Taupō Museum - Historic Trail For Kids Preview

This building was once an early Taupō Post Office (1911 - 1940), then the Taupō Library until 1992 and has been added to many times.

The Joan Williamson Rose Garden begun as a project by the Taupō Rose Society in 1979, it has been named after Joan Williamson who was a councillor for 24 years and Mayor of Taupō from 1986 - 2001.

On the left is a memorial stone "To the memory of those who lie buried here". Parakiri (the boat harbour) was an important location before Pākehā arrived and was the canoe landing for local Māori.

This memorial stone is one of three memorial stones that mark the burial grounds of early Māori. There is.another next to Stir Cafe and a third stone is located in the grove of trees adjacent the current Taupō Harbour Master Building.

Māori tracks converged on Tapuaeharuru (now Taupō) at the outlet of the Waikato River.

The area is called Parakiri and was the safest place to cross the fast flowing river. Before a bridge was built across the river in 1873, Māori crossed it using waka (canoes) and then from European times, an overhead cable was set up between two posts, to help canoes ferry across the fast current.

(You can see a waka (canoe) inside the Taupō Museum in the Tūwharetoa Gallery).

The name of the Pear tree and when it was planted is a mystery! But what we do know is the pears taste horrible and the ducks get very tipsy each year when they eat the fermenting pears laying on the ground. There was a pear orchard in the area a very long time ago and there is another tree from that orchard in the service lane behind Robert Harris, in Te Heuheu Street.

Can you name the mountains at the south end of the lake?

This gateway was carved by Tene Waitere and first formed the entrance to the sports grounds (Tongariro North Domain) from Tongariro Street for many years. The gateway was moved in the 1969 and erected at the foot of Tongariro Street on the lake front where it is much photographed as it frames the view across the lake to the sacred maunga (mountains) of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

Cross the road and head to the South Domain Gardens.

This area was once the camping ground before it was shifted to the north end of the domain in 1952. In 1993 the Council developed new gardens and a children's park on this site.

How many pieces of sculpure can you find in this large garden?

An ancient mountain clan once protected the lands of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, at the southern end of Lake Taupō. They were Tongariro, Pūtauaki, Taranaki and Tauhara; among them was the beautiful Pīhanga. These mountains were not ordinary mountains. They were nobels, warriors, gods.

Across the ages the warriors fell in love with Pīhanga and although she adored them all, she refused to choose one to be her husband. The mountains argued until it was agreed that they would fight for her love.

A fierce war shook the land. The earth trembled and rocks spewed about the dark sky. Soon, light was no more. One after the other the mountains fell, and when the dust settled Tongariro stood victorious.

The defeated warriors were forced to leave but could only travel at night. Pūtauaki looked one last time at Pīhanga, and bowed his head as he walked into the darkness. The rising sun caught him on the Kaingaroa plains, near the present town of Kawerau where he stands today.

Taranaki was sad. He travelled west, his tears formed the Whanganui river. At sunrise he stood on the west coast facing the setting sun.

Tauhara was a favourite of Pīhanga and together they had twins named Maunganamu. With one twin in tow, and the other by Pīhanga, Tauhara left and stopped often to look back at his loved ones. By dawn the pair had not gone far only reaching the northern end of Lake Taupō. Tauhara watches over the town of Taupō and across to Pīhanga with his Maunganamu nearby.

After the battle, Tongariro - the mightiest of them all, married Pīhanga. To this day, they stand together on the central plateau of the North Island.

A time capsule is a container holding a selection of objects that is buried until discovery by some future age. These objects are picked because they have a special meaning in the time that we are living in.

Tia and his twin brother, Hei came to Aotearoa / New Zealand from Tahiti on the Arawa canoe. Tia is responsible for many place names around the region including Taupō nui a Tia, Waipāhīhī a Tia, Oruanui a Tia, Maroa nui a Tia, Aratiatia and Atiamuri.

NGĀ - TORO - I - RA - NGI

The No.6 Division of the Armed Constabulary (AC) arrived in Tapuaeharuru (Taupō) in 1869 and stayed with local Māori chief, Poihipi Tukairangi directly across the Waikato river in his pā (village) - also called Tapuaeharuru.

After a drunk soldier burned accidently burned down one of the whare (houses), the AC were kicked out of the village and back across the river to this location. The Tapuaeharuru Redoubt was large enough to hold 150 men in tents, but in 1871-74, the garrison was 18-24 men. In January 1885 the redoubt was abandoned.

The Powder Magazine located on the high banks of Tapuaeharuru is perhaps the oldest remaining relic from the Armed Constabulary.

Stop under the huge tree.

This beautiful tree was planted over 100 years ago in memory of Richard Seddon, New Zealand Prime Minister from 1893 - 1906.

This sculpture was created to recognise the heart of all those who first settled here in Taupō and represents Taupō's position as the heart of the North Island.

It was constructed by local artist Brett Taylor. The heart is made of stone and is covered with 10mm of high tech colour and clear resins.

How many stars can you find on the sculpture?