The Beautiful Awards in New Zealand recognise areas for being, well, beautiful – and preserving their beauty in a sustainable way. We look at the winners to see if one could suit you as a place to own a home.
Beautiful Awards 2023
Aerial view of Taupō town, Most Beautiful Towns and Supreme Award winner.
Since 1972, Keep New Zealand Beautiful have run an annual awards programme where they recognise individuals, schools, community groups, towns and cities working towards a shared goal of keeping New Zealand beautiful. And by beautiful, they do not mean primed and plucked in the latest make-up or fashion. Rather, the focus of the award is sustainability and maintaining the country’s natural beauty.
For many overseas buyers, a huge draw of a property in New Zealand is its natural beauty. They’re drawn to its impressive other-worldliness (or perhaps, Middle Earthliness), the promise of huge hills, lakes, natural springs and even volcanos.
So, a look at the Beautiful Awards 2023 might help you to settle on a location to kickstart your search for a property.
Most Beautiful Towns and Supreme Award winner: Taupō
Taupō can be found in the central part of the North Island of New Zealand. It is approximately three hours and forty-minutes away from Auckland by car. (This might sound like a long car journey by UK standards but is seen as not too taxing a trip by NZ standards). The town and district are based around the Lake Taupō, the largest freshwater lake in the southern hemisphere, it is, astonishingly, about the size of Singapore. Lake Taupō has a curious origin story: it was formed by a volcanic eruption over 20,000 years ago.
Taupō offers a more relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, distinct from Auckland and Wellington. It does not have the transport links, entertainment options or job opportunities of a major city, and has the feel of a small town. However, if what you are seeking is somewhere with immense natural beauty, an outdoorsy lifestyle and the conveniences of nearby shops, restaurants and things to do, then a home in Taupō could suit you wonderfully. We take a look at what makes Taupō a special place to live.
1. Huka Falls
Visit the incredible Huka Falls.
With a home in Taupō, you’ll have easy access to the most visited natural site in all of New Zealand, Huka Falls. The longest river in New Zealand, the Waikato, is squeezed through a ravine of hard volcanic rock. Every second, 220,000 litres of water blast through a 11-metre-high waterfall. That’s the equivalent of five Olympic swimming pools per minute. Amazingly, the river produces 15% of the country’s electricity. You can experience Huka Falls via hike or a river cruise.
2. Outdoor activities galore
Explore via foot, boat or bike.
One enormous plus of life in Taupō is the fantastic choice of outdoor activities to do. Whatever the season, you can take the Great Lake Trail, which wraps itself around the forested shores of Taupō Lake. While the intriguingly named Craters of the Moon offers a walk, suspended above hissing steam and bubbling mud pools. The same spots also offer great trails for mountain bikes. Plus, hit the water in a kayak or raft. Or take to the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.
3. Relax in warm pools
And when you don’t feel like immersing yourself in Taupō’s amazing nature by testing your calves, you can take a relaxing bathe in one of their geothermal springs. The local Māori people have benefitted from their healing medicinal properties for years.
4. Eat delicious food and drink…and catch your own must-try trout
One popular pastime is to fish for brown and rainbow trout in the Lake Taupō, with many choosing to pick their dinner and take it to a restaurant where it will be expertly prepared. For dessert, you can indulge in manuka honey. Indeed, if you really do have a sweet tooth (or two), you can visit the Huka Honey Hive. Try honey wine and ice cream. There’s even honey-based skincare too. Plus, there’s plenty of opportunity to wash it all down with a locally brewed beer or wine.
5. Welcoming neighbourhoods to own a home in
According to realestate.co.nz, the median sale price for a home in Taupō is $645,500, with two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms being the most popular choice of home.
If you want to be surrounded by boutique shops, cafes serving the best coffee, kids’ playgrounds and more, you should base your property search in Taupō town.
Forty minutes away from Taupō town, Tūrangi has a softer atmosphere. At its heart, Tūrangi revolves around fishing for trout in the Tongariro River.
For a rural atmosphere, of rolling hills, head to Mangakino on the Lake Maraetai. There’s a golf course but it’s also the ideal place for a day of leisurely strolls and reading on a deckchair in the sunshine.
Meanwhile, areas such as Omori, Pukawa and Motuoapa are all holiday destinations that have a relaxed, friendly vibe all year-round. They feel even more special and quiet outside of the holiday season too.
Whakatāne frequently records the highest number of sunshine hours in all of New Zealand.
Other winners of the Beautiful Awards 2023
Most Beautiful Large City: Tauranga
Mount Maunganui.
Tauranga is a city located in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island. It is home to the magnificent Mount Maunganui, which leads to gorgeous sandy beaches. Take a trek by the Mount, a swim or surf in the sea and finish off with a soak in the hot water salt pools. Other highlights include the Mills Reef Winery and the growing, hip art scene.
Most Beautiful Small City: New Plymouth
Located on the North Island, New Plymouth is known for the pretty Pukekura Park, its coastal walkway and contemporary art museum.
Most Beautiful Large Town: Whakatāne
A place for sunshine seekers, Whakatāne frequently records the highest number of sunshine hours in all of New Zealand. Fishermen like to catch yellowfin tuna here. And it’s a great place to spot dolphins and seals.
Most Beautiful Small Town: Arrowtown
Arrowtown. Source: Jon Chica/Shutterstock.
Established during the height of the 19th century Gold Rush, along the gold-bearing Arrow River, Arrowtown has maintained an old-fashioned feel.
Most Beautiful Tiny Town: Awanui
In recent years, Awanui has gone to lengthens to clean up and beautify itself, and now it has all paid off. Upgraded facilities and new art installations have turned this tiny town into somewhere to stop at, rather than just drive through.
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