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Event Information:
The
Ironman New Zealand has been held
every year since 1985 in February or
March, a triathlon sports event over the
full Ironman distance (3.86 km swim,
180.2 km cycling, running 42.195
kilometers) in Taupo in New Zealand.
Taupo
is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo
in the centre of the North Island of
New Zealand. It is the seat of the
Taupo District Council and lies in
the southern Waikato Region. Taupo
is located at the outlet of Lake
Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake,
in the northeast part of the lake
where it discharges to the Waikato
River. The river flows over one of
New Zealand's most spectacular
waterfalls, Huka Falls, a short
distance north of the town. Taupo is
a centre of volcanic and geothermal
activity and hot springs suitable
for bathing are located at several
places in the vicinity. The volcanic
mountain of Mount Tauhara lies six
kilometres (4 mi) to the east. Some
forested area exists near Taupo,
with understory vegetation
consisting of certain shrubs and
ferns.
Taupo
is a tourist centre, particularly in
the summer, as it offers panoramic
views over the lake and to the
volcanic mountains of Tongariro
National Park to the south. It
offers a number of tourist
activities including sky diving, jet
boating and paragliding. Taupo
services a number of surrounding
plantation pine forests including
Kaingaroa Forest, the largest
manmade forest in the world, and
related industry. A large sawmill is
sited approximated 3 km to the north
east of the town on Centennial
Drive. Since the mid-1990s Taupo has
become increasingly popular as a
venue for major sporting events,
increasingly of an international
nature. The town's compact size,
clean environment, central location
and supportive council and community
have been cited as the reasons for
this.
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