Sporty summer: Taupō has abundance of events for thrilling, active season

Participants in a previous Taupō Great Lake Relay are full of excitement. Photo / Event Promotions

Although the summer holidays are a perfect time to relax, there are still plenty of opportunities in Taupō to get active or spectate some great sports.

The 26th Taupō Great Lake Relay is on February 13. The Traffic Management NZ Great Lake Relay covers the 155km around Lake Taupō.

Each team consists of nine to 18 members, either running or walking the entire distance around Lake Taupō.

The Smiths Sports Shoes/Asics Length of the Lake Relay caters for teams of four to eight who can run or walk to complete the eight legs, 67km from Pukawa on the southern end of the lake back to Taupō.

If you're really up for a challenge, take on one of the ultra-marathon options. Run or walk the Ledlenser 67km Length of the Lake or the 155km Great Lake Event!

Event Promotions general manager Murray Fleming says it makes for a great day out with friends, family or workmates, completing a relay around the length of the lake.

"It's a fun way of setting yourself a goal and is something completely different."

He says normally about 3000 people participate but they are aware numbers may be down a bit due to Covid.

"It's just so cool to see teams participating, having a wonderful time and seeing people getting out and achieving personal goals."

Action at last year's Taupō Rodeo . Photo / Viv Needham, D'maree Photography

The Taupō Rodeo is an annual event hosted on Broadlands Rd each year.

Cowboys and cowgirls go head-to-head in bull riding, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, rope-and-tie and barrel racing.

There will be activities for the kids and there will be plenty of food vendors and other stalls to buy specialty items.

It is cash and eftpos on the gate, and presales are available on the Taupō Rodeo Facebook page at a cheaper price of $10. Family passes are also available.

For any more information, visit the Facebook page.

The Waikato River Trails Summer Sizzler is a free way to be part of a summer running and walking event on the Waikato River Trails.

There are three categories to choose from - 22km, 11km and 6km, which all run alongside the Mighty Waikato River and finish on the shores of Lake Maraetai in Mangakino Village.

The 2021 Hydro Thunder Championship Series Acceleration on Water will be two days of action-packed grand prix hydroplane racing.

There will be GP Hydroplanes doing speeds in excess of 290km/h, featuring North Island titles, plenty of other types of powerboat racing, Formula One Tunnels, Modified Hydroplanes, Clubmans & Junior racing Mod VP, V8 racing runabouts.

This event is free entry, and people can meet the teams and drivers over the two days.

The Sunday will feature the first championship round of NZ Offshore Powerboats with two half-hour races.

What's on events listing

- Tuesday, December 29: Taupō Rodeo, 8am to 4pm, Taupō Rodeo Broadlands Rd, adult $15, all ages

- Wednesday, December 30: Taupō Pak'nSave Summer Festival Races, 10.30am to 6pm, Taupō Racecourse

- Wednesday, December 30: Omori Kuratau Family Colour Fun Run, 2pm, Omori Kuratau Community Centre, all ages, $2 per person

- Saturday, January 9: Waikato River Trails Summer Sizzler 2021, 7am to 2pm, Mangakino Lakefront Reserve, free, all ages, wrtsummersizzler.com

- Saturday, January 9: Michelin SX4 Taupō, 3pm to 8pm, Digger McEwen Motocross Park, general admission $25, all ages, www.facebook.com/sx4nz

- Monday, January 11: Swim/Run Aquathon Wharewaka Beach, 6pm to 8pm, Wharewaka Point, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, January 16 - Sunday, January 17: 2021 Epic Swim, Lake Taupō Yacht Club, all ages, www.epicswim.co.nz

- Monday, January 18: Triathlon Acacia Bay South Beach, 6pm to 8pm, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, January 23 - Sunday, January 24: Taupō Historic GP 2021, 9am to 5pm, Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, tickets available at Eventfinda, www.taupohistoricgp.com

- Monday, January 25: Triathlon Acacia Bay South Beach, 6pm to 8pm, Acacia Bay Boat Ramp, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, January 30 - Sunday, January 31: 2021 Hydro Thunder Championship Series Acceleration on Water, Lake Taupō, all ages, www.gphydroplane.co.nz.

- Monday, February 8: Swim/Run Aquathon Wharewaka Beach, 6pm to 8pm, Wharewaka Point, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, February 13: Traffic Management NZ Taupo Great Lake Relay, Taupō Domain, R13, Great Lake Relay - Price per person $45, eventpromotions.co.nz.

- Sunday, February 14: Kinloch Triathlon Festival, Kinloch Domain, all ages, tickets start at $10, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Monday, February 22: Tag Team Triathlon (Teams of 3), 6pm to 8pm, Wharewaka Point, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, February 27: Le Pine & Co Lake Taupo Across the Lake Swim, Lake Taupō, all ages, www.acrossthelakeswim.co.nz

- Monday, March 1: Triathlon & Club Championships, 6pm to 8pm, Wharewaka Point, trisporttaupo.co.nz

- Saturday, March 6: Ironman NZ, Taupō, www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand