Top 10 Things to do Adventurous in Taupo, North Island

Hukafalls Jet is the only jet boat company permitted to take you to the base of the mighty Huka Falls for unique water-level views. This half hour of thrills, fun and excitement takes you along the beautiful Waikato River, lined with native bush, sheer rock cliff face and hot water streams. You’ll travel in one of our state of the art jet boats at an incredible 80km an hour and along the way you’ll experience our thrilling 360° spins. Operating on this stretch of the river since 1990, Hukafalls Jet has an outstanding record of professionalism and safety. Nothing gets you closer to the mighty Huka Falls!

Drive a REAL racecar on a real racetrack At Formula Challenge, we pride ourselves at being able to deliver New Zealand's best motorsport experiences. With 15 years of experience behind us, Formula Challenge is New Zealand's only Qualmark endorsed provider of motorsport experiences, guaranteeing a great time whether it's as a birthday, anniversary gift or as corporate team building or client incentive day, you'll love it! The Formula Challenge racecar and driving experiences cater for everybody, from first timers with no track experience to hardened professionals, and with our fleet of V8 Holden and Ford racecars, along with the grid of Formula Challenge single-seaters, we're able to fit all shapes and sizes. Come and experience one of the most sensational days of your life at Taupo and Hampton Downs Motorsport Parks and you'll leave with memories that'll last a lifetime. Well, until you come back for another go that is!!

Tread Routes - Taupo Mountain Biking - provides shuttles, bike hire, and package tours for all the best trails around Taupo, including the Great Lake Trail, Timber Trail, and the Huka Falls Trails.

ChopperWorx is perfectly located to provide you stunning flights over the Taupō & Central Plateau Region. Join us on a flight over the gorgeous Lake Taupō and Huka Falls or head further south for a flight over the Mountains and Kaimanawa Ranges. Flights over Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro are unsurpassed. The perfect gift for a birthday or special occasion. We can create a package to suit your budget and requirements.

The Jet Boat is a New Zealand icon, and jet boating is a favourite activity for Kiwis. Set in the beautiful Aratiatia Scenic Reserve is New Zealand’s best white water Jet Boat Ride, Rapids Jet.Conveniently located just 15 minutes drive north of Taupo and 50 minutes south of Rotorua, Rapids Jet operates on the biggest rapids for commercial jetboating in New Zealand.Shoot through a narrow canyon, be exhilarated by spins on crystal clear waters, spot a trout and surf the pressure waves of the awesome Nga AwaPurua rapids. Take time to view the amazing surrounds of Aratiatia Scenic Reserve, and learn about the wildlife and history of the area with your Kiwi owner/drivers Rusty, Jimmy and Gazza.Our 35 minute blast guarantees an adrenaline rush! Since 1993, over 140,000 passengers aged 5-89 years have safely experienced the thrill of real white water jet boating with Rapids Jet.We have thousands of hours experience driving jet boats both in New Zealand and overseas, so you can be sure you are in safe hands with Rapids Jet. Let us share our love of jet boating with you, book a ride on Rapids Jet today.

Experience the freedom of freefall in the home of skydiving with Taupo Tandem Skydiving! Operating for over 25 years, we're the original tandem dropzone in NZ - we've thrown over 200,000 crazy people out of our planes! A skydive with TTS is unforgettable - you'll see volcanoes, coast-to-coast views of the North Island and the incredible shores of Lake Taupo. Choose from our four heights – 9,000 ft, 12,000 ft, 15,000 ft or 18,500 ft for up to 75 seconds in freefall. We have the lowest-priced skydive in New Zealand and even offer complimentary pickups within Taupo and Rotorua. We've got plenty of amazing camera options to capture your skydive so you can take it home to show all your friends and family. We are a Qualmark Gold rated dropzone in which means your experience, safety, and our environmental impact are incredibly important to us. But most of all, we want to make sure you have the most fun ever!

Enjoy spectacular scenic flights in a high wing Cessna 206 Floatplane and enjoy unrestricted views looking down on beautiful Lake Taupo and the snow-capped mountains (volcanoes!) of Tongariro National Park. Floatplane scenic flights are a magical way to experience and gain a true perspective of the stunning Lake Taupo Region, and the sensation of taking off from and landing on the water is a memory you will never forget. Don't miss your opportunity to enjoy this unique flying experience

"Be Fearless" Come on board Fearless for simply the best sailing experience on Great Lake Taupō. This is the more intimate cruise option to the famous Maori Rock carvings, with sleek lines and a maximum of only 18 passengers. Guests can relax on beanbags and snuggle under blankets, or give the crew a hand. The pirate-themed Sail Fearless has got to be the not-so-buried treasure of Great Lake Taupō . With a heart of gold and extensive knowledge of the region, lake and notoriously quick-tempered weather of New Zealand it is no wonder Fearless (David) has won so many awards for his affordable cruises. The Experience Experience the beauty and thrill of a scenic journey out to the infamous Maori rock carvings taking in the popular Te Kopua and Acacia Bays en route. Be sure to bring your camera to capture some of the most breathtaking views around. The Sailing Fearless sails under full sail or gently meanders, when it is truly calm, by motor. The Swim Stop Each trip includes a swimming stop in summer or winter if your brave (weather depended). The longest swim stop out of any other company on the lake. The Refreshments Light Refreshments can be purchased from the cheapest bar on the lake or you can also bring your own light refreshments for your convenience. So come and join us on Fearless for a trip to remember! note Please be at Berth # 31, 15 minutes prior to sailing time. Also please bring warm clothing & soft shoes (No hard shoes) You are more than welcome to bring food and drinks on-board too.

Explore Lake Taupo and the Waikato River with Taupo's specialist Kayak Store - Canoe and Kayak Taupo! Choose from 2 fully guided tours: *Maori Carvings Tour (4 hours) Kayak on Australasia's largest fresh water lake to the impressive Maori Carvings (15m high) while gazing towards 3 live Volcano's across beautiful Lake Taupo. Combine kayaking on crystal clear waters, swimming, exploring nearby caves, learning about the cultural and historical significance while being entertained by your qualified, friendly and knowledgeable guide. The carvings are only accessible by water and this is an experience not to be missed during your stay in Taupo.*Waikato River Float Trip (2 hours) Cruise the Waikato River on the ultimate scenic kayak tour. You will kayak past various Islands, paddle underneath the Taupo Bungy site and even stop at natural hot pools for a soak in waters up to 40 degrees. No experience necessary, all equipment and guides are provided. We look forward to hearing from you.

Heli Adventure Flights are one of Taupo’s leading tour flight helicopter companies, operating from Taupo for over 25 years. Heli Adventure Flights operates from the iconic Huka falls and offers short scenic flights over Taupo to longer flights that take in the Tongariro National Park and the volcanoes of the central North Island. We would also be happy to help you with bespoke helicopter tours and charters, including photography, wedding transfers and wine tours.