Taupo is a small urban area in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the Waikato Region.

Taupo has a population of 22,300 (2006 census). Until 1989 Taupo was officially described as a city, but it is now administered by the Taupo District Council, the district including both Taupo itself and the surrounding hinterland. Despite this, it is still occasionally referred to as a city.

Taupo is located at the north-east corner of Lake Taupo and functions as a tourist centre, particularly in the summer, as it offers panoramic views over the lake and the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park to the south. To capitalise on the large number of visitors, Taupo has seen the development of a number of tourist ventures from sky diving, jet boating, paragliding and other such activities. Taupo also services a number of surrounding plantation pine forests, including the largest manmade forest in the world, Kaingaroa Forest, and related industry. A large sawmill is sited approximated 3km to the north east of the town on Centennial Drive. Taupo has three High Schools; Tauhara College and Taupo Nui-a-Tia College and Lake Taupo Christian School (private). It also has primary and intermediate schools Waipahihi, Hilltop, Mount View, Taupo Primary, Tauhara Primary and Taupo intermediate. Taupo has a small growing satellite town 20 kilometres west along the lake called Kinloch, where a Jack Nicklaus golf resort is being constructed.

The name Taupo comes from Maori Taupo-nui-a-Tia. Literally translated, it means "The great cloak of Tia" where Tia is the name of the discoverer of the lake.

Taupo is situated on a stretch of State Highway 1, shared with State Highway 5. Taupo is one of the few centres in New Zealand that were never linked to the rail network.

To the north of the town is the geothermal power station at Wairakei, and hot springs suitable for bathing are located at several places in the vicinity of Taupo. One of New Zealand's most spectacular waterfalls, the Huka Falls is also close to the town on the nascent Waikato River.