Bella Vista's Blog

If you are planning a short winter getaway, come to Great Lake Taupo and visit the Whakapapa Ski Area.

The Whakapapa ski area lies just over an hour's drive from Taupo. It is the winter playground not only for experienced skiers, but also for young families wanting to have some fun on the snow, without strapping onto a pair of skis or board.

Whakapapa situated on Mount Ruapehu, and is New Zealand's biggest ski area which has a great choice of trails offering intermediate and advanced options.  There is also the famed Happy Valley, a safe, sheltered and enjoyable place for the whole family to have fun on the snow. Happy Valley claims to be NZ's premier beginner facility home to a sledding slope, with a fleet of toboggans for hire that will have you sliding down the snow with a huge smile. It has a long, gentle slope, a chairlift and magic carpet, complete with cafe and rental facilities.

If hitting the snow is not your thing, how about riding the country's largest gondola?  The new Sky Waka gondola will take you from the ski area base to the Knoll Ridge Chalet. Situated at 2,020m above sea level, it is New Zealand’s highest restaurant. Here you will find great coffee, gourmet fare and incredible views out over the Central Plateau of New Zealand's North Island.
 

After a full day of snow fun the chances are you will be feeling a little achy after a day up on the mountain.  The perfect antidote is to head back to Taupo and relax and unwind in one of the many hot pools in town.  You can spend your evening by taking a wander by the lake before dinner and watch the town come to life with fairy light-lined streets and cosy bars and restaurants with hearty winter food menus, mulled wine and crackling fires. There are so many eateries to choose from - but we will gladly help you make the right choice.

Taupo is a winter wonderland in the heart of North Island, full of options for those who want to experience New Zealand winter. With a range of off-mountain experiences too, Taupo is the perfect base to experience what Central Plateau has to offer.

Whether a couple of day’s getaway, or longer stay, Bella Vista Motel will be your first choice for Taupo accommodation. Even with the temperature outside near sub-zero, you can always come back to a warm and comfortable room.  Jason and Miyuki will be more than happy to host you and with a range of room's to suit everyone's needs, heat pumps to keep warm, free parking, free unlimited WiFi and a central location, they are waiting for your booking.  

Bella Vista looks forward to hosting you.

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