92 Taupahi Road , Turangi , LAKE TAUPO , New Zealand View hotel location on the map

Overview
Judges Pool Motel is located in Turangi at the southern end of Lake Taupo (Central North Island, New Zealand) only 200m from the famous Tongariro River with great fly fishing for big rainbow and brown trout, Judges Pool Motel offers clean, comfortable, quiet and affordable accommodation.

Owner operators Chris and Jill Hill have a wealth of valuable tips and information and are more than happy to share their knowledge with you.

Judges Pool Motel accommodation has 9 x 1 and 2-bedroom fully self-contained motel units sleeping up to 6 people. All units are serviced daily and there are guest laundry facilities,Drying Room, free WiFi internet plus internet kiosk, Sky TV Guest Select 50 channel +, undercover BBQ area available for your stay.

In room entertainment cannot get much better with Sky's Guest Select - 50 channels at your fingertips. So keep up with the latest sporting events, take in a movie, catch a nickelodeon special or explore the world via the Discovery channel all in the comfort of your room.

We are located halfway between Wellington and Auckland. A perfect stopover to break your journey and tiredness.

No traffic noise.

Discount loyalty card for regular clients.

Regional Info

Turangi is a small town on the west bank of the Tongariro River, 50km south-west of Taupo on the North Island Volcanic Central Plateau of New Zealand.

It was built to accommodate the workers associated with the Tongariro hydro-electric power development project, and their families. The town was designed to remain as a small servicing centre for the exotic forest plantations south of Lake Taupo and for tourists. It is well known for its trout fishing. The major hapu of the Turangi area is Ngati Turangitukua. The Turangi area covers some 2273 km?, and is located close to the edge of the Kaimanawa Ranges and 10km north of the stretch of State Highway 1 known as the Desert Road.

The streets around Turangi in autumn are lined with 'brilliant' foliage. Built on the banks of the Tongariro River, Turangi and its surrounding countryside offers challenging hunting, fishing, mountain biking, hiking or leisurely bush walks, white water rafting, kayaking, sightseeing and much more.

History
Maori settlement
The area was settled by the people of Ngati Tuwharetoa, descendants of those who had originally settled in the Kawerau area. The major Tuwharetoa migration occurred from about the 16th Century with a war party under command of Turangitukua who engaged in a number of battles against earlier inhabitants of the Taupo, Rotoaira and Kaimanawa area. Following these battles a variety of settlements were established in the area with major pa established on the cliff overlooking the Tongariro River and at Waitahanui on the Tongariro Delta. Another important settlement was at Tokaanu.The people who eventually become known as Ngati Turangitukua associate mainly with Waitahanui pa. From here they established a number of homesteads along both sides of the Tongariro River and its tributaries. including houses along the main highway to Taumarunui (now Hirangi Road). In 1910 construction of a wharepuni begun which eventually became the Hirangi Marae complex.

Non-Maori settlement
The first Europeans reached the Turangi area in the 1830s, however it was not until the 1850s that European settlement occurred with the construction of a Mission Station at Pukawa.

In the 1880s and 1890s brown and rainbow trout were introduced into the lake and rivers of the area. A small fishing camp was established at Taupahi on the Tongariro river bank (now Taupahi Road) and a number of European fishermen camped here. In the 1920s two prison farms were opened at Rangipo and Hautu because of the isolated nature of the area. It was also during this period that the Morar family arrived, migrants from India, who settled in the area establishing a store in Tokaanu. By 1960 the population was about 500.

Tongariro River
The world-famous Tongariro River runs through the middle of the town. The town calls itself "The Trout Fishing Capital of the World". Features in surrounding area:
Thermal activity
Hydro
Trout management
Forestry
Fishing
Tourism
Rafting
Kayaking
Golfing
Tramping
Mountain biking
Sister city, Kitashiobara, Japan

Check in from: 2:00 pm

Check out by: 10:00 am

Business Facilities
Free WIFI Internet, Free Internet kiosk, Fax, phone in room.

Getting There
We are located half way between Auckland and Wellington
From Auckland take 1st left after Tongariro River bridge then turn right, From Wellington turn right after Z Service Station then left.

Parking Info
Off street under cover parking.