Tokaanu

near Turangi

Tokaanu is one of a number of small lakeside settlements around Lake Taupo, catering for both permanent residents and those with holiday accommodation . It is a 5-minute drive from Turangi, the largest town at the southern end of the lake. Today the small settlement beside the Tokaanu Stream has a range of amenities that include a dairy-superette, motor garage and service station, restaurant, hotel, ski shop, kayak hire, thermal resort, motel, backpacker and lodge accommodation, motor camp, and a historic church.

Tokaanu is the southernmost entry to Lake Taupo and has a marina with all-weather launching ramps. The marina is the favoured launching spot to access Lake Taupo and the Tongariro river mouth with its exceptional fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Most anglers fish either at the mouth of the tailrace or from the Tokaanu wharf. The Tokaanu stream, although very small, can provide excellent fishing at night when using a floating line as the water is very shallow.

History

Since the 1800's, Tokaanu has had a long association with tourism and travellers arriving by stage coach, staying the night in the Tokaanu Hotel and departing from the Tokaau wharf by steam launch for Taupo at the northern end of the lake. For hundreds of years, Maori have used the geothermal resources of this area for cooking, bathing, and leisure.