Turangi area

Nature and conservation

Turangi lies at the southern end of Lake Taupo on the banks of the Tongariro River – world famous for its fly fishing, and home to the native blue duck (whio).

The South Taupo Wetland extends around the southern edge of Lake Taupo between Motuoapa and Waihi including the Tongariro River Delta. It is an important habitat for a number of threatened species of birds and a wide variety of plants.

History and culture

Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi arrived in the region in the late 14th century, however the unfertile, ashy soil and the poor food source from the lake meant that life was difficult in the area. Europeans settled in the area in the1880s and 1890s after the introduction of brown and rainbow trout into the lake and rivers.

Turangi remained a quiet village until the 1960s when the growing demand for hydropower saw the town expand. The town accommodated hundreds of construction workers and their families employed to work on the Tokaanu hydro power station scheme.

Know before you go