As a lead up to this year’s event, I was fortunate enough to be invited to preview the road and mountain bike courses.  As I wrote in the first part of this New Zealand Special, the town of Lake Taupo and the Cycle Challenge that bears its name, offers something for everyone. You can have a look at the road riding route for the Taupo Cycle challenge in this video that I took. In this part of our New Zealand Special I’ll take a close look the events that make up the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. That way you can decide exactly what you’ll do when you get there.

The Main Event: Solo 160km Challenge
The solo challenge is the original Lake Taupo event and it’s also the most popular with around 5000 riders participating. Cyclists grade themselves and are given start times with the official racing starting at 7am; riders are released at intervals over the following two hours. It makes sense to try and be as accurate as possible in choosing your grade to avoid having to overtake other riders constantly or worse, be overtaken throughout the race. The faster riders in the solo event are not far behind the elite at around four and a quarter hours (which works out to be about 37km/h). Regular cyclists tend to average six and a quarter hours which is a 25km/h average.

It is well worth training for this event and being confident about riding the distance. In the first 100 kilometres there are plenty of ups and downs and, although it flattens for the last 60km, there is a killer hill about 20km from the finish: Hatepe Hill. You’ll see what I mean when you watch the video profile.

There are plenty of drink stops along the way, every 20 – 30km, though riders will need to look after themselves for nutrition and energy supplements, as well as choosing the right cycling gear for the weather and tools for simple repairs such as punctures. For serious technical issues, riders are picked up and returned to the start.

160km Relay: 2, 3 and 4 person relays
Over 3000 riders competed in the relays last year. This variation on the challenge allows cyclists to ride in a team to cut down individual cycling distances into more manageable units. 160 kilometres is a long ride for most cyclists and, in the spirit of involving people of different abilities, the relay event is offered and is growing in popularity. There are three official transition points along the way which split the course (roughly) into quarters. Shortly after the start the relay riders are diverted along a different route (Poihipi Rd  / Marotiri Rd / SH32) until kilometre 40 at the first transition point, which reduces congestion near the start and first transition area.

Various sub categories cater for relay teams; a majority are corporate teams, mixed (gender) teams are also quite popular. Cyclists in relays have their bikes taken to the transition points on trailers and are bussed in. Likewise riders who have finished their leg are bussed back into town.

Mens 160km Classic and OPI Women’s 100km Road Race
Elite riders leave shortly before the main field and, though this event isn’t part of an official racing series, it is popular with performance cyclists in New Zealand; the fastest finishing time for the 160 kilometres is three hours and fifty minutes. The elite Women have a shorter course of 100km which takes the competitors along on the east side of Lake Taupo to the town of Turangi and then back.

Endurance Events: 320km, 640km and 1280km
The endurance events in the challenge are growing in popularity. Circling the lake eight times is crazy, though last year six crazy riders accomplished this feat, all 1280 kilometres of it. There are also shorter endurance events such as the four times around 640km ride and the twice around 320km ride (which 84 riders attempted last year). These rides are particularly attractive for Audax riders, though they mean an early start and reliance on your own supporters. Night lights are recommended though the long days mean that the sun creeps up early.

Huka mountain bike: 40km and 85km
Mountain biking in New Zealand is excellent and there are three off-road events available in the Cycle Challenge: a 40km cruiser, an 85km challenge, plus, for elite riders, the 85km Huka XL race. The mountain bikers also begin from Taupo and head west along a short road and paved footpath route before going off-road and following the Waikato river (Huka Falls). As the trails are mostly single-track, overtaking is challenging. Built specifically for mountain bikers, they weave through forests or cleared forested land. There are berms, jumps and switchbacks which mean that concentration is key. The track surface may change from pine needles (with stray pine cones) to packed dirt to loose stony sections.

Many local riders will confirm that the 85km mountain bike events are more difficult that the 160km road cycling road. While the elite riders will fight their way through their race with clenched jaws, for mountain bikers taking the challenge or cruiser events, the trails are fun riding, both during and after the events. With section names like “Craters of the Moon” and “Junk and Disorderly”, you are in for a good time.

