Bundle up the family's youngest adventurers and discover hidden laneways with vibrant street art and scenic lakeside trails with soaring volcanic peaks on the horizon. Enjoy these six adventures this winter, all while keeping the little ones snug in their buggies.
Huka Falls Lookout Walk | Taupō
This year-round crowd-pleaser is famous for a reason. Every second, nearly a quarter of a million litres of sparkling blue water blasts through a narrow rock chasm before plunging 11 metres into churning waters.
Take the buggy to the main viewing points to watch the turbulent whirlpools and thundering falls before the swift-moving waters settle and continue sedately downstream. Don’t miss the little-known walking trail from the car park's northern edge, leading to an impressive downstream vantage point.
Need to know:
- Easy grade.
- Well-graded concrete and dirt paths suitable for buggies, bikes and wheelchairs.
- Allow 20 min.
- No facilities.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Directions: Drive north from Taupō on Wairākei Drive. Turn right onto Huka Falls Road (well signposted). Check gate-closure times on arrival.
Graffiato Street Art trail | Taupō
Take an urban stroll through the hidden laneways of Taupō, hunting for murals from some of the world’s most talented artists. Grab a coffee and download a trail map before exploring works from comic artist and illustrator Elliot Francis Stewart through to local artist Phil Somerville's mural depicting Lemonhead; visit to see if he is laughing or enthusiastically devouring something!
Time it right and visit at Labour Weekend to see artists in action during Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival, New Zealand’s longest-running annual street art festival.
Need to know:
- Easy grade.
- Well-graded concrete paths are suitable for buggies, bikes and wheelchairs.
- Allow 60 min, or as short as you like.
- Plenty of toilets and changing facilities, cafes and ice cream shops.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Directions: Find your way by downloading a walking map from here
Whangamata Stream Trail | Kinloch
Head west to the small lakeside community of Kinloch for easy buggy adventuring beneath towering trees and alongside sweeping shorelines. There’s plenty here to keep little ones enthusiastic while outdoors; watch for trout milling about in the clear-flowing Whangamata Stream from April to November, or detour to a vast fairy glade to search for Taupō Rocks.
Walk the entire loop to Whangamata Road or turn right at the many bridges to shorten the outing. Bring a picnic or refuel the troops with ice creams and snacks from the Kinloch General Store.
Need to know:
- Easy grade.
- Well-graded dirt trail suitable for buggies and bikes.
- Allow 60 - 90 min for the loop, or as short as you like.
- Toilet and general store.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Directions: Parking is available beside the marina at Kinloch Village, 20 kilometres from Taupō. Walk west along the shoreline to the signposted trail.
Tongariro River Loop Track | Tūrangi
Even though the Tongariro River tempts thousands of hopeful anglers each year with its sparkling shallows hiding wily trout, there are plenty of family adventures nearby without needing a fishing rod.
Start from Taupahi Reserve and head south along the path before crossing the Major Jones suspension bridge for a quick buggy-friendly visit beside the meandering river. Here, you can loop back north along the river’s edge or enjoy watching anglers try their luck in the crystal-clear waters below. The loop is buggy- and bike-friendly, with only one grunty section up to a lookout. Well worth the effort!
Need to know:
- Easy to medium grade.
- Mainly a well-graded dirt trail suitable for buggies and bikes.
- Allow 60 - 90 min for the loop, or as short as you like.
- Plenty of facilities and cafes, and an i-SITE.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Directions: Taupahi Reserve Park on Taupahi Road, Tūrangi.
Great Lake Pathway | Lake Taupō Marina
Breezy strolls beside Lake Taupō can be as sedate or energetic as you like along the award-winning Great Lake Pathway. The 10-kilometre-long trail departs the busy marina in town before winding south past small secluded bays before reaching Waitahanui. Tackle the entire trail, or enjoy warming the toes in a steamy natural foot spa at Taharepa Reserve before returning to town for ice creams and locally roasted coffee.
Or, be lured by the tempting aromas of tasty wood-fired pizza from the Two Mile Bay Sailing Club, where you can while away an hour overlooking the lake. The wide concrete trail has plenty of access points and is popular with youngsters in buggies and on two wheels – especially if the adventure includes the Wharewaka Point/Four Mile Bay playground.
Need to know:
- Easy. Suitable for buggies, bikes and wheelchairs.
- Allow 60 min return, or as short as you like.
- Plenty of facilities and cafes, and an i-SITE.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Directions: Parking near the Taupō Boat Harbour or along Lake Terrace.
Aratiatia Rapids | SH5 Rotorua-Taupō Highway
Watch a middling stream transform into a thundering river surging through remnants of an ancient volcano — it’s impressive! Arrive just before the dam release times to experience the blaring sirens and see the dam gates open before the unleashed Waikato River fills a narrow, rocky gorge.
The turquoise waters rapidly fall 28 metres over 1 kilometre from the dam gates. The bridge provides an excellent vantage point to watch all the surging action of 80,000 litres of water per second flow by. There are two additional viewpoints downstream, which are walking only.
Need to know:
- Easy grade.
- A mix of concrete (by bridge) and dirt paths with steps (to lookouts).
- Allow 20 minutes.
- Toilet available.
- Dogs are allowed on leads.
Important: The rapids are NEVER safe to swim in, as the dam can release water anytime and without warning.
Dam release times are 10am, 12pm, 2pm and an additional release at 4pm between October and March.
Directions: North of the Wairākei roundabout, turn off SH5 onto Aratiatia Road. Plenty of parking beside the dam.
