I will be staying at Wairakei Resort on Lake Taupo (NZ) for a conference in late May and wondered if I should try SUPing on the lake. Any recommendations for locations and SUP hire?

towball said...
If you want end up with ice blocks on your feet go ahead Mate that water is really cold even in summer

Soft TB soft

Gday,
Lake Taupo is awesome, get back there as often as i can, its my hometown before moving to AUS 28 yrs ago. and like said above Acacia bay is just an amazing place 5 mins drive away. My uncle has just sold his place and moved back into town...stupid move.

try this place http://www.boatinglaketaupo.co.nz/sups.html and search on facebook SUP Taupo and message them and have a chat. My aunty hired a board on the lake just a couple of weeks ago so its definitely possible to have a SUP on the lake.
Also these guys, not sure if they hire though www.boardridersnz.co.nz/

Cheers

KTD said..
Love Taupo and the lake. Yeah the waters cold but no biggie. Early mornng through the mist would be magic. I'd head across the lake from main part of town to Acacia Bay. Stunning scenery. Maybe grab a coffee and snack and head back or meet the family over there and drive back. If you're on the South Island near Christchurch id paddle at Akaroa famous for the tiny little Dolphins can't recall the type but it's be very cool.

Hectors Dolphin? I think..

I hired a 11'6 Nalu last summer from a place a couple of kilometres south of the town centre on the lake shore. They have hire yachts and kayaks as well and a café/bar set up on a dock on the lake. They hire good quality Isups too. They don't seem to have a web site but easy to find - you can't miss their fleet of little hire yachts. I spend a bit of time at Taupo and hired a few Sups there when I became interested in buying a board. Most of the places that hire SUPs have those hollow roto moulded plastic ones. Avoid the hire place at Motuoapa at the Southern end of the Lake like the plague. I hired a roto moulded one off them and discovered it had a leak in it when out on the lake! Taupo is a beautiful place - enjoy it.

Galewarning, what are you paddling to average 9.6 km/h over nearly 1.5 hours but only burn 781 calories!? Using a GPS watch or phone?

Thanks again for all the information. I will definitely set some time aside for a good long paddle. Unfortunately I won't be able to get down to the south island on this trip.