Lakewood Reserve Playground

Lakewood Reserve Playground in Nukuhau, five minutes from Taupo town centre, was comprehensively renewed in late 2023 following a community design vote, and dual flying foxes that let two children race side by side are the centrepiece. Other equipment includes a wooden fort with slides and firefighter poles, climbing nets, mini wobblers for toddlers, a sand pit, swings including a basket swing and infant swing, and a multi-play climbing structure with tubular slide.

Equipment

The mini wobblers, infant swing and basket swing suit toddlers and babies, while the dual flying foxes and wooden fort give older children plenty to race between. A shade cloth covers part of the playground.

Access and Inclusion

The renewed layout mixes toddler-scale equipment with bigger structures, making it workable for families with a wide age spread in one visit.

History and Cultural

Nukuhau sits near where the Waikato River exits Lake Taupo at the Taupo control gates. The Waikato River carries deep significance for Ngati Tuwharetoa, who consider the river an ancestor.

Practical Info

A drinking fountain and picnic table are on site, with on-street parking on Lakewood Drive. It's a short trip from local shops and takeaways in Taupo town.