Turangi

Turangi is a town of 3,840 (2023) at the south end of Lake Taupo, in the Central North Island of New Zealand.

Understand

• 1 Turangi i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 1 Ngawaka Pl (adjacent to Volcanic Activity Centre), ☏ +64 7-386 8999, turangivc@lovetaupo.com. Oct to mid-Jun daily 9AM-5PM, mid-Jun-Sep daily 8:30AM-4:30PM. (updated Dec 2018)

Get in

By bus

Intercity have three services per day from Auckland and from Wellington.

By car

Turangi is on State Highway 1, between Taupo and Waiouru.

Get around

• Mountain Shuttle, ☏ +64 800-117-686, mountainman989@hotmail.com. A shuttle from Ketetahi (the finishing point of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing) back to Mangatepopo (the starting point) for those who parked at Mangatepopo. Adult $35, child $25. 
• Turangi Alpine Shuttles, ☏ +64 27-232-2135, toll-free: +64 508-427-677. Shuttle to each end of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. 

See

• 1 Tongariro National Trout Centre, 257 State Highway 1 (3 km south of town, on the Tongariro River Trail), ☏ +64 7 386-8085. Daily 10AM-3PM. Freshwater aquarium and flyfishing museum. Also a creche for young endangered whio (blue duck) for Dec-Mar approx. Adult $20, child $10, under 5 free. (updated Dec 2018)

Do

• Tongariro River Rafting, 95 Atirau Rd. A variety of rafting experiences, including raft fishing and a blue duck experience, featuring the endangered native whio (blue duck). (updated Jan 2022)
• Tongariro River Trail. Walk or mountain bike. It's 15 km in total, but you can walk just parts of it. You can start it at i-SITE Visitor Information Centre. Tongariro National Trout Centre is on the route. (updated Dec 2018)
• Trout fishing. Turangi is mostly famous for the Tongariro River, which runs through it. It provides excellent fishing all year round (but particularly during August-October) for rainbow (steelhead) and brown trout.
• Hunting
• Walking, climbing and (in season) skiing in nearby Tongariro National Park

Eat

• 1 Hydro Eatery, cnr Ohuanga Rd & Pihanga St, ☏ +64 7 386-6612. Daily 8AM-3PM. Cafe. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 RUST Licensed Gourmet Burger Bar, Shop 6, 56 Turangi Town Centre, ☏ +64 7 386-5947. Th-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su & W 7AM-9PM. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Turangi Tavern, 17 Ohuanga Rd, ☏ +64 7 386-6071. Daily 11AM-11PM. Pretty good pub food. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Riverstone Backpackers, 222 Te Rangitautahanga Rd, ☏ +64 7 386 7004. Purpose-built 18-person character backpackers, which also offers Tongariro Alpine Crossing Transport. Set amongst native gardens with new kitchen, open-plan living area and huge sun deck. Heaters in all bedrooms, blankets, full laundry facilities and always-hot showers. Log-burning fire, fully insulated building and windows double-glazed. BBQ, hammocks, walk-in drying room, and specialised gear storage facilities for snow and fishing gear. Fast Internet, Skype and laptop access. Beds from $30, rooms from $66. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, 13 Te Reiti Tamara Grove (off Ohuanga Rd), ☏ +64 7 386-8754. Motel unit, cabins and campsites. (updated Dec 2017)

Go next

• National Park Village
• Taupo, the bigger town at the northern end of the lake
• Tongariro National Park