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IN THE last few years Lake Taupo has become the undoubted adventure centre of the North Island. A plastic tourist trap it is not. Here you can try all those wacky outdoor things that once would have got you strapped to a psychiatrist's couch. Better still, it all happens in an environment so spectacular, it'll take your breath away.
Down the southern end of the lake is Tongariro National Park. Not only is it a National Park, it's a World Heritage Park. Here you can go skiing or snowboarding down a genuine active volcano. You could also take a mountain climbing course or do a bit of abseiling or rock climbing.
The Southern end also has some mighty white water rafting on the Tongariro River. It's also one of the rivers where the world white water kayaking champs were held recently.
You can always jump out of a perfectly good aircraft and plummet towards the ground at 200 kilometres an hour on a tandem sky dive.
Or you could launch yourself off the side of a cliff and hurtle around 45 metres straight down towards the Waikato River with just a big stretchy bungy cord between you and a bad hair day.
Been there done that? Then try jet boating right up to the foot of thundering Huka Falls. 300,000 litres of water hurtle through this narrow chasm every second.
A new thrill is hurtling across the Lake in a super fast, twin jet hydrofoil. After which you could go 4x4 motorbiking, do aerobatics in a cool old biplane, jet ski, windsurf, waterski, test your driving skills in a race prepared 5/8 scale race car on a real race track or go spear fishing for catfish.
Still feeling perky? Then every year you'll find no shortage of endurance events to enter. Try the Ironman or the Crater to Lake.
But don't forget that adventure doesn't have to all be the "give me five dude" kind either. The 17 km Tongariro Trek starts and ends in Tongariro National Park is now acknowledged as the best one day "walk" in New Zealand.
Some of the region's more cruisy adventures include horse trekking along forest trails, floating along in a hot air balloon, soaring along silently in a glider, parasailing, taking a guided canoe trip, drift diving down the Waikato River, or mountain biking some of the best uncrowded trails in the country.
And, of course, there's some fantastic trout fishing.
Such strong, fresh contrasts make Lake Taupo a unique holiday destination. It really is the perfect base from which to explore a large part of some of the most spectacular natural attractions New Zealand has to offer.
The region even uses the phrase "Think Fresh" to promote itself - think fresh water, fresh snow, fresh air, fresh fun... you get the picture.
Even though Taupo city is now New Zealand's second fastest growing provincial city, the region has managed to stay refreshingly natural. A plastic tourist trap it is not.