Some of the sections are quite new as many of the trails are through the Radiata Pine forest that are cut when they are mature and, as in the case of a large section of the course, are blown down by strong wind. In either case the MTB trails are lost when heavy equipment moves in and the pine is recovered, though the mountain bike groups and forestry companies maintain good relationships for ongoing dual-use of the areas. In 2012 there are plenty of new tracks for the 600 competitors expected to participate. Stay tuned for some video of parts of the Huka MTB course.

One Big Bike Party
Taupo gears itself up for the Cycle Challenge with BikeFest in the week leading up to the November 24th start. The BikeFest includes participation and display events for mountain biking and BMX, a street race (criterium), track events and more exotic events like hard-court cycle polo competitions and “big air” jump contents. On Friday November 23 a Sports and Life Style show will take place at the exhibition space at the town centre (Great Lake Centre). For bike enthusiasts it means plenty of eye candy if you can’t get enough of two wheels. On the main race day (Saturday November 24th) most of the activities will be centred next door at the Domain, a large grass area on the start and finish area with live entertainment and prize-giving.

For more details on the race course, procedures and programs, visit: www.cyclechallenge.com

In the first feature story in this New Zealand Series I have prompted everyone interested to book accommodation early since this is the biggest event of the year for a town of 22,000 residents. Although the town always caters to its guests (some families even share their homes) to get the type of accommodation you want don’t leave it too late. A good starting point is the visitor portal: www.greatlaketaupo.com

The road surface around the lake is good and although they are open roads on race day, there is plenty of signage warning other road users of the event; even the logging companies get a call are are ask to keep away from the course. In the video, the seven water point locations are marked as are the three transition areas for relay riders.

The altitude profile in the video provides a idea of the current location on the course.

Course Directions: 160km Solo and Relay
Starting from Taupo on Tongariro street, road cyclists head north along the State Highway (5) and turn left onto Poihipi Road. Elite cyclists and solo cyclists turn left onto Whangamata Road while relay cyclists continue on Poihipi Road and then left onto Marotiri Road (32) which becomes Tihoi Road. The first relay intersection is at the junction of Whangamata Road and Tihoi Road – the solo and relay riders then continue South South West along Tihoi Road which becomes the Western Bay Road (32).

Just after the 70 km mark there is the half-way relay transition point on Kuratau Hill for relay riders. Ten kilometres further on there is a left turn on State Highway 41 and another 15 kilometres of undulating terrain down to Waihi Bay. Turangi is on the 100km mark and the course profile remains relatively flat as it turns to follow the shoreline of Lake Taupo. From Turangi there is another left onto State Highway 1 and onto Motuoapa at about 115 km, the third and final relay transition.

With only 30 km to go from the 160km cycle challenge there is a rude shock as you leave the lake shore and Hatepe Hill makes you get out of your saddle for a grinding 150m ascent. With your destination, Taupo well in sight, Airport hill is but a bump, though after 145km it is a nasty little hill. Once you’ve conquered this and take the left turn at the Airport Hill roundabout continuing along the State Highway 1, it is plain sailing as the road becomes Lake Terrace / Thermal Explorer Hwy(5) and gives you a stunning entrance into town along the water front before a right turn onto the finish line.

Google Map:View on Google in Large

Altitude Profile
Though the cross section of the altitude profile looks scary, a glance at the actual altitude gained and lost reveals that it is actually an undulating course. Hatepe Hill has a reputation for being a tough hill; after a relatively flat section of about 30km and with 130 kilometres on the tachometer, it will make you work, though it also rewards you with a lovely downhill.

You should be able to remain in the saddle during the first 100 kilometres, with the exception of a few short sharp climbs. Most of the route is made up of long straight sections broken by slow meandering curves, though in the second half, as the road comes closer to the lake, there are some wonderful tight curving roads that follow the shore and present fantastic views across the lake.

Video Technology
The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Course Profile was filmed on a GoPro Hero (original) mounted to a car. The original footage length is 2 hours.

The Cycle Challenge has an event for every rider. In 2010, the ages of competitors ranged from 11 to 82. Children could compete in the 5km accompanied by their parents while for serious riders there was the highlight event, the 160km solo race around Lake Taupo. If you’re not up to riding 160kms solo, then teams of two, three or four could race in the relay team event.

Lake Taupo also boasts great mountain biking. Mountain bikers could take on half of the 80km track as part of a two man team or tackle it solo.

