Nicola’s guidebook

Nicola
Nicola’s guidebook

My Favourite Restaurants and Cafe's

We love this spot for Taupo's best fine dinning experience. It usually has a great deal on a three course meal. The courses are not huge and over all its good value for money. We find its smart/casual so not too over the top.
57 lokale inwoners raden aan
The Brantry Restaurant
45 Rifle Range Rd
57 lokale inwoners raden aan
We love this spot for Taupo's best fine dinning experience. It usually has a great deal on a three course meal. The courses are not huge and over all its good value for money. We find its smart/casual so not too over the top.
Great Indian food with great service. It has always been our regular Indian restaurant and choose this one over the others.
8 lokale inwoners raden aan
Master of India
47 Ruapehu Street
8 lokale inwoners raden aan
Great Indian food with great service. It has always been our regular Indian restaurant and choose this one over the others.
This is a little restaurant in the middle of town that you would never know exists. The food is well priced and full of real Thai flavours. Its worth calling ahead to see if there is any tables available.
18 lokale inwoners raden aan
@Siam Thai Street Food Cafe
22 Te Heuheu St
18 lokale inwoners raden aan
This is a little restaurant in the middle of town that you would never know exists. The food is well priced and full of real Thai flavours. Its worth calling ahead to see if there is any tables available.
Pauly's have the best burgers in town by far! Its definitely not for anyone on a diet! So worth a visit.
10 lokale inwoners raden aan
Pauly's Diner
3 Pāora Hapi St
10 lokale inwoners raden aan
Pauly's have the best burgers in town by far! Its definitely not for anyone on a diet! So worth a visit.
This little spot is worth a visit. It is just a 5 min drive from us and has a cute Gallery on the property and has loads of character. Its probably not my top cafe for food but definitely for convenience, the beautiful garden and a good coffee.
70 lokale inwoners raden aan
L'arté Cafe & Gallery
255 Mapara Rd
70 lokale inwoners raden aan
This little spot is worth a visit. It is just a 5 min drive from us and has a cute Gallery on the property and has loads of character. Its probably not my top cafe for food but definitely for convenience, the beautiful garden and a good coffee.
This is a trendy little cafe with a different from the norm food menu. A must try is their chicken waffles! Delicious!! Good coffees too! One of my top cafe's!
29 lokale inwoners raden aan
The Storehouse
14 Runanga St
29 lokale inwoners raden aan
This is a trendy little cafe with a different from the norm food menu. A must try is their chicken waffles! Delicious!! Good coffees too! One of my top cafe's!
This is a great spot for a drink and tapas type food. Cozy and has a great atmosphere. It used to be a wine merchant and bar so they definitely know their wines and craft beers. Main meals are good but a little pricey. They are also open for lunch. My spot for a drink and a relax in front of the fire.
100 lokale inwoners raden aan
Vine Eatery & Bar
37 Tūwharetoa St
100 lokale inwoners raden aan
This is a great spot for a drink and tapas type food. Cozy and has a great atmosphere. It used to be a wine merchant and bar so they definitely know their wines and craft beers. Main meals are good but a little pricey. They are also open for lunch. My spot for a drink and a relax in front of the fire.
A good bistro type place to go. Good for a drink and bar snacks but also good for a meal. Its not fine dinning but has good bistro type meals and good sized platters. Its cozy and warm in winter. It is also open for lunch.
48 lokale inwoners raden aan
Plateau Bar + Eatery
64 Tūwharetoa St
48 lokale inwoners raden aan
A good bistro type place to go. Good for a drink and bar snacks but also good for a meal. Its not fine dinning but has good bistro type meals and good sized platters. Its cozy and warm in winter. It is also open for lunch.
This cafe is situated on the outskirts of town. We started this little cafe in 2015 and only sold it a year ago. The Ginger bread brioche is a must try as well as their pork steamed buns. There is lots of parking around the cafe as well as their own parking around the back. Nice garden to sit in and a great veiw of the lake inside. It is open breakfast and lunch.
17 lokale inwoners raden aan
Spoon & Paddle
101 Te Heuheu St
17 lokale inwoners raden aan
This cafe is situated on the outskirts of town. We started this little cafe in 2015 and only sold it a year ago. The Ginger bread brioche is a must try as well as their pork steamed buns. There is lots of parking around the cafe as well as their own parking around the back. Nice garden to sit in and a great veiw of the lake inside. It is open breakfast and lunch.

