Events & Entertainment

Hundreds of floats made their way through Taupō on the weekend as part of the Tremains Taupō Santa Parade, with thousands of people lining the streets. Photos: Dan Hutchinson

Celebrating 50 years of the Taupō Fishing Club, the Tagged Trout Treasure Hunt is taking place on Lake Taupō. Ten trout have been tagged north, south, east, west and at the reef.

Check out what’s going on around the district.

Taupō is getting ready to sparkle this Saturday with the return of the Tremains Santa Parade, followed by Christmas in the Park at the Tongariro North Domain, a day of festive fun for the whole whānau.

Taupō was buzzing with energy today as thousands of riders rolled out for the 47th edition of the iconic Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge. With nine event categories on offer, including the debut of the Great Lake 100, over 3,000 cyclists of all ages, abilities and disciplines took to the course to test their legs and soak up the unbeatable atmosphere.

The Stoney Creek Sika Hind Hunt and Trout Fishing Competition wrapped up with a feast of wild game and live demonstrations on the weekend.

A Taylor Swift tribute concert comes to Taupō on December 9.

Fast paced, farcical, and relying on audience interaction – it’s Shakespeare not as we know it… or maybe it’s quite close to how plays were presented in his day.

As the cyclists line up again this weekend for the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge , behind the scenes hundreds of volunteers and community groups are giving and gaining from the event.

Excitement is building around Lake Taupō in the lead up to the 47th annual Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge. Riders, enthusiasts and supporters will be gathering, ready for the big day 29th November.

Taupō Racing Club is gearing up for its richest prize ever with $100,000 up for grabs in the Harcourts Taupō Cup.

Seventy-year-old cars will be spotted around Taupō on Saturday and Sunday November 22-23 when the Jowett Car Club holds its weekend away.

Find out what’s happening in Taupō over the next few weeks.

Our events guide is back up and running and growing each week. Check out what’s coming up soon.

A perfect storm of circumstances means Act 2 Visual and Performing Arts School artistic director Toni Neve has had to make the difficult decision to cease staging large scale end of year musical productions.

Our events guide is back up and running and growing each week. Check out what’s coming up soon.

Centre Stage’s reputation for presenting professional-level sellout live entertainment continues with Hangmen by Martin McDonagh.

Thousands of people flocked to Kinloch on Sunday for the annual Kinloch Country Fair.  

Check out all the events happening around the district this long weekend.

Tūrangi Garden club is hosting its biennial garden ramble on Sunday, November 9 when 10 gardens will be on show in Tūrangi, Motuoapa and Oruatua on the eastern and southern shores of Lake Taupō.

The annual Lake Taupo Rotary ‘Big Bang’ fireworks event has fallen on hard times again with organisers pulling the plug due to a lack of sponsorship.

The line-up for January’s Summer Concert has been announced with Iggy Pop and Joan Jett featuring.

Taupō’s popular weekly market has made a temporary move back to where it all began 20 years ago.

A hunting contest with more than $80,000 in prizes has been launched to help reduce the sika deer population in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forests.

It’s the most fun you can have on four wheels and it’s rolling up fast on the calendar.

Rangatahi are busy putting their go-karts together, while adults scheme up new ways to foil their opponents in the upcoming Blue Light Trolley Derby at Spa Park on November 15.

A day of learning and then presenting five pieces of music to a packed Great Lake Centre hall. The 2025 incarnation of Taupō School of Music’s Big Music Day also included the participation of six members of the Royal New Zealand Navy Band with Leading Musician Pricilla Scanlan conducting one of the pieces.

More than 200 horses from the North Island attended the first major horse trials event of the spring season at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre at Aratiatia, Taupō, over the weekend.

The 10th annual Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupō Winter Festival has been hailed a huge success again this year, not only delivering a vibrant programme enjoyed by thousands, but also generating funds that are now going back into the community.

supporting the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge as a volunteer group has become something meaningful for Te Hapori Ora, says Brendon (Hākuwai) Eriksen-Downs, chief executive of Te Hapori Ora - The Village of Wellbeing.

Taupō’s new cinema is taking shape and could be ready in as little as three months.