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Official club name: Friendship Force of Taupo
Official club name: Friendship Force of Taupo
Closest major airport: Auckland International Airport which is about 4 hours drive from Taupo. Our Host ED usually meets Ambassadors with a chartered coach. The cost of this transportation based on about 20 people is approximately $40 per person.
Maximum number of Ambassadors the club can host: 20.
The Friendship Force of Taupo hosted its first ambassadors on May 5, 1986, was chartered on 2 June, 1986, and since then has hosted 40 Inward Exchanges. We have twice hosted the New Zealand national conference. Our 60 enthusiastic, hospitable and welcoming members will show you our fantastic sights and scenery when you visit us.
In 2012 at the Hiroshima International Conference, Taupo was awarded ‘Outstanding Club for 2012’ for the development and presentation of a membership recruitment programme. This is available on the FFI website under the Leadership Toolkit.
Taupo is situated in the North Island at the north end of New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo, in the area known as the Central Plateau. Lake Taupo was formed by a huge volcanic eruption some 1800 years ago. It is around this lake, the rivers and the volcanic mountains that many scenic attractions are situated. Some of these include the Huka Falls, the Aratiatai Rapids, the lookouts, and such thermal wonderlands as Orakei Korako, Waiatapu, Craters of the Moon and many more. Taupo is well known for outdoor activities. Take part in boating, fishing, or hunting, or just soak in either the hot thermal pools or the cool lake and river water; drive a race car or do a bungy jump; walk one of the many tracks in the region or soar to the heights by gliding or sky diving. There are many outdoor events that occur most weekends in Taupo - it could be regarded as the outdoor events centre of New Zealand. Take Taupo at your own speed. Take time to visit the art studios, the museum, the Ora garden or the Wairakei Terraces where you will experience Maori culture. Take time to breathe the fresh air, soak up the scenery, and enjoy the companionship and fellowship of our club members. There is something for everybody.
During our exchanges, we show our Ambassadors our wonderful region. We have several special features - our beautiful scenery, our thermal wonderlands, our farming variety, and certainly not least, our Maori culture. We always have a mayoral reception. We are very much a tourist hub because we are within one to two hours driving from some of New Zealand's major attractions such as thermal Rotorua, art deco Napier, the volcanic Mount Ruapehu, the glow worm caves at Waitomo and Hamilton city.
For further information: Contact
Date updated: 28 May 2013.