A boys weekend in Taupo

Check in to your fantastic Taupo accommodation. With amazing options for all budgets, you’ll be well looked after regardless of whether your weekend base is a budget-friendly backpackers like Taupo Urban Retreat, a great hotel or resort like Wairakei Resort, luxurious private accommodation like Te Moenga Lodge, or anything in between.

Then head down to enjoy a beer and meal at one of Taupo’s many great little pubs. Experience a brewery tour at the Crafty Trout, head to Pub ‘n’ Grub or The Deck for a bevy and burger with a lakeview, or to Vine to try the best selection of New Zealand wine and artisanal food. These establishments are all within walking distance of the town centre; the hardest thing will be deciding where to start.

For a breakfast on-the-go, Taupo has some of the best options in the country. Baked with Love offers gourmet sandwiches on fresh baked loaves and sweet treats that are small, delicious pieces of art. Or for the lovers of pies, consider Paetiki Bakery who have a long track record of winning medals for their wide array of delicious flaky, savoury treats, or head to Fast & Fresh Bakery to try the 2017 NZ Bakels Supreme Pie Award winning venison, bacon, mushroom, and cheese pie.

That afternoon head down to the boat harbour to catch a boat for some fun out on the water. Taupo is replete with great boat operators who offer everything from a small group fishing experience to sightseeing, fishing and skeet shooting charter. Be sure to ask the captain if you can swing by the iconic Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings before heading back to shore.

For the evenings festivities there are few places better to start the crawl than the Two Mile Bay Sailing Club. This sun-soaked little establishment sprawls out down to the shoreline. Enjoy Peroni on tap with woodfire pizza from your chosen perch – be that down on a picnic table on the lake’s edge, a comfy couch looking out across to the mountains, or on the enclosed pier right above the water.
Later that night head into Taupo township for a night of fun and festivities; the most popular spot for nightlife is Tuwharetoa Street, or better known to locals as ‘Pub Street.’ Here you’ll find everything from live music, DJs and karaoke, to jugs of beer, cocktails and mocktails. No matter your scene, an epic night awaits you.

Come morning you will be looking for a flat white and big breakfast to recuperate after the night’s celebrations. Cafe Baku has some hearty, delicious options - including a mind-blowing country mince on toast and epic eggs benne. Storehouse is also a fun ‘n’ funky option; who doesn’t love fried chicken on waffles? Or for a choice of hearty, healthy and always delicious options consider Bodyfuel Cafe to fuel the morning and drive back home.

Then to dust off the cobwebs, consider one of Taupo’s most iconic adrenaline attractions. Nothing will clear the head like a leap of faith off New Zealand’s only cliff-top bungy. At AJ Hackett Taupo Bungy & Swing you can choose from going solo or in tandem for that friend that needs his hand held to get over the edge.

Before you head home, stop off at the Lake Taupo Hole In One Challenge to test your skills and potentially walk away with an extra $10,000 in your pocket. With three holes of varying difficulty to aim for on this floating pontoon on the lake, they average a hole-in-one every two weeks. You could be next!