The Venue
The Suncourt Hotel and Conference Centre in Taupō is our venue for LexiCon in 2017, and we couldn't be more excited! There are a range of accommodation options catering to different numbers of guests, forty of which have beautiful lake or mountain views, with the remaining twelve opening onto the hotel gardens; book when you join the convention.
We have the entire hotel - both conference facilities and accommodation - reserved for our sole use, which means the place will be humming with geekery. You should feel right at home, and we look forward to bringing you a great range of discussions, panels, workshops, and more.
The hotel boasts a restaurant of its own, The Lake Bistro, which has a range of options available for both breakfast and dinner, and will be offering a special lunch menu on Saturday and Sunday. There are also plenty of other food options within walking distance.
Taupō is a popular tourist spot, which means there are many things to see and do if you are looking to extend your stay past the walls of the hotel. You can discover these at the Taupō Information Centre.
Getting There
By air: Air New Zealand flies between Taupō and Auckland, and Sounds Air flies between Taupō and Wellington. If you're coming from further afield, you can transfer at whichever airport is more convenient. Seats are limited, so book early! Great Lake Taxis operates a shuttle that meets each scheduled flight at Taupō Airport, as well as transport around the town.
By bus: InterCity can get you to Taupō from pretty much anywhere in the country, with multiple buses every day on major routes. Alternatively, there's Naked Bus/Mana Bus. The bus terminus is outside the i-SITE, less than 1km from the hotel.
By car: Taupō is located on State Highway One, about four and a half hours drive north of Wellington, and three and a half hours drive south of Auckland. The hotel has ample free parking on-site.
Alternative Accommodation
We’ve explored some alternative accommodation close to the Suncourt. Here are our recommendations:
Great Lake Motel is just 2-3 minutes walk to the Suncourt, and would be a good option for people wanting standard motel-style accommodation with a range of room options. We found their units clean and pleasant, and their staff friendly.
Le Chalet Suisse is almost next to the Suncourt, and also offers a range of room options. Most of their units are multi-room, with space for 4-6 people, making this a good option for families or small groups.
Tiki Lodge is a clean, modern backpackers located 5 minutes walk from the Suncourt. Accommodation is mostly dorm beds, but they also have two motel style units, and two twin/double rooms. Note that all rooms and shared facilities except the motel units are up a flight of stairs and there is no lift access.
Rainbow Lodge is a welcoming old-school backpackers, with both dorm and private rooms. It’s a little further from the Suncourt (about 15 minutes walk) but has affordable single rooms - a good option for the budget-conscious fan who is travelling alone and wants more privacy than a dorm bed.
If none of the above sound like the right fit, not to worry - there are many options within a short walk of the Suncourt. We recommend taking a look at the Great Lake Taupō accommodation page or this Google Maps search as a starting point.
Please note that while we’ve looked or stayed at all of the above, we have no official relationship with them; please book directly and do the research you would on any trip.