Kia Ora Turangi
School Holidays next week means the Spring tourist season is here. So today’s report is all about tourism stuff.
Tourism research website blogs advise TRM that forward-thinking ‘moteliers’ (like SWMBO? She Who Must Be Obeyed is the tour leader at TRM) need to respond more to prospective guests new hunger for local experiences by moving beyond their traditional motel brand marketing efforts.
i.e. What guests really want to know is:
What’s right outside your front door?
What can they walk to?
Where can they find the best local fare?
Where can they catch a good happy hour?
Where is the best running track?
Where can they buy locally made items they wont find anywhere else?
Motels need to concentrate on local and neighbourhood content.
So TRM’s response follows for your Summer holiday programme…
About ten years ago, (when they previously printed news instead of being paid by Government to print propaganda) each week the NZ Herald used to review a small town every week. Now the tourist season has started so today it is Turangi’s turn for their own updated version. This is the BIG one…
As Turangi has not been featured by the NZ Herald since 2013, Tongariro River Motel have prepared a completely unbiased (?) updated local version using the same format for tourists’ consideration…
Origins:
The original town, known as Taupahi, extended on the eastern side of SH1. It was primarily a sleepy tourist fishing village developed along the banks of the world famous Tongariro River. That was the sole reason for its existence and popularity. Then about fifty years ago, the “main” new town of Turangi was developed on the western side of SH1 to house the employees for the Tongariro Hydro Scheme in the 1960-1970 period.
“Turangi” was an abbreviation of Turangitukua, a Maori leader who must have been a great fisherman. Their tribal land was “acquired” – taken under the Public Works Act – to develop Turangi township during the 1970’s. Excavations during the 1960’s for the Tongariro Power Development unearthed 16 pre-maori villages, 246 pre-maori dwellings, artefacts carbon dated around 400 AD, etc. originally occupied by Moa Hunters, Fairy folk and Hobbits.
Population:
About 2900 and, strangely, still steadily falling. About 1970 it peaked at over 9000 for the Tongariro Hydro Development but in 12 years since 2001 census, Turangi resident population fell 14% while the rest of NZ rose 11%. About 64% are permanent resident occupied homes with 36% holiday homes for anglers.
Where is it:
Half way to everywhere – located where SH 1 crosses the Tongariro River and surrounded by National Parks with dual world heritage status. Midway Wellington (320km) & Auckland (310km). Midway Napier & New Plymouth. Midway Hamilton and Palmerston North. Midway Tokoroa & Taihape. Midway Paradise and Heaven.
Town Slogan:
“Trout Fishing Capital of the World”. When the Taupo Council tried to rebrand the town as “The Source of Great Lake Taupo” (?), a local facebook page to object appeared, to “Save the Signs” to reflect the passion of locals for trout fishing. They have since removed the offending “source” sign to restore local pride. Then Toe-paw council tried (and failed!) to rebrand the town as “Gateway to the National Park”. This resulted in a curse on the ski fields with the disastrous result of hardly any snow falling for the last few years. This destroyed the ski-field management company (RAL – Ruapehu Alpine Lifts) and they are still trying to find an innovative commercially viable solution. At the moment they survive on Government $ charity.
Source of Pride:
Trout Fishing Capital of the World. Tongariro River is a world renowned trout fishing paradise offering wild fly fishing all year with over 50 pools. More books have been written about trout fishing on the Tongariro than any other river in NZ. Tongariro River Motel have just updated their Tongariro Bucket List map with Fifty Pools to Fish Before You Die, only available at TRM reception.
Town Mascots:
Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Wild trout. Trophy trout. Big trout, Huge Trout, Giant trout, More trout.
Famous anglers:
All TRM inmates plus others who loved Turangi since the 1920’s include American author Zane Grey (returned three times to write about it), Duchess of York (the Queen’s mother), Queen Elizabeth, President Jimmy Carter, film stars and many other celebrities – an incredible world famous trout fishing reputation.