Lets take a look at some of the highlights of the 2010 Contact Lake Taupo Challenge and then you can join me as I recount my own 160km solo ride around the Lake.

Static Enduro Cycling World Record
The build up for the Contact Cycle Challenge began on Friday as a six women attempted a new Static Enduro Cycling World Record. This meant cycling for 24 hours in 30 minutes shifts, with one rider always pedaling and one rider warming up. The previous record of 761 kilometres was set by the same group of women last year. I asked one of the girls about their target, they wanted to reach 1.100 kilometers. The Static team finished on Saturday at 8:30am Saturday morning with a distance of 779 kilometres. Official confirmation of the world record is pending.

Taupo Street Racing: Criterium
Friday night saw the men’s and women’s criterium around the streets of Taupo with more than 2000 people watching from cafes and restaurants as the riders raced around the narrow course. In the men’s event (30min + 2 laps), Roman van Uden of Team Pure Black Racing took out the Criterium for the second year in a row. Mike Northey finished a very close second and 3rd place went to Fraser Gough another U19 rider who joined with the Pure Black team in 2011.

In the womens event (20min + 2 laps) NZ Olympic cyclist Cath Cheatley won the race followed by Aussie cyclists Jenny McPherson and Nicole Whitburn.

Through the narrow course, 2000 spectators watched the racing

Aussie Jenny McPherson finished second behind NZ cyclists Cath Cheatley

NZ Olympic cyclist Cath Cheatley has enough distance on the two Aussie riders.

The Sport and Lifestyle Expo
In conjunction with the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, the Sport and Lifestyle Expo at the Great Lake Centre opened on Saturday morning. There were stands from bike manufactures including Trek and Avanti along with several clothing and parts distributors which gave cycling enthusiasts a chance to look at new 2011 bikes and gear plus purchase tires, tubes, bottles and a range of accessories. You could also buy a limited edition Vittoria Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge tyre to commemorate the event.

Why do you love cycling in Taupo?

Eyecandy galore through the eyes of deep profile carbon fibre wheels

Avanti (with HQ in New Zealand) had their 2011 offerings on show

Enduro Events
19 riders participated in the Extreme Enduro event, some starting over a week before the official start of the Cycle Challenge. Their task was to cycle 8 laps of the 160km course around Lake Taupo, 1280 kilometres riding through the night and day to finish with the main bunch of riders on the 160km race on Saturday. The Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge has three Enduro options; The Enduro is two full circuits around Lake Taupo (320km); the Maxi Enduro is four full circuits around Lake Taupo (640km) and; the Extreme Enduro is eight laps of 160km circuits over 1280km of sealed road. With 1308 metres climbing on each circuit, we think you would have to be more than a little crazy to enter ,and very determined to get you to the finish line.

Josh Kench finished the Extreme Enduro event with 1280km cycled in just over 55 hours on Friday. He took only 10 minutes sleep on the side of the road. Kench used the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Extreme Enduro event as training for the Race Across America.

Contact Huka Challenge Mountain Biking
In the Contact Huka Challenge Mountain Biking event, riders faced a tough start with numerous challenging climbs over a predominately single trail track making it difficult to overtake. As the trail gets very windy, it made riders work hard to keep up their speed, the short sharp climbs were the best opportunity for riders to attack and overtake. The last section of the course was really challenging for competitors who didn’t know what was up ahead. The riders had to dig deep as their legs suffered with a series of short sharp hills before they could finally roll across the finish.

Auckland Mountain Biker, Carl Evans, finished the 80km ride in 4 hours and 8 minutes followed closely by Hamish Lane and a few minutes later, Ian Burgess.

Avanti Elite Men’s Classic 160km Road Race
The Avanti Men’s Classic is the Elite version of the Cycle Challenge with cyclists requiring a racing licence and best time of 4 hours 15 minutes or less to be eligible to enter. 88 riders participated in the race which was won in 3 hours 45 minutes by Roman Van Uden (Pure Black Racing) who had plenty of time to celebrate has he crossed the line eight seconds ahead of Justin Kerr and defending champion Patrick Bevin.

