Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere, fills a crater formed by a monumental explosion 26,500 years ago. With fire and brimstone beneath its surface and snow-capped peaks towering at its center, the Taupo and Tongariro region uneasily awaits further geological tantrums. In the background tower the mighty trio of Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro, home to the famed Tongariro Northern Circuit tramp (in Tongariro National Park) and the popular Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields.
☎ 07 Taupo The sunny community of Taupo (pop. 23,000) lies at the headstream of the Waikato River and presides over the largest lake in the Southern Hemisphere, Lake Taupo (616 sq. km). The lake lures ...more
☎ 07 Turangi The self-proclaimed “Trout Fishing Capital of the World,” Turangi (pop. 3500) is the smaller, wilder, and fishier cousin of Taupo. Waters teem with anglers, but there is plenty of ...more
Three larger-than-life volcanic peaks tower over North Island: massive, blocky Ruapehu (rue-uh-PIE-oo; 2797m), conical Ngauruhoe (nair-uh-HO-ee; 2291m), and sprawling Tongariro (1967m). These volcanoes—all ...more
☎ 07 National Park Village National Park Village is little more than a cluster of hostels and a gas station at the junction of SH4 and SH47 established to service the hordes flocking to the nearby ...more
☎ 07 Whakapapa Village This tiny clutch of establishments, owned in entirely by the decidedly non-budget Grand Chateau, is the foundation of ski operations in Tongariro National Park and is the most ...more
☎ 06 Ohakune At one end of Ohakune (pop. 1500) stands Mt. Ruapehu, a massive snow-covered time bomb whose fine skiing causes the town’s population to triple in winter. At the other end lies Ohakune’s ...more
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For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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