Lava Glass

Taupo

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More than 600 unique glass sculptures fill the garden and surroundings of this gallery, around 10km north of Taupo on SH5. Glass-blowing displays and an excellent cafe (open 9am-4pm) provide great reasons to linger while you're considering what to purchase in the Lava Glass shop. All items can be carefully shipped anywhere in the world (free when you spend more than $200).

Look closely and you'll see the colours of Taupo in the glass sculptures: the crystal blue of Huka Falls, the earthy colours of Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the fiery lava reds of the volcanoes.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Huka Falls.

    Huka Falls

    2.7 MILES

    The Waikato, New Zealand’s longest river, squeezes through a narrow chasm at Huka Falls, making the dramatic 11m drop into a surging crystal-blue…

  • Orakei Korako geothermal park, New Zealand.

    Orakei Korako

    9.86 MILES

    Tucked away from other more popular thermal fields, Orakei Korako is (since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces, at least) arguably NZ's most…

  • Frying Pan Lake in Waimangu Volcanic Valley.

    Waimangu Volcanic Valley

    27.15 MILES

    The most visible wound from Mt Tarawera's 1886 eruption, the Waimangu geothermal area spreads down a valley to Lake Rotomahana (Warm Lake). The experience…

  • The Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu or Sacred Waters – Thermal Wonderland, Rotorua, New Zealand.

    Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

    22.59 MILES

    The most colourful of the region's geothermal attractions, Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) has a variety of features packed into a relatively compact, heavily…

  • Taupō Museum

    Taupō Museum

    5.54 MILES

    This small but fascinating museum has an excellent Māori gallery and quirky displays, which include a 1960s caravan set up as if the occupants have just…

  • Maori rock carving at Mine Bay, Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand.

    Māori Rock Carvings

    9.94 MILES

    Accessible only by boat or kayak, these 14m-high carvings were etched into the cliffs near Mine Bay by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell in the…

  • Aratiatia Rapids

    Aratiatia Rapids

    1.34 MILES

    Two kilometres off SH5, this gorge was a spectacular part of the Waikato River until a hydroelectric dam was plonked across the waterway, shutting off the…

  • Craters of the Moon

    Craters of the Moon

    3.01 MILES

    This geothermal area sprang to life when hydroelectric tinkering around the power station in 1958 caused water levels to fall. The pressure shifted,…

View more attractions

Nearby Taupo attractions

1. Aratiatia Rapids

1.34 MILES

Two kilometres off SH5, this gorge was a spectacular part of the Waikato River until a hydroelectric dam was plonked across the waterway, shutting off the…

2. Aratiatia Lookouts

1.43 MILES

The best spot to watch the raging Aratiatia Rapids. The first lookout is an easy five-minute walk from the rapids' car park, while the upper lookout takes…

3. Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley

1.56 MILES

This thermal walk (1.8km) on a secluded property explores the steaming banks of the Wairakei Stream and the deep pit of the Witches Cauldron. Kids will…

4. Huka Falls Lookout

2.63 MILES

Excellent spot to view spectacular Huka Falls. From the car park, cross the bridge and turn left.

5. Huka Falls

2.7 MILES

The Waikato, New Zealand’s longest river, squeezes through a narrow chasm at Huka Falls, making the dramatic 11m drop into a surging crystal-blue…

6. Craters of the Moon

3.01 MILES

This geothermal area sprang to life when hydroelectric tinkering around the power station in 1958 caused water levels to fall. The pressure shifted,…

7. Taupō Museum

5.54 MILES

This small but fascinating museum has an excellent Māori gallery and quirky displays, which include a 1960s caravan set up as if the occupants have just…

8. Hot Water Beach

6.04 MILES

At the end of the long town beach are patches of warm water right in front of a car park. It’s no Coromandel, but have a dig and you might find some…