Hardly time to enjoy the spectacular scenary

The lead group thinks tactics

Tough climbs and headwind were no excuse not to try and break away

Roman Van Uden had a comfortable lead into the finish and time to celebrate

WorkoutZone Elite Women’s 100km Road Race
The Women’s event saw 39 competitors keeping together as a bunch for most of the ride with the head wind and tough climbs preventing attacks or break aways from gaining too much distance. The race came down to a sprint finish which was won by Kate Chilcott (Auckland) in a time of 2:55.25 with Sonya Waddell (Hamilton) coming in second and Cath Cheatley (Wanganui) in third.

We interviewed the Jenny McPherson from the Australian Prime Estate Cycling Team who provide an exciting account of the race… right down to the bitter end.

On open roads, the peloton enjoyed a support convoy though still had passing traffic on the right

The Women’s peloton remained largely together with breakways quickly absorbs in the tough conditions.

My 160km Cycle Challenge
The event was superbly organized with all cyclists required to enter their target time in which they want to finish, riders were then allocated into the appropriate start group. All cyclists were issued with electronic timing tags and given a hydration backpack, this was included as part of the Cycle Challenge entry kit which also included the racing numbers for the bike and helmet.

The night before the big event I was ready. I ate and slept well, all went to plan. My aim was to finish the course in 6hrs 30mins, while others simply wanted to finish. I got to the start line early and in amongst 9.500 other cyclists, found my starting group. What a sight to behold as we all crammed into the main street

RC with his sights on 6 hours 30 minutes for the 160km solo ride around Lake Taupo.

The day had already started to warm up which was a reminder to keep hydrated. This means drinking 1 bottle per hour or more, and I knew I had to keep drinking and eating. I brought protein bars, gels and bananas with me to keep my energy levels up. There were 4 drink stations and I didn’t want to miss any of them.

Right after the race was started by the announcer, the 9.500 strong peloton started to string out. There was a lot of chatter amongst the riders and a lot of overtaking.

9.500 cyclists descend on the starting gates for their own 160km challenge

The course begins with an uphill and some cyclists were already walking?it was going to be a very long day for them. Only 159kms to go! Over the first 38kms the road was undulating with 350 meters in climbing. Once I passed over the first few undulations I found a strong group that I was comfortable riding with as we cycled past the first drink station, our drinks still quite full.

Waihaha Hill
At 58kms the first major hill, Waihaha Hill approached. A 100 meter ascent over 2.9kms really put everyone to the test, either you have been training on hills, or your haven’t. Riders have to tackle this hill at their own pace.

I continued riding with the same bunch, minus a few that had been dropped and plus a few that had joined us. Our average speed was sitting steadily at 33-34kmh/r. After 86kms you there is another ascent, Kuratau Hill has a 110 meters rise over 2.8kms. More undulations follow and at this point it was easy to recognise which cyclists had been training. I felt comfortable riding the undulations and climbs after training in Tasmania for 12 weeks leading up this ride.

Finding your own pace and a group was not easy on this ride

Something I didn’t expect were the hundreds of water bottles littering the side of the road, had they bounced out or been flung out or dropped? There was even the odd bicycle pump – a warning to be very aware when travelling at speed. The odd tandem bike came flying past on the downhill’s, they really got up to speed!

The Shores of Lake Taupo
At the 98km mark there is a long fast downhill section with signs every 50 meters reminding you to slow down. Sitting on 70kmh/r on this section was a fantastic feeling, all the way to the shores of Lake Taupo.

I knew from my planning that there was then a 40km stretch which was relatively flat. I found this hard after pushing up the climbs and I couldn’t get into a group. For most of this section, I was battling into a slight headwind alone.

Don’t look up, don’t think about the top

Hatepe Hill
With encouraging signs on the side of the road, I kept on riding and pushing. There was time to take a drink and look at the scenery which was spectacular; snow covered mountains hovering over the blue waters of Lake Taupo. The next sign read “Don’t think about Hatepe Hill”. I hadn’t been thinking about it but now I was! “Hatepe ahead” reads the next sign. Hatepe Hill is a 140 meter ascent over 2.9kms and at the bottom there is a sign telling you to select a low gear, keep pedaling and don’t look at the top.

