitDrive via State Highway 5, about 2 hr from Napier
DepartsNapier

After the Hawke's Bay Marathon: Taupō

The Route: Napier → Taupō → Huka Falls → Auckland or Rotorua Logistics: About two hours by road from Napier via State Highway 5, which is winding in places. A hire car is easiest, and the road can be affected by weather, so check conditions before setting off. Marathon Month: May Duration: 2 nights

Napier ──(about 2 hrs by road, SH5)──> Taupō ──(about 15 mins)──> Huka Falls
                                          │
Taupō Airport (TUO) or Auckland Airport (AKL) <──(about 4 hrs by road to Auckland)

The Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon is on a Saturday in May. Taupō is a low-effort next stop for anyone continuing around the North Island, because the lake, the thermal water and the short walks are all easy on the legs.

May in Taupō: late autumn. Days are usually in the low teens Celsius, nights are cold, and the mountains to the south can carry early snow. Swimming in the lake is not appealing, and the lake views, thermal pools and geothermal sights are more dependable than boat trips. Check the weather and opening times for any outdoor attraction.

Nights One and Two: Taupō

The lakefront in Taupō is flat and paved for a few kilometres, with benches and cafés along the way, and it is the easiest walk in town. The Huka Falls walk from the Huka Falls car park is short and level, with a viewing bridge over the falls, and it takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Longer river walks and cycle tracks are available, but stay on the short ones after a marathon.

Thermal pools are the recovery highlight. Several hot pool complexes around Taupō take visitors, and prices and opening hours vary, so check before you go and book if needed. Craters of the Moon is a geothermal walk with boardwalks, a few kilometres from town, and the route has some steps and slopes, so choose the shorter loop.

For a bed, Wairakei Resort Taupō is a large resort near the geothermal area with a golf course, and Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupō is a lakefront option. Both are reachable by car, and prices vary by season.

For a meal, the lakefront cafés and restaurants in town serve local produce and trout, and it is worth booking on a Saturday night. Check winter opening hours.

The Drive Over the Ranges

State Highway 5 from Napier to Taupō is about 145 kilometres and climbs over the ranges before dropping to the lake. It is a sealed road with bends and a few passing places, and in winter it can be affected by ice, snow or slips, so check conditions on the NZ Transport Agency website before you leave. Allow two hours and take a break if the driver is tired.

Night Two: Thermal Water and the River

The Spa Thermal Park, on the edge of town, has a free warm stream where the Otumuheke Stream meets the Waikato River. It is reached by a path of about a kilometre from the road, mostly level with some steps down to the water, and it is a good way to warm tired legs. Water temperatures vary, and the stream can be busy at weekends. The Aratiatia Rapids, a few kilometres downstream from Huka Falls, are released on a set daily schedule when the hydro dam opens its gates, and there are viewing platforms a short walk from the car park. Check the current release times, because they change with the season. Bring a warm layer in May, because it is cold by the lake.

Getting Home

Taupō has a small airport (TUO) with limited flights, so most travellers drive on. Auckland Airport (AKL) is about four hours by road, and Rotorua is about an hour. Allow time for winding roads, and check the weather before an early departure.