Ten more reasons 21 to 30 tourists prefer Turangi for summer holidays.
Over the last two days TRM inmates listed 20 wonderful enticing irresistible unique reasons to visit Turangi.
Today we have ten more for you to try to resist. Don’t fight it. It is natural emotion to want more. If you need relief from daily stress, to feel better, just book now for your next holiday visit.
The “river therapy cure” in Turangi is renowned throughout the world.
21 Fishing Tackle Shops – Consider this comparison. Taupo has two tackle shops for a population of about 25,000. That is one tackle shop for every 12,000 residents. OK.
A similar pattern is evident in many other fishy tourist towns. But in Turangi there are two tackle shops for a resident population of about 3,000 – one for every 1500 residents.
But there is more… Other tackle shops closed when they discovered they were selling more ‘online’ than over the counter. There are also several other well-established tackle dealers businesses operating under cover through their websites. Some have just fly patterns. Others offer a full range of gear. So competition is hot.
You should hold off buying any freshwater fishing gear until you arrive in Turangi. We had better name them – Creel Tackle in Taupahi Road, Sporting Life in the CBD mall.
22 Wilderness trails – All the surrounding mountains have tracks left over from the early logging or when they developed the hydropower scheme or from vehicle access tracks to power pylons so there are many un-named tramping tracks throughout the region. The deer and pig hunters know them all.
The most popular Umukarikari and Urchin tracks provide access to the Kaimanawa trampers huts.
23 Fly fishing – Unlike most other trout fisheries the Tongariro River is restricted to fly fishing only. (Only DOC can explain why. DOC – Department of Conservation manages the Taupo Fishery) The more common fishing from a boat – trolling or jigging, etc. – or bait fishing, cannot be compared. Fly fishing is something else far more satisfying and enjoyable being closer to nature. It requires different skills too – ask any fly fisho. It is wonderful therapy.
The Tongariro River alone is the most popular trout fly fishing river in NZ and regularly will support over 100 anglers spread over 50 pools. Yet there will still be quiet side channels and fiesty runs and backwaters untouched. Fly fishing is simply why we and many others live here.
24 Hamburgers – (This is for WG) You really have not eaten a hamburger until you buy one from the RUST bar – a new place on the southern side of the CBD with access from the big car park opposite the tavern. These are monstrous by any standards but it is the quality and presentation that will convince you. In TRM’s (2018) restaurant survey these were by far the most popular dining out venues – largely due to their hamburgers. SWMBO can only manage the kid’s version.
25 Sunsets – While some other tourist places may also claim to have pretty sunsets they fail to register as Turangi is located at a higher altitude where the sun is bigger and the mountain air is so much fresher and cleaner resulting in brilliant sunsets that are so much more vivid. Quite unbelievable compared to the usual setting of the sun. You really have to watch one from the mouth of a Lake Taupo tributary along the eastern shoreline to appreciate the glowing glory.
26 Rock jumping – On SH1 north of Turangi is one of the best and safest most popular rock jumping spots into Lake Taupo. Lookout as you drive north from the Motutere motor camp around the next sharp 25 km per hour corner. The huge trophy trout – often spotted cruising in the depths – are used to it and will not attack tourists. Well not usually anyway.
(This was closed off since the original report in 2018 but may be open again now – check at the Motutere Motor Camp office)
27 Walking trails – The Tongariro River has various alternative walking track options in addition to the standard route – the Tongariro River Trail – for the bike trail. One of the features of this region is the porous surface of crushed pumice. This provides for excellent drainage qualities making these tracks accessible in all weather. As they follow the river the contours are easy and suitable for all ages. Every now and then are wide views over the Tongariro River where anglers often provide great entertainment as they cast and hook and play massive Rainbow and Brown trout.
Other walking tracks are in all the other cute little settlements around Lake Taupo – in particular at Pukawa, Omori, Kuratau, Motuoapa, Oruatau, Hatepe, etc.
28 Turangi Museum – In 1970 the Turangi Museum had the largest display of pre-Maori artifacts in the world, dating from about 400 AD. These were mainly unearthed during the excavation of the Tokaanu Power Station tail race. By 1970 over 250,000 tourists visited the exhibition, but when the Ministry of Works left town at the end of the hydropower project, it was closed by Taupo Council…
The museum is still there, the exhibits are stored out of public sight, as it was closed by Taupo Museum. Go figure!
Keep asking at the tourist information office and one day they will accept it should be re-opened.
29 Native birds – All of these bush walks along the Tongariro River bank and elsewhere around Lake Rotopounamu and between Omori and Pukawa are very popular for the low native bush supporting a wide variety of native birds.
Usually they can only be appreciated when walking. Tuis, bellbirds, pigeons, fantails, moreporks, waxeyes, etc. are all seen chasing insects or raiding the Kowhais for their nectar close to the trails.
The raiding parties of tuis in spring are a wonderful sight. Some, like fantails, even sneak indoors to help TRM deal to spiders and any other tiny insects.
Tourists love them.
30 River rafting – Turangi is recognised for river rafting trips down the mighty Tongariro River. The most popular is the Grade 3 rafting in NZ with over 50 rapids spread over 14 km (8 miles) taking over 2 1/2 hours (4 hours base to base). A full safety briefing is provided. Other options include cliff jumping and river swimming. Everything is provided. All apparel including wet suits and helmets, spray jackets, hot chocolate for morning tea and facilities with fresh showers and changing rooms on your return. Other options include a family fun trip Grade 2 for smaller kids and a fishing trip for bigger kids. They also can arrange trips to other rivers in this region. Then there are raft fishing trips.
Continued tomorrow with ten more reasons to visit Turangi.
