Winter school holiday fun in the Taupō District

Taupō Winter Festival

Friday 5 July – Sunday 21 July

The magical Malcolm Flowers Taupō Winter Festival hits the Tongariro North Domain from Friday 5 July – Sunday 21 July. With something for every age and stage with a calendar of 25 plus events and activities, you'll be able to line up fun and excitement for the whole family. Food trucks, arts and crafts, live music, light sculptures, ice skating, glow-in-the-dark candy floss and SO much more! Check out the calendar of events at www.taupowinterfestival.co.nz.

Lions Train Light Hub Special

2pm – 9pm, throughout the school holidays

The ever-popular Lions Train will have an extra special twist these school holidays. Wrap the kids up warm and bring them down to see the Taupō Winter Festival Mercury Light Hub and have a special lit up ride on the train. It’s just $2 a ride and eftpos is available.

Towncentre Taupō Beanie Bonanza Scavenger Hunt

Find the 10 winter beanies hiding in shop windows to be in to one some awesome family friendly prizes. Pickup your entry form from either Kona Kones or the Taupō Customer and Visitor Information Centre. Don’t feel like braving the elements? There’s a colouring in competition too! Find out more at Winter Festival Colouring Comp/Scavenger Hunt | Facebook

More FM Mid-Winter Swim

12pm, Saturday 13 July

Join the hundreds of brave souls for a winter dip in beautiful Lake Taupō - an afternoon you’ll remember forever! Once you plunge, warm up with warm water from the Taupō Volunteer Fire Brigade and a free Sausage Sizzle from Mitre 10 Mega Taupō. Find out more at about the Mid-Winter Swim.

Free Matariki themed activities at Taupō District Libraries and Taupō Museum

Friday 5 July – Sunday 21 July

The libraries and museum are putting on a bunch of Matariki themed events to educate and entertain the kids. Star scavenger hunts, arts and crafts and clever exhibits will keep the kids (and big kids) entertained. Best of all - they're free! Find out more at www.taupo.govt.nz/library

Tree planting with Matariki Ki Te Maunga

10am, Saturday 6 July

Get your hands dirty and celebrate Matariki with a planting day at Mt Tauhara on Saturday 6 July. The aim is to restore the native korowai (cloak) of Tauhara Maunga. Join in the planting of 6,000 native trees, hear more about the work of the Tauhara Collective and enjoy some kai after the hard mahi.

Playgrounds

We’ve all got our favourites but why not discover a new one this school holidays? Check out the upgrades to the Mere Road Reserve Playground or Lakewood Reserve in Taupō. Or the brand-spanking new papa tākaro (playground) in Tūrangi’s Te Kapua Park which was built in partnership with Ngāti Tūrangitukua.

With 60 playgrounds to enjoy around the Taupō District, there is bound to be one you haven’t explored yet - www.taupo.govt.nz/recreation/playgrounds

Taupō Rockwall

The 12m high adventure wall features everything from beginners’ climbs to advanced overhangs. There is no time limit so you can stay as long as you like, and the friendly instructors will show you how to climb and belay safely. Entry prices start from $9.50 for under-16s with all the gear you need to hire available on site. www.taupo.govt.nz/rockwall

Walks and hikes

There are so many short and long walks to enjoy in the rohe. Depending on your fitness level and time constraints, you can enjoy a loop walk of Lake Rotopounamu, discover Craters of the Moon (for a small fee for locals) or tackle one of the big guns like Taranaki Falls in Tongariro National Park… You might even get to play in the snow on the way! Find out more at www.lovetaupo.com/walks