Today, the Hilton Lake Taupo officially opened its doors to guests. The upscale hotel is located on New Zealand’s stunning North Island and offers 113 deluxe guest rooms, suites and apartments. Managed by Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Lake Taupo is one of the first upscale, full-service international hotel brands to open in Taupo and the second Hilton hotel in New Zealand.

The hotel is comprised of the Heritage Wing, previously known as the historic Terraces Hotel, built in 1889 and now completely re-furbished, and a new wing of 100 rooms – the Mountain Wing. The Mountain Wing is positioned alongside the Heritage Wing with panoramic views over Lake Taupo and to the volcanic mountains of Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand’s largest ski field.

“Hilton Lake Taupo is truly spectacular and I am pleased we will be managing a hotel in one of New Zealand’s most significant leisure and meetings destinations. We are delighted that we have been able to retain the character of the original Victorian building and incorporate some of the same charm into the new Mountain Wing. The new hotel reflects the very high standards that guests from around the world have come to expect from the Hilton experience,” Martin Rinck, President Hilton Worldwide Asia Pacific said.

The hotel’s restaurant, Bistro Lago, has already been established as one of Taupo’s premier dining venues. The menu has been created by Master Chef Simon Gault, who together with Head Chef Shane Yardley, have designed the breakfast, lunch, dinner and 24 hour room-service menus featuring locally sourced ingredients.

The Hilton Lake Taupo also features:

• Cellar Ballroom (for up to 120 banquet guests)
• Thermally heated outdoor pools
• Spa, steam room and sauna
• Flood lighted tennis courts
• Fully equipped gym
• Bar

“Having a truly global brand like Hilton in Taupo is going to assist and support the region on many levels. Already the Hilton has employed close to 100 people locally, and it also puts Taupo on a world stage through the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels in 79 countries,” Taupo Mayor, Rick Cooper said.

Lake Taupo is a 3-hour drive from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and 4.5 hours from Wellington, the capital. Lake Taupo is 46km long and has a surface area similar in size to Singapore. The area is well known as a conference and incentive location and its leisure activities include trout fishing, hunting, golf, bathing in thermal pools, trekking, horse riding, boating and snow skiing. It boasts some of the world’s best fly-fishing rivers and hunting locations, is a close distance to the famous Tongariro crossing trek and has two world-rated golf courses, the Wairakei International Golf Course and the Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Mt. Ruapehu has two ski resorts and is New Zealand’s most expansive ski area and is a one-hour drive from the Hilton Lake Taupo.