Taupiri is a small town on the east side of the Waikato River between Huntly and Ngāruawāhia. It sits below Taupiri Maunga, also known as Taupiri-Kuao – the embracing mountain. This mountain is sacred to Tainui and is the burial location for the Kīngitanga Royal Family, plus many other prominent Māori. It has been a tapu burial ground for Tainui since the death of Chief Te Putu, who built Taupiri Pā on the summit of a spur of Mt Taupiri in the 1600s. Today, the cemetery on the side of the Maunga is probably one of the most scenic in the country.
There is a good parking area beside the Waikato River opposite the cemetery, or you can drive into town and park by the local cafe to enjoy a coffee by the river.
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