Things to Do in Central North Island

• Waitomo Caves
  These limestone caverns are famous for their eerie stalactite and stalagmite formations, and the glow-worm grotto. Cave tubing and guided walks are available.
• Rotorua
  New Zealand's leading tourism destination and a vibrant centre of Maori culture, Rotorua is famous for its thermal activity: spouting geysers, fumaroles, boiling mud pools and thermal springs.
• Taupo
  On the shores of New Zealand's largest lake, Taupo is famous as the Trout Fishing Capital of the world, and for its year-round adventure activities. More than 100,000 trout larger than 45 centimetres are caught by the 63,500 anglers that descend on this lake every year. Just don't forget to get a fishing licence. You can also cruise, sail, windsurf, waterski, and paddle on this 64,750 hectare lake – the largest in New Zealand.
• Waikato River
  Lake Taupo's only outlet is the 354km long Waikato River, New Zealand's longest, which offers jetboating and an entire range of water-based activities. The local bungy plunges you 47m over or into the Waikato River.
• Huka Falls
  The Waikato River's largest and most spectacular falls tumble through a 15m-wide chasm for 8m before plunging a further 11m.
• Tongariro National Park
  Dominated by the active volcanoes of Mt Ruapehu (2797m), Mt Tongariro (1968m) and Mt Ngauruhoe (2290m), this World Heritage Area (79,651ha) is a haven for skiers during winter, and renowned for its spectacular alpine scenery. Tongariro was the fourth national park in the world and the first to be gifted by a country's indigenous people.
• Skiing
  The North Island's highest mountain, Mt Ruapehu, boasts three ski areas - Whakapapa, Turoa and the smaller Tukino.
• Adventure and Outdoor Activities
  For more action, try tandem skydiving, white water rafting, biplane flying, parasailing, mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing... the list is endless. The US Golf Digest magazine also places Wairakei International Golf Course in the world's top 20 courses outside the United States. There are some superb walks around Lake Taupo, including the Craters of the Moon, a thermal area full of steam and mystery. Just keep to the wooden walkways and you'll be fine.
• Tongariro Alpine Crossing
  The North Island's most popular day walk, this 7hr alpine trek crosses between Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe.
• Tongariro Northern Circuit
  One of New Zealand's Great Walks, this 3-4 day circuit embraces Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, passing volcanic craters and lakes, springs, cones and lava flows.
• Whanganui National Park
  This 74,231ha park surrounds historic Whanganui River, offering river and jetboating trips, native forest, hiking and hunting.
• Waiouru Army Museum
  For those interested in military history, the award-winning Army Museum on State Highway One at Waiouru, at the southern end of the Desert Road, tells the story of thousands of young New Zealanders who faced enemy gunfire and showed extraordinary courage.
• Walking Trails
  Between Christmas and early January, the Department of Conservation runs the Summer Programme, a series of activities from evening talks to guided trips and walks. The park has walks everywhere, ranging from 20 minutes to five days, with one of the more popular being the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of New Zealand's Great Walks. Although the Whanganui National Park's journey is on the Whanganui River, it is still regarded as a Great Walk. The 145km from Taumarunui to Pipiriki takes about five days by canoe. A shorter three-day trip is from Whakahoro to Pipiriki.