Omaio

05/06/2026

TAHAREPA BEACH FROM LAKE TERRACE -1950S VERSION

The road was also the main road between Auckland and Wellington at that time - State Highway #1! But also at that time trucks were limited to carrying goods 40 miles to protect the railway from competition.

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

HOT WATER BEACH - TAUPŌ

To find this beach you go down to the Mobil Service Station on Lake Terrace just before the turn-off to the Napier-Taupō Road. The beach is on the lake shore opposite the service station.

Alternatively, leave your car at the Taharepa Beach carpark and walk around the footpath following the lake front for about 500m past the Sea Scout Den and you will reach Hot Water Beach. Look out for the steam.

There is a little spade in the garage at Omaio among the sports equipment. It is for scooping out the sand at the beach and making a warm hole to soak in. Cover up your hole when you leave. Return the small spade for the next lot of guests.

02/06/2026

THEMED STREET NAMES - A TAUPŌ THING #9

Whether this small area of Taupō has themed street names or not, and what the theme actually is, is a bit of a puzzle.

In Rangatira Park, just north of the francophile area there is Sorrento Drive and Sienna Way.

Sorrento is a popular tourist city in south west Italy just north of Naples. It is sometimes referred to as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. The picture is an Airbnb shot of Sorrento.

Siena, with one "n", is another popular tourist city in Italy. It is a well preserved medieval city north west of Rome and the site of a very famous horse race around the square in the centre of the city.

On the other hand, Serento, with one "r", is a top end model of SUV manufactured by Kia and Sienna, with two "n's", is a smallish people mover manufactured by Toyota. Both models are popular in New Zealand.

So the areas could have themed names with the theme Italian tourist cities but with Sienna mis-spelled. Alternatively, the theme could by models of cars with Sorento mis-spelled. The area could, however, have no intended theme with Sorrento Drive named after the town and Sienna Way after a model of Toyota.

01/06/2026

MID-WINTER SHOOL HOLIDAYS - 4 July - 19 July

Omaio, a large holiday rental in Taupō, is a great place to take children and grand-children for the July school holidays.

- Indoor heated 11m x 3m swimming pool with swimjet endless pool machine
- Home theatre with large screen and collection of DVD's
- Spa pool and spa bath
- Large kitchen where children can work together to bake cakes, make sushi, cook pancakes and more
- Lots of space: six bedrooms and up to 11 beds; four bathrooms; two lounges; large indoor garage for playing corn hole, golf putting etc. Large lawn.
- Taupō Winter Festival with lots of child oriented activities
- Skifields on Ruapehu should be open for day visits
- Thermal pools, mountain biking, and lots more.
- New cinema in town

For enquires phone Mystays on 07 376-7163 or email [email protected]

01/06/2026

GREAT FUN ON A WET DAY IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Making lunch with Omaio's Sushezi maker. Children love doing it.

You should find the maker in the second drawer in the cupboard just below the right side of the cooktop in the kitchen. The sushi rice should be on the top shelf in the pantry cupboard. The rice cooker is kept in the cupboard under the Panasonic microwave. The sushi seasoning is in the bottom drawer of the same cupboard as the Sushezi maker is kept. Enjoy.

31/05/2026

THEMED STREET NAMES - A TAUPŌ THING #8

Adjacent to the main road out of Taupō town centre to the north is the Rangatira Park Lookout. It is a great place to get an overview of the town and the lake all the way to Ruapehu in the south. See the attached photo of the view south from the Lookout.

Just to the north of the Lookout is a francophile residential subdivision. The street have names with French connections: Boulevard, Maison, Chateau, Noumea, and Bastille.

30/05/2026

MORE LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Photos from the patio at Omaio, a top-end holiday rental for 14 people in Taupō with indoor pool, home theatre, spa and standard late checkout so you get a full week-end away.

See for booking details

27/05/2026

THEMED STREET NAMES - A TAUPŌ THING #7

About 1km to the east of the business district along the lake front is the Bird Area of Taupō: Kiwi Street; Kaka Street; Tui Street; and Huia Street.

It is largely a residential area but with motels and accommodation scattered among the houses.

The Bird Area's proximity to the business district with its bars and restaurants together with its proximity to the lake shore makes it very popular with holiday makers.

There is a reserve along the lake front and at Taharepa Beach there are toilets, changing sheds and shallow thermal hot pools in the rocks on the lake edge.

The Steaming Bean coffee cart is close by on Lake Terrace.

25/12/2025

OTHER FREE THINGS TO DO IN TAUPŌ: #1 VISIT ARATIATIA RAPIDS FOR A WATER RELEASE

The spectacular Huka Falls, on the Waikato River just south of Taupō, are very well known and well worth a visit.

The Aratiatia Rapids are a little further north on the Waikato. A hydro dam was built above the rapids in the 1960's. However, four times a day in summer - at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm - water is released down the rapids.

It's a great sight as the water rushes down and fills the various levels of the rapids. You can get good views fro several locations. There is a lot of parking space close by.

In winter there is no release of water at 4pm.



https://aratiatiarapids.co.nz/?utm_source=NZME%20Native%202&utm_medium=.&utm_campaign=.

Taupo's best free attraction, Aratiatia Rapids. Watch the dam open and flood the Aratiatia Rapids.13km from Central Taupo,opens 4 times a day in Summer