Another hill, another champion

In front of me were hundreds of riders, or maybe half the entire peloton struggling up Hatepe. I followed the wheel of the guy in front, waited till he died then caught another wheel, and another wheel until I was on my own. Pushing until I was finally over the top, in 32 degree heat and with only 20kms to go. This climb after 140kms was as tough as I expected. Most of the peloton was still struggling up Hatepe as I headed down trying to catch the riders in front. I wanted to cross the finish line strong.

Without the same time pressures at the Elite Men, it was possible to enjoy the ride and the day as a solo contender

The Finish
With 10kms to go there is still one small climb to come, I pushed h
rd, sprinting up the last section while passing more riders who had bonked. I tried to work with a few others but their legs couldn’t take it and I left them behind. I was on top of my game. During the last few kms I really pushed to keep the dial at 34 km/h. After already riding 155km already my legs couldn’t give much more.

I crossed the line in 6 hours and 1 second, an achievement that was well within my allotted time. The volunteers took my transponder as I made my way through the gates to get some much needed pineapple and a massage.

The Race in Review
I was very impressed with how smoothly this massive event is run with over 1000 volunteers, race marshals, rest stops, water stations, everything was well arranged and fabulous.

After the ride, it is a carnival-like atmosphere. You can mingle with the other competitors, get some food and drink, and watch the BMX guys do their insane jumps.

As you ride around the lake you get to talk in short breaths to other riders and hear some amazing stories how important this event is to many of the riders. One story in particular was how a husband had lost his wife in an accident whilst she was out training for this ride. He continued to train and rode the solo 160km Cycle Challenge in memory of her. After the ride he told us how she was still with him supporting him through the ride.

Rob’s Taupo Riding Tips
After being in the saddle for 6 hours I highly recommend that you have some very good knicks or your derriere may suffer. Pacing yourself is important, know what your limits are and try and find a group which is riding at your pace. If you can work together, it breaks the monotony and also gives each rider a rest.

Carry plenty of water with you, at least two bottles and remember to fill up. Make sure you keep eating throughout the entire ride. Take in protein and carbohydrates for the first 3-4 hours and then gels in the last couple of hours. A rough guide is 1 gram of carbohydrates for every kilo you weigh per hour.

To get to Lake Taupo, Air New Zealand fly twice weekly from Sydney directly to Rotorua, which is just under an hour away from Lake Taupo by car. Check in was easy and hassle free. The flight was smooth and the hostesses were friendly and helpful. The seating was 3 abreast but very comfortable and there was enough room to relax into the seat and enjoy the in-flight entertainment which is available from the moment you board.

If you are planning to ride in this event, you need to book accommodation early as Taupo and surrounding towns are filled to capacity during the event. To get an overview of the area and get help in finding accommodation, the Taupo Visitor Website is a good place to start: www.laketauponz.com. You can also read up on some of the other great activities there are in this region in our “Out and About Special”

So would I do it again?
You bet! I want to come back again next year, get some more of my riding group over to NZ and ride this race as a group. The dates are already announced for 2011, the 160km cycle challenge is on November 26. Information and registration online: www.cyclechallenge.com

The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, beginning this year on November 27 this year, is going to see the most entries ever in the history of the event. The event includes a number of rides, there is a ride for every type of rider; experienced riders can challenge themselves by cycling the whole 160km route from start to finish. Recreational cyclists can form a group of two, three or four to participate in the team event.

The Avanti Men’s Classic will again attract some of New Zealand’s top male riders including Tour de France rider (and local boy) Thomas Dean.

The WorkoutZone Women’s Road Race has been extended this year to 100km, racing starts and finishes in Taupo. For this event, Australia are sending representatives across the water; The Prime Estate Women’s Road Cycling Team includes Jenny Macpherson who has a long list of other National, State and International results. The women’s team are hoping for a good result. We recently spoke with Jenny McPherson about the Womens Road Race.

Mountain bikers can enjoy riding New Zealand’s best trails in the Contact Huka MTB event. Mountain bikers will face ca. 80kms of New Zealand’s best single trails, either as solo riders or in teams of two.

In 2010 there are two new events; the 1280km Extreme Enduro where keen riders will race or 8 laps of Lake Taupo and; the Contact Huka Mountain Bike relay. The first leg of the Huka Mountain Bike relay (Kegresse) is 40kms and is quite a technical track but not too steep, while the second leg (Totara Gully) is slighter longer at 42km, it includes two Grade 4 tracks and is quite narrow with a couple of steep drop-offs towards the river

In total there are 12 different events aimed at all levels of ability and fitness. Every rider in each of the twelve events will receive a complementary hydration backpack as part of their entry fee.

