Welcome to Taupo, New Zealand, a place to escape the ordinary and enjoy the outdoors. Taking you away from the city, this destination has a plethora of activities for the whole family!
With a variety of parks to visit, there are several places in particular for the kids to enjoy. Just ten minutes north of Taupo, the Huka Prawn Park raises over one billion prawns per year! Located on a geothermal spring, here visitors will take the tour, also dubbed “Shawn’s Walk,” in which they stop at the prawn hatchery and nursery. Visitors will also be treated to a foot bath in the springs after embarking on a nature walk. Another stop the kids will surely love is the Lilliput Farm Fun and Animal Park that houses over twenty different species of animals!
For those who are more adventurous, the world-famous Tongariro Crossing provides a challenging trek. All volcanic terrain, Tongariro National Park offers spectacular vistas and scenic crater lakes. Be sure to give yourself enough time to complete this strenuous hike and arrange transportation to and from the location. Real traveler Vincentvega explains:
“Tongariro Crossing is rated as New Zealand’s finest one day trek. After myself, Kev & Barbara trekked it (our longest one to date at 17km, approx 6-8 hours it takes) we can definitely see why. Amazing landscape combining volcanoes, mountains and national parks. It was pretty tough in some parts (steep inclines taking about an hour) but at the end very rewarding. It took us about 5.30 hours. The weather turned out to be perfect; which was a very good thing considering our ‘walking shoes’ and hiking ‘gear’ :o) They highly recommend proper trekking gear for this one as the weather can change rapidly. Overall, an excellent trek well worth doing.”
