Wharewaka Playground

Right on the edge of Lake Taupō with the Lions Walk running alongside it, this spot earns its reputation for good reason. The BBQ area gets a solid workout on calm evenings when the lake goes flat and the light does that thing — you know the one. It can get pretty breezy during the day, so the shade trees are more windbreak than sun cover some afternoons. Worth timing your visit right if you want the best of it.