Located in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, Taupo is at the centre of it. The region has world-class natural attractions: Australasia’s largest fresh water lake, a dual World Heritage national park hosting one of the best one-day walks in the world – the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction, the mighty Huka Falls.
Taupo has a population of around 33,000 people, and the key industries supporting them and the Taupo economy are forestry, geothermal, dairy, retail and tourism.
The Taupo District offers a wide range of residential properties in a variety of urban and country settings, with some stunning views of the lake and mountains on offer. Taupo has six primary schools, one intermediate and two secondary schools offering excellent educational opportunities.
Waiariki Institute of Technology offers courses from trade certificates to Bachelor’s Degrees and beyond. The Taupo campus is just minutes from the town centre and there is plenty of free parking for commuters, and is on a regular bus route.
Taupo Hospital is situated in a residential area of Taupo about 4km from the CBD.
Rotorua is an iconic tourism destination for New Zealanders and international visitors. It is known for its beautiful lakes, spectacular geothermal attractions, stunning scenery, and its warm and friendly people. Located in the central North Island, Rotorua is well connected to the rest of New Zealand and the world through a network of air (including an international airport), road and rail links.
The area of Rotorua has a relatively high altitude, measuring up to 290m. The region enjoys a warm, temperate climate, situated inland from the coast and sheltered by high country to the south and east, resulting in less wind than many other places.
Rotorua has an increasingly broad industry base that includes tourism, agriculture, forestry, retail, manufacturing, business services, social services and education. Educational needs are well covered, with 89 licensed early childhood centres, 13 primary schools and 5 secondary schools, including 4 Kura Kaupapa Maori (Maori Language immersion schools). Tertiary education opportunities are available through Waiariki Institute of Technology (WIT), Te Wananga O Aotearoa and a number of private training organisations. WIT has a high-tech training sawmill, which is used for education, research and the showcasing of key industry equipment. It is also home to New Zealand’s Centre of excellence in Wood processing.
There is an abundance of natural resources including 18 volcanic lakes, 3 major rivers, 200,000+ hectares of indigenous and exotic forests and farmland, numerous geothermal fields, 120 wetlands and over 110 reserves, gardens and parks.
Whakatane is the Sunshine Capital of New Zealand, and Ohope Beach won NZ’s Best Beach title for 2013. This district in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is one of the most diversely beautiful areas in New Zealand. Sandy beaches are predominant along the coastline that stretches from Otamarakau in the west to Ohiwa in the east. Central areas include fertile lowlands and farming areas on the Rangitaiki Plains through to Murupara. Te Urewera National Park in the south, is protected native forest and is home to a rich array of flora and fauna.
The region is rich in forestry resources and has some of the country’s best dairy farms, along with a large dairy processing plant located at Edgecumbe. The fertile soil of the district supports a variety of horticultural activities including market gardens, apple and kiwifruit orchards and flower growing. Bottling water for export is an emerging industry. The pulp and paper mills at Whakatane and Kawerau are big employers in the region. The close proximity of the Port of Tauranga, less than 100kms away, is an important factor.
The district is serviced by excellent air, rail and road transport links. Whakatane is less than 100 kilometres from two large cities, Rotorua and Tauranga.
Ohope is also a growing residential area, with superb views and a range of attractive properties beckoning new residents from all over New Zealand. Its current population is 2,760. Port Ohope and Ohiwa Harbour are magical areas, with hundreds of seabirds making their summer home on the rich mudflats and sandbanks of the inner harbour. The harbour also provides a range of recreation opportunities, including fishing, water skiing, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing.
