This beautiful area of lakes and mountains on the North Island is an important site of geothermal activity. Waiotopu and Orakeikorako thermal reserves (both about halfway between Lake Taupo and Rotorua) are among the best places to see steam vents. Near Taupo city, you can visit the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station, admire the awesome, thundering Huka Falls or walk around Craters of the Moon Park. You can take a cruise on Lake Taupo (it's renowned for trout fishing) or a scenic flight over Mount Tongariro. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest and most popular national park, has three active volcanoes. In winter, you can ski there, and in summer the ski lifts are used by hikers. Taupo is about 175 mi/280 km southeast of Auckland by road.
