Taupo: Busy bees

Lake Taupo and its surrounds can easily be enjoyed without breaking the bank. Photo / Supplied

The lake Taupo region has always been a year-round favourite Kiwi holiday destination. It's an ideal base for a family short-break with plenty to do that won't break the bank.

Start with the Waikato River Trails and a climb up the Stairway to Heaven - the poetic name for the Ongaroto staircase on a new section of the southern trail - for striking views of Lake Whakamaru. This is the high point of 25km of trails accessed from Ongaroto Rd on SH30.

At nearby Mangakino relax in the quaint Bus Stop Cafe on the shores of Lake Maraetai and enjoy the antics of kids paddling kayaks and splashing about in the shallows. Then try a little wakeboarding across the lake's smooth waters with M.I.A, (which owner Ki Barker assures me stands for Mid-Island Adventures rather than missing in action).

Closer to Taupo visit Huka Falls and marvel at the spectacle of tonnes of water forcing its way through a narrow rock chasm. It's a leisurely ride from here on a mountain bike along the scenic riverside track to view the release of water at Aratiatia Dam. Within minutes the tranquil river becomes a raging torrent in a deep canyon. This amazing sight is free to view at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm.

While you're on your mountain bike, hook up with Rapid Sensations who will take you over the Craters of the Moon cycle tracks. Wind up a smooth single track then plunge down The Coaster, an exhilarating downhill track with curving, banked corners that simulate a Wall of Death ride - what a buzz.

Once you're off the bike, return to Craters of the Moon thermal park on foot. This fascinating geothermal field has an eerie lunar landscape that's constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming.

A quick burst of energy is called for after all this activity, so it's fortunate that The Honey Hive is in this neck of the woods. Sample honey mead, fruit wines and honey-flavoured icecream. You can also watch a dense cluster of worker bees behind glass. Each one labours away over its six-week lifespan to produce half a teaspoon of honey. Nearby, Shawn the Prawn entices visitors to Huka Prawn Park where guides explain how giant Malaysian prawns breed, eat, grow and throw themselves on to your fishing line - if you have the requisite patience.

To continue the education theme, learn the history of Taupo in the Museum of Art & History. The 15m waka and the Maori meeting house are beautiful works of art and then you can spend some time soaking up the magic of the New Zealand Ora Garden of Wellness.

The perfect family holiday usually involves animals of some kind and in Link Rd you'll find the Lilliput Animal Park. It's an iconic piece of Kiwi farm culture with 25 different species that you can hand feed.

If the kids want more fun there's Puzzle World 10 minutes north of Taupo. There's a giant outdoor maze, a host of great puzzles to solve and hologram pictures that come alive in the 3D gallery.

After two full days of activity you will have more than earned a relaxing soak in De Bretts thermal pools, a pre-dinner drink and a good meal. The place to go for a pre-dinner drink with a difference is Scenic Cellars in Roberts St, where I explore the world's wine regions on the unique Enomatic Tasting System. I buy an Enocard, insert it in the machine and push a button to dispense a 25ml sample into a tasting glass - there are 50 wines to try.

For families looking for the ultimate one-stop holiday destination, the Great Lake is very accessible, extremely welcoming and, best of all; you can bank on a good time without stretching the wallet.

* Paul Rush was hosted by Destination Taupo; www.laketauponz.com