Tours Travel

Lake Taupo NZ – The Best Bays Near Taupo Township

Just minutes from the busy tourist town of Taupo are the picture-perfect bays of Northeast Lake Taupo. With stunning lake and mountain views, idyllic swimming and picnic spots, grassy reserves and sandy beaches, all of these bays are linked by the Great Lake Walkway, also known as the Lion’s Walk.

This romantic and picturesque lakeside walkway and bike path begins in Taupo Township, follows the lakefront to Two-Mile Bay, circles around Wharewaka Point on Four Mile Bay, and ends at Five Mile Bay. Along the way, you’ll pass Three Mile Bay and Rainbow Point.

Let’s follow the Great Lake Walkway and along the way we’ll introduce you to the best bays in Northeast Lake Taupo.

two mile bay

Our first stop on our way to 2 Mile Bay is Hot Water Beach. Created by warm springs that warm the sand on the lake shore, kids and adults alike love to sink their toes into the sand to feel the warmth underneath.

Nearby is Two Mile Bay. With wonderful, uninterrupted views across the lake to Acacia Bay and the mountains of Tongariro National Park, a beautiful sandy beach that’s great for picnics and swimming, and boat launching facilities, Two-Mile Bay is perfect for a family vacation.

The 2 Mile Bay Boating and Water Sports Center is the only facility of its kind on Lake Taupo. Here you can sail on a variety of boats, including one of eight America’s Cup mini yachts. You can also learn to wakeboard, waterski, kayak, canoe and windsurf. Catering to everyone from beginners to boaters to experienced boaters, 2-Mile Bay Sailing Center has everything you need to fully enjoy the crystal clear waters of Lake Taupo.

rainbow point

Our next stop is Rainbow Point. This popular vacation spot is only a 5-minute drive from Taupo Township, yet very quiet. You really will get the best of both worlds here; close to the bustle of Taupo but with that magical presence of a peaceful lakefront settlement.

Like all the bays in the Northeast, Rainbow Point has wonderful lake and mountain views, scenic preserves, sandy beaches, and plenty of great picnic spots. It’s also just a two minute walk to the local fish and chip shop so you can indulge in that favorite kiwi pastime; a fish and chip meal to go on the beach.

three mile bay

As we continue down the walkway, our next destination is Three-Mile Bay. At Three-Mile Bay, views are protected by height restrictions, so most vacation homes in this area have unobstructed lake and mountain views.

With scenic preserves and beautiful beaches, Three-Mile Bay is most famous as the finish line for the annual Across the Lake swim. This popular 4.2km swim from Acacia Bay to Three Mile Bay comes with fantastic bragging rights. After all, how many people can say they’ve swum across a lake, especially one as big as Lake Taupo?

Wharewaka Point, Four Mile Bay

With sun-kissed slopes and commanding lake and mountain views, Wharewaka Point on Four-Mile Bay is one of Taupo’s premier waterfront suburbs. Enhanced by a unique subdivision and plantation design, Wharewaka Point has many modern vacation homes.

Popular in the summer with locals and tourists alike for its cool, clear swimming beach, playground, and barbecue area, Wharewaka is just minutes from several boat ramps and some of the best fly-fishing in town. the mouth of the Waitahanui Creek.

five mile bay

The walkway now heads along a terrace above the lake and descends into Five-Mile Bay. This is home to a popular beach for swimming, water skiing, and windsurfing, and has many green areas and beautiful picnic spots. South of Five-Mile Bay is the famous “picket fence” at the mouth of Waitahanui Creek.

This area is one of the most photographed fly fishing spots in Taupo, possibly even in New Zealand. The ‘picket fence’ is where the fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder and throw themselves into the current and current caused by the current flowing into the lake.

Due to the popularity of this fishing spot and the nature of the current, the mouth of the Waitahanui Creek is best suited to experienced anglers. The ‘picket fence’ fishes throughout the year, being the first hours of the morning and the last hours of the afternoon the best moments of the day.

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