If you need to stay in Taupo, I highly recommend a stay with Mel. Very convenient to both the lakefront shopping/restaurants and Huka Falls by car. Her studio was so welcoming and the breakfast/snack items she left for us was much appreciated. Mel welcomes us when we arrived and offered her washer for laundry if needed. We stayed 3 nights and could have easily stayed several more if our time had allowed. Even with a rainy afternoon, we stayed in and binged Netflix and ate in. It was wonderful!