I will be in Rotura for the week representing Bicycles Network Australia and taking in all the sights of the North Island as well as riding The Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. I am looking forward to competing in the 160km solo Cycle Challenge, my weight is down and fitness up – look forward to race reports after the event here.

Getting there and enjoying Lake Taupo and Rotorua

Getting to the race is easy, Air New Zealand is now operating twice-weekly direct flights from Sydney to Rotorua, just 50 minutes drive from the visitor mecca of Taupo. They also look after cyclists and make it easy to take your bike over.

You can travel through the historic and scenic countryside either on foot, bike or car. Explore one of the geothermal parks or experience the beautiful landscape during a bush walk through one of the National Parks or rainforests and enjoy life with a cycle winery tour. For the more adventurous, white water rafting, jet boating and bungee jumping will get the adrenaline flowing.

It will be the 33rd Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, an event that has grown to be a must-do annual among Kiwi riders since being established as a social ride involving just 12 recreational cyclists in 1977. This year the race organisers are looking to attract more Australian cyclists to join the programme of 12 separate events within the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

Last year 313 riders crossed the Tasman to ‘do the lake’. Entries are already opening with registrations from all across Australia, there is a very good chance that come November, the Australian rider numbers will smash last years record. The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge now has an international convenor, Steve Jacobs, to specifically cater for queries from overseas riders. Last year there were 10,000 participants in all with local riders and a large contigent of international cyclists.

From recreational riding to professional competition
The race spokeswoman, Clare Ponton, says the focus of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is on participation, rather than competition. The lake circuit covers 160 kilometres and can be done as a solo ride, or as a teams event, so it is suited to families, couples or groups of friends.

There’s a competitive ride for the hot-shot elites – last November, 18 year old Patrick Bevin set his home town of Taupo alight with a sizzling 3 hours 46 minutes and 31 second ride, with a superb sprint to the line after completing the 160 kilometres. For those into masochism, there’s a number of day-night events, ranging from 320 kilometres – twice around Lake Taupo – to the Extreme Enduro covering 1280 kilometres – eight times around the lake!

Mountain Biking
The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge schedual also caters for Mountain bike riders who can enter the popular 80 kilometre Contact Huka Mountain Bike Challenge. It is mostly run on the single trails for which the Lake Taupo region has now become internationally recognised.

Traveling to Lake Taupo
New flight schedules have made it easier for Australian cyclists to travel to Taupo for the big event. Air New Zealand is now operating twice-weekly direct flights from Sydney to Rotorua, just 50 minutes drive from the visitor mecca of Taupo. Other flights are available between Hamilton – two hours’ drive to the north of Taupo – and either the Gold Coast or Brisbane. Nine carriers in total fly between Australia’s eastern seaboard cities and the City of Sails, Auckland, but it’s crucial flights are confirmed and bike box space booked now as cargo is limited on many of these services, especially into Rotorua and Hamilton.

Accommodation
A range of accommodation is available within the Lake Taupo area, from backpackers, to B and Bs, motels, quality hotels and luxury lodges. There’s also a large number of holiday homes made available for the weekend, especially suited to groups. You do need to plan and book now as accomodation will be hard to find if you leave it too late. You can also still benefit from “Early Bird” entry fees now.

“Taupo is a town of about 23,000 people and, as one of the North Island’s major tourism meccas, it is well served by commercial accommodation operations. But as we see more than 30,000 additional people coming in for Cycle Challenge weekend, things always get tight” Clare advises. The event website has an accommodation service to assist visitors and participants.

The race organisers are well and truely ready for the Aussies and have the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge geared up to make registration, travel and accomodation booking a breeze.

Detailed event information and bookings online: www.cyclechallenge.com

Queries from overseas cyclists can be directed to the International Convenor, Steve Jacobs: steve@cyclechallenge.com

More information about the region from the Taupo Vistor Website: www.laketauponz.com

Air New Zealand is now operating twice-weekly direct flights from Sydney to Rotorua, just 50 minutes drive from the visitor mecca of Taupo: www.airnz.com.au