Best Fishing Guides
Experienced professional fishing guides are available at all the tackle shops. Alternatively just ask the angler next to you. They are usually very approachable and willing to help any novices. That indicates how easy the fishing is. You do not have to go far – the trout swim up the river on their spawning migration to where the anglers are waiting to ambush them.
Best local website:
What a question – we are so embarrassed that you even had to ask? You are reading it (but sometimes you need to read between the lines…).
Main Employer:
Tourist industry built around the trout fishing on the Tongariro River – 8 motels, 8 cafes, various B&B’s and backpackers – offering something for everyone – from upmarket superior lodges to low cost camping ground. Also the local forestry is the major employer.
Town fiesta:
Turangi used to celebrate a festival at Easter to feature the many autumn colours from the mature deciduous trees that predominate through Turangi, but since Covid that has gone.
Best reason to stop:
The National Tongariro Trout Centre is hard to beat. It includes a trout fishing museum, underground viewing chamber to view trout in spawning stream, and several times each year they hold a kids day – a guaranteed way to catch a trout in Turangi. Now they even farm trout for local iwi. Amazing…
Best place to take kids:
Turangi Aquatic Centre (heated indoor pool) or Tongariro Trout Centre (trout farming factory above) or hike around the (1 hour) loop track from the Koura Street swing bridge past famous fishing pools and up and over the hill providing wide views over Turangi and Lake Taupo beyond.
Best entertainment:
Stand on SH 1 road bridge and watch the action from the queue of anglers perfecting their combat casting. This would easily be the most popular trout river in NZ where they all catch trout. Great entertainment.
Best place for ‘happy hour’:
Turangi Tavern – refurbished, pleasant friendly family hotel atmosphere offers an excellent budget menu or for mid-day caffeine hits there are 8 other cafes.
Best food:
Hare & Copper in Graces Road cannot be beaten. Our guests comments confirm it is better than anything in Auckland!
Turangi Bakery’s pies are famous throughout NZ.
Best cafe:
Creel Cafe, foodies heaven – healthy breakfasts and delicious finger food in an historic 100 year old tackle shop setting on Taupahi Road.
Best walk/jogging/biking track:
The 100 year old Tongariro River Trail loop north of Major Jones Pool bridge is 1 hour, loop trail south to Red Hut Bridge to return via the Trout Centre – 12 km – 2 hours. Joggers can add the north loop to extend it to 15 km.
Just out of town is the 2 hour circuit of a hidden Lake Rotopounamu (Greenstone Lake) winner of the NZ Herald’s readers favourite secret touristy place (or something like that?).
Best View:
Lake Taupo – the largest most stunning lake in the North, South & West Islands erupted about 30,000 years ago on a Wednesday – best views from the lookout on SH47 about 6 km from Turangi or from the lookout track above the Tongariro River or climb Mt. Tihia (1165m). .
Best Mountain Biking:
Tongariro River Trail. Out of town is the Waihaha Bay loop on western side of Lake Taupo or south is Tree Trunk Gorge to Pillars of Hercules trail. Tongariro River Motel have their BIG DAY OUT trail from Tree Trunk Gorge back to the motel – it has the best lunch stop of any bike trail in NZ. The route covers a wide variety of interesting terrain from tramping trails crossing streams to abandoned roads to forestry roads to a canal speed section and crossing a dam – heaps of variety and enjoyment.
The feasibility assessment for an extraordinary new scenic bike track is being completed – the T2T – Taupo to Turangi along the lake edge. It is on the Taupo Mayor’s mayor’s top priority to-do wish list.
Best tourist hike:
Tongariro Alpine Crossing – it is so good that Taupo (50km North of Turangi) tried to claim it as well. It’s on everyone’s Bucket List. Can get quite crowded on fine weekends. A better more challenging alternative option away from the crowds is to climb Mt. Ruapehu in summer only.
Best place to pull over:
Stump Bay – about 5 km north of Turangi on SH 1 provides safe swimming in Lake Taupo – nature’s 100% pure playground..
