Taupo

Taupō. Big lake, bold views and a to-do list that doesn't sit still. 
Taupō's the kind of place you plan to stop in, then quietly cancel your next two destinations. The town sits right on the edge of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's biggest lake, with mountain views, geothermal quirks and a strong talent for turning "just passing through" into "might stay another night." 

Things to do in Taupō include a little bit of everything. Hike the world-famous Tongariro Crossing, take a boat or kayak to the Māori rock carvings, or feel the spray at Huka Falls where the river gets serious. For a proper thrill, throw yourself out of a plane with skydiving over Lake Taupō or blast through the river canyon on a jet boat. It's all loud, fast, and very hard to forget. 

More of a soak-and-scenery type? No problem. Taupō's home to natural hot pools, walking tracks, and lakefront spots that feel made for long lunches and short naps. The food's great, the coffee's strong and the trout fishing is famous, if that's your thing. 

Taupō does big nature and small-town charm in the same breath. Come for the lake, stay for the surprises, and leave with at least one story that starts with "so I wasn't planning to…"