My Favourite Activities

Canoe and Kayak do guided trips on the lake to the famous Maori carvings. This gets you up close to the carving and is stunning on a sunny day. Well worth it. They also do a shorter trip on the Waikato river. It is more of a relaxed float trip where they stop at the natural hot pools for a soak. They are both worth it.
6 lokale inwoners raden aan
Canoe and Kayak Taupo
54 Spa Rd
6 lokale inwoners raden aan
Canoe and Kayak do guided trips on the lake to the famous Maori carvings. This gets you up close to the carving and is stunning on a sunny day. Well worth it. They also do a shorter trip on the Waikato river. It is more of a relaxed float trip where they stop at the natural hot pools for a soak. They are both worth it.
This is a awesome bungy jump if you are looking to do this in NZ.
63 lokale inwoners raden aan
Taupo Bungy
202 Spa Rd
63 lokale inwoners raden aan
This is a awesome bungy jump if you are looking to do this in NZ.
Lake taupo has the most amazing view from above! T.T.S (Taupo Tandem Skydiving) is a great way to get to see this. Definitely a must if you love this kind of thing. It is a little expensive but so much fun.
20 lokale inwoners raden aan
Taupo Tandem Skydiving
Anzac Memorial Drive
20 lokale inwoners raden aan
Lake taupo has the most amazing view from above! T.T.S (Taupo Tandem Skydiving) is a great way to get to see this. Definitely a must if you love this kind of thing. It is a little expensive but so much fun.
This thermal park has great walks and mountain bike tracks as well as the natural hot pools. The pools have recently been upgraded and there are lockers available as well as a container type cafe available. Do use the lockers provided as this area is a spot where lots of things have been reported stolen. This is a cool little spot to experience the natural hot water pools.
54 lokale inwoners raden aan
Spa Thermal Park
54 lokale inwoners raden aan
This thermal park has great walks and mountain bike tracks as well as the natural hot pools. The pools have recently been upgraded and there are lockers available as well as a container type cafe available. Do use the lockers provided as this area is a spot where lots of things have been reported stolen. This is a cool little spot to experience the natural hot water pools.
We live only minutes away from this amazing bay. In summer its the best place to swim, paddleboard and kayak. It is also great to just take a blanket and a book down there to chill. Remember to take sand fly repellent and in summer an unbrella is a added bonus. There is also the famous W2K track that starts here for both walking and mountain biking.
12 lokale inwoners raden aan
Whakaipo Bay
12 lokale inwoners raden aan
We live only minutes away from this amazing bay. In summer its the best place to swim, paddleboard and kayak. It is also great to just take a blanket and a book down there to chill. Remember to take sand fly repellent and in summer an unbrella is a added bonus. There is also the famous W2K track that starts here for both walking and mountain biking.
You get to go on some really awesome rapids on a very fast jet boat. Experienced guides and a very picturesque ride.
16 lokale inwoners raden aan
Rapids Jet
Nga Awa Purua Road
16 lokale inwoners raden aan
You get to go on some really awesome rapids on a very fast jet boat. Experienced guides and a very picturesque ride.
Is a must do in Taupo! Such a huge mass of beautiful blue water rushing over a incredible waterfall. There are also walking/running/mountain bike tracks in all directions from here. I have always loved running along these awsome tracks.
205 lokale inwoners raden aan
Huka Falls station
205 lokale inwoners raden aan
Is a must do in Taupo! Such a huge mass of beautiful blue water rushing over a incredible waterfall. There are also walking/running/mountain bike tracks in all directions from here. I have always loved running along these awsome tracks.
Cute little spot to visit on a rainy day. The honey Hive experience offers free honey, mead and liqueur tastings, live beehive viewings and fascinating interactive displays. At Café Hive@65, enjoy delicious gourmet ice creams, hot and cold drinks and a great range of divine sweet treats.
24 lokale inwoners raden aan
Huka Honey Hive
65 Karetoto Rd
24 lokale inwoners raden aan
Cute little spot to visit on a rainy day. The honey Hive experience offers free honey, mead and liqueur tastings, live beehive viewings and fascinating interactive displays. At Café Hive@65, enjoy delicious gourmet ice creams, hot and cold drinks and a great range of divine sweet treats.
A nice place to visit on a rainy/wet day. World class glass blowing artist based in Taupo. Such beautiful work.
50 lokale inwoners raden aan
Lava Glass - Glassblowing Studio, Sculpture Garden, Art Gallery, Café
165 State Hwy 5
50 lokale inwoners raden aan
A nice place to visit on a rainy/wet day. World class glass blowing artist based in Taupo. Such beautiful work.