Best Playground:
Lake Taupo for a natural beach playground or locally outside the indoor swimming pool in the town centre includes a skateboard park.
Best Books:
No other tourist town has so many interesting books written about it. Not surprisingly, most of these were about the famous trout fishing until a new book was published about three years ago. This was described as a “mockumentary” about Turangi and is a runaway best seller, now up to its fifth reprint. Tongariro Skulduggery is only available at TRM reception. Every angler should have a copy.
Another new book above was only launched a few weeks ago – Fishing the Tongariro by Grant Henderson is a comprehensive historical account of the Tongariro River. A copy is circulating amongst the units at TRM but most anglers do not have time to read it as they are away fishing. This book should also be on every angler’s bookshelf…
Worst Kept Secrets:
Tongariro river-side walk between Taupahi Reserve and Koura Street is better than Tamaki Drive or Oriental Parade. During the evenings it develops into a kennel club.
The lower Tongariro River has the biggest Brown trout spawning area and nursery in NZ so Waikato Regional Council used it for a gravel quarry.. True!.
Turangi has hidden the only underground power station in the North Island just off SH 1 – a must visit for tourists but Genesis wont let you see it.
In 1970 the Turangi Museum attracted over 100,000 visitors to view the best collection of pre-maori artefacts in NZ. Now they are locked up so you can’t see them either.
A new tourist bike trail is being planned from Taupo to Turangi (T2T) that will knock the socks off any other in NZ. TRM predict it will become the most popular bike trail in NZ. but Toepaw Council have ignored it. They are in denial as it will compete with their bike trails designed for club members. Watch this space…
Best swim:
For superb river swimming, the “Breakfast Pool” with access off Kokopu Street is the favourite summer spot for kids. They claim traditional right-of-way over anglers wading this pool during summer. That is called co-governance – Turangi style.
For natural heated soothing therapeutic thermal pools go to Tokaanu 5 km west or Turangi indoor heated pool.
For lake swimming drive to the yacht club about 4 km north on SH1.
Best cultural experience:
Either visit Turangi Tavern on Saturday night or stroll through Turangi’s mall past Sporting Life tackle shop towards the Art Gallery on Saturday morning during market day – you will be surprised… Then spend an hour admiring the art works in the gallery.
Best review:
Turangi – a town with heart – the dvd is now unavailable.
But far and away the best review explaining why the town has not achieved more notoriety is described in a delightful provocative story titled Tongariro Skulduggery. Turangi has always promise so much but failed to deliver. It is the story of a quaint little fishing village that could have, but didn’t. The book explains why. The intriguing story about the Tongariro River explores many other fishy issues and welds them into a fictitious plot. Warning – like all fishy tales, it is all true except where I lied.
Best Wildlife:
Trout, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Wild trout, Trophy trout, Big trout, Huge trout, Giant trout, More trout… TRM often has ‘special purpose’ tourists known as “birders” – visiting just to view and photograph the Blue Ducks. DOC claim they are supposed to be an endangered species (The birds – not DOC). They are not uncommon in most of this region’s more remote trout rivers as they compete with trout for the same food – caddis etc. TRM even have a specially trained bird dog who has proved to be an expert at locating them for tourists (Don’t tell DOC).
Raiding parties of Tuis in Kowhai trees along the Tongariro River Trail are unforgettable in springtime.
Best Historic site:
Te Porere Redoubt – on SH47 – historic battle site where a Maori rebel Te Kooti built a medieval castle so the Government Colonial troops could find him. Both won?
Best Garden Sculpture:
The biggest trout fly in the world on corner of Poto and Kokopu Streets overlooking the Tongariro River. The giant fisherman sculpture who used to grace the main SH1 has now been retired.
Visitors say:
When can we book again?
Locals say:
I came to Turangi for the fishing season 20 years ago.
Best images to reflect life in Turangi:
(1) On right – a corporate box at the footy…
(2) Below – a Turangi traffic jam…
