Scenic Taupo offers a host of activites for the visiting rugby teams. Photo / Supplied
As New Zealand prepares for the Rugby World Cup, Herald writer John Roughan looks at how the country's towns and cities are preparing to host the tournament
If the Springboks do well in the World Cup, they may thank Taupo.
Against expectations, the South Africans will not be based with their big expatriate community on Auckland's North Shore.
By all accounts the team wanted to be far away from the Shore when they prepared for their matches
there.
They have got their wish. They will be at Taupo.
But if they wanted to escape expats they could be out of luck. South Africans living in the central North Island are keen to make them welcome, says Taupo District Council communications manager Suzanne Takiwa.
A good number of them live around the lake, at Turangi and Reporoa and other places, she says.
There could be barbecues for the Springboks after practice at Owen Delany Park. Coach Peter de Villiers has visited the training venue and knows what to expect.
The team will stay first in Wellington for their first two matches, then will come to Taupo for the rest of the pool phase. They will make brief trips to Auckland to play Namibia and Samoa at North Harbour Stadium.
Two other teams, Wales and Ireland, will also have spells in Taupo on their way to match venues.
They also will find plenty of expatriate hospitality, says Suzanne Takiwa.
Visiting team scouts have been heartened by Taupo's range of facilities, she says.
They include a good pool, several gyms and the Wairakei golf course.
The host organisation is planning events with players' wives and children in mind.
That should not be hard with Taupo's attractions - the Huka Jet, the bungy and big swing; skydiving, sailing, kayaking and black-water rafting; and skiing on Ruapehu.
Then there are hot pools, trout fishing on the lake and fly fishing in the Tongariro River. Events will include mountainbiking's 12-hour Day-Night Thriller, a three-day hunting expo and the Kinloch fishing competition.
Taupo will be heavily publicising its central location to travelling supporters of all teams in the cup. Brochures in campervans and street billboards in places such as Huntly will suggest tourists take the inland route whatever their destination.
Many will find the town a good central base for travelling to games.
If the Springboks were looking for somewhere out of the way, they may be disappointed.
Tomorrow: Hamilton
