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Accommodation (Boulevard Waters – Lake Taupo)

   Boulevard Waters at Lake Taupo’s website boasts amazing views of the lake stating “We are as close to the lake as you can get.” When we booked this accommodation we took this statement with a grain of salt. Boy were we wrong. The Boulevard Waters really is wonderfully close to Lake Taupo. You seriously cannot get any any accommodation in Taupo that is closer to the lake. From the street, the apartment complex is rather hidden. We even parked in front of and entered into the wrong building when trying to check in here. However, this ended up being a really nice asset. Because the building was so hidden from the road, it was rather quiet. There was little to no ambient sounds from the street.

We were truly impressed by this stay. There was a nice kitchenette (including a small stove, cooking equipment, microwave, dishes, eating utensils, and other related useful items), a bunk room, a large jacuzzi, big screen TV. The complex has a nice pool that is heated by the local hot springs which is perfect for an evening of relaxing after an active day. Because our unit was on the ground floor we had a “backyard” with prefect panoramic views of Lake Taupo. I highly recommend making it a point to stay in your apartment at least one evening in the room because watching the sunset over the lake from the backyard is incredible. Behind the wall in the backyard, is a walking path that follows the shoreline of Lake Taupo. This footpath is accessible from the building.

Our budget for accommodations during this trip was anything less than $200/night (USD). The price of the apartment was only slightly above our nightly budget for accommodations. However, after having stayed here, I can honestly tell you that this apartment had the greatest value for the location. Furthermore, it is worth keeping in mind that, that Lake Taupo is a vacation destination for both Kiwi’s and foreigners alike. As tourists flock to the area on the weekends, the prices of accommodations will be more expensive during those times.

If you are going on the weekend during the right (warmer) times of the year, you will absolutely want to book in advance as Lake Taupo is a favorite vacation spot for many Kiwis. Think about it this way, here in the US many people have a “lakehouse.” On the North Island of New Zealand, Lake Taupo is the city where people own their “lakehouse.” As a result, the city is often packed during the summer weekends.If you would like to stay at Boulevard Waters, I highly recommend you book months in advance. When we booked this accommodation in August there was only one available apartment left.

Attractions

The North Island of New Zealand is full of geothermal sites. Some of which are comparable to the geothermal sites that you would find in Yellowstone National Park. However, these geothermal sites are spread out on the island. As we planned our trip, we came to the realization the Lake Taupo was the most central to the sites we wanted to see.

Waimangu

   Waimangu was the first geothermal site we visited. It was also our favorite geothermal site. When you arrive at Waimangu, you are enter into a complex that sells entry tickets, has restrooms, and a large gift shop. This complex is at the top of a mountain. Then as you take an incredibly scenic hike. As you hike, you are actually hiking down to the bottom of the mountain. At the bottom of a mountain you have a choice. Either your take a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana (this is part of the Full Experience…we did not choose this option) or you can board a bus which takes you back up to the guest center at the top of the mountain (this is part of the Self Guided Walk or Hike Only option). There were other geothermal sites that we wanted to see, so we only chose the Self Guided Walk only. In hindsight, because this was our favorite geothermal area, I wish we would have taken The Round Trip option. This option is the most expensive ($245 NZD), however, it would have allowed us to spend more time in the park. This option includes the Waimangu walk (the walk we took), a boat cruise across Lake Rotomahana, the Isthmus Track Walk, a boat tour of Lake Tarawera, a visit to a Hot Water Beach in Tarawera, visit to a buried village, and a boxed lunch.

Hell’s Gate

After having seeing the wonderful sights of Waimangu, we were very underwhelmed with Hell’s Gate. Hell’s Gate was much smaller and not nearly as scenic. There is a walking trail with some interesting sights. The geothermal sites are more along the lines of muddy. Although, it might be worth visiting if you are into unique wellness experiences. Hell’s Gate boasts some of the best mud for your general wellness and the overall health of your skin. If we had tried the Mud Bath + Spas at Hell’s Gate, we probably would have enjoyed our time there more. But since we had a baby, we did not want to attempt this activity.

wai-o-tapu

When most people think of geothermal attractions, the first thing that comes to mind are the beautiful array of colors that are found in these attractions. Wai-o-tapu has several geothermal pools and lakes with incredible colors. Some of these vibrantly colored bodies of water include: the Champagne Pool, the Devil’s Bath, and Lake Ngakoro. If you have a multiday stay in Lake Taupo, Wai-o-tapu should absolutely make your list.

Orakei Korako

Like many of our favorite attractions in New Zealand, this geothermal attraction starts and ends with a boat ride. When you arrive the geothermal site, you arrive on the beautiful banks of the Waikato River. It appeared that this locations was also used by locals for leisure activities (swimming, boating, and jet skiing). Anyway, after purchasing your tickets you board a small ferry that takes you across the river (as all the geothermal areas are on the other side of the river). The geothermal sites here were not one of our favorites. But the scenery on the other hand was incredible. The river was beautiful.

Huka Falls

This site is (quite literally) 5 minutes outside of the village of Lake Taupo. The crystal blue of the cool waters are stunning. There are some nice walking trails around the falls. We did not have the time or energy to walk around these trails. I am sure we would have enjoyed our time hiking around the area if we had we chosen to do so. Other options are available at Huka Falls including helicopter tours and jet boating tours. However, it is worth noting, this park was packed when we were there. There is a chance it is because it was a late Sunday afternoon and people were just wanting to go to the falls as they were leaving Taupo at the end of the weekend.

final thoughts

    Lake Taupo is beautiful. Matt and I really enjoyed our stay here. Things to keep in mind during when preparing for your stay. Lake Taupo is a vacation hot spot for the Kiwis during the warmer months. For many, this is the location of their lake house or vacation condo. Just know that there will be crowds large crowds and traffic on the weekends. If you are looking to meet a lot of Kiwis be sure to visit on the weekends. However, if you would like to avoid the crowds and traffic, go during the week.

For our stay in Lake Taupo, we were there for two nights. As beautiful as this area is, we have agreed that two nights were enough. Looking back on our trip, there are definitely a could things that we could change. For a one or two day itinerary here is what we suggest:

Day 1: Visit Wai-O-Tapu, Orakei Korako (if time allows, visit Huka Falls on the way back to Lake Taupo).

Day 2: The Round Trip at Waimangu (if you are only here for one day do this option).