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Vast waters of Lake Taupo filling the caldera of the Taupo supervolcano
Photo:Richard Waitt
Volcano Dossier•GVP #241070
38.78°S, 175.89°E
Historical eruption
New Zealand→

Volcano Taupo

Lake Taupo fills the caldera of one of the most productive rhyolitic volcanoes on Earth. Its eruption about 25,500 years ago was the planet's largest in the last 70,000 years, and the Hatepe eruption around 1,800 years ago was among the most violent of the past two millennia. Unrest in 2022 led to the first-ever raise of its alert level.

Last eruption

260

Historical eruption

Summit

0.8 km

Caldera · Rhyolite

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (0.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

TimeMagnitudeEpicenter / PlaceDistance
8h agoM3.320 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand41 km
1d agoM2.335 km south of Taupo, New Zealand37 km
1d agoM3.625 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand31 km
1d agoM2.125 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand49 km
2d agoM2.630 km north of Turangi, New Zealand16 km
2d agoM2.015 km north of Taupo, New Zealand28 km
2d agoM2.935 km south-east of Te Kuiti, New Zealand43 km
2d agoM2.015 km west of Taupo, New Zealand6.8 km
3d agoM2.630 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand38 km
4d agoM2.910 km south of Turangi, New Zealand37 km
4d agoM2.725 km west of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
4d agoM1.7Within 5 km of Taupo, New Zealand21 km
4d agoM2.0Within 5 km of Taupo, New Zealand20 km
5d agoM2.425 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand50 km
5d agoM2.530 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand45 km
5d agoM1.65 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand19 km
5d agoM1.740 km west of Taupo, New Zealand34 km
5d agoM1.85 km north of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
5d agoM1.620 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
6d agoM2.440 km east of Turangi, New Zealand48 km
6d agoM1.920 km north of Turangi, New Zealand7.4 km
6d agoM1.65 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
6d agoM1.615 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand41 km
6d agoM2.115 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand48 km
6d agoM2.040 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand47 km
6d agoM1.625 km north of Turangi, New Zealand15 km
7d agoM1.815 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand40 km
7d agoM1.715 km north of Taumarunui, New Zealand49 km
8d agoM2.010 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand33 km
8d agoM1.830 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand39 km
8d agoM1.5Within 5 km of Turangi, New Zealand28 km
9d agoM0.7Within 5 km of Turangi, New Zealand29 km
9d agoM1.820 km east of Turangi, New Zealand28 km
9d agoM2.210 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand44 km
10d agoM2.120 km north of Taupo, New Zealand32 km
10d agoM2.335 km west of Taupo, New Zealand26 km
10d agoM1.620 km west of Taupo, New Zealand14 km
10d agoM1.85 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand18 km
10d agoM1.410 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand34 km
10d agoM1.810 km west of Turangi, New Zealand30 km
11d agoM1.75 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand49 km
11d agoM2.825 km west of Taupo, New Zealand17 km
11d agoM1.425 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand47 km
11d agoM2.320 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand39 km
11d agoM2.020 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand50 km
12d agoM1.310 km south of Turangi, New Zealand38 km
12d agoM2.125 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand32 km
12d agoM0.35 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
12d agoM1.920 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand49 km
13d agoM1.725 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
14d agoM1.65 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
15d agoM5.730 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand42 km
15d agoM1.020 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand47 km
15d agoM2.510 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand49 km
15d agoM1.625 km north of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM2.125 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM1.825 km north of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM2.225 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM2.125 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM1.925 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand45 km
15d agoM1.925 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand46 km
15d agoM2.125 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand32 km
16d agoM1.815 km east of Turangi, New Zealand24 km
16d agoM1.720 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
16d agoM1.825 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand35 km
17d agoM2.930 km east of Turangi, New Zealand40 km
17d agoM1.730 km east of Turangi, New Zealand40 km
17d agoM2.630 km west of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
17d agoM2.425 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand42 km
17d agoM2.435 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand31 km
17d agoM1.615 km north-east of Turangi, New Zealand14 km
17d agoM2.25 km west of Taupo, New Zealand11 km
18d agoM1.535 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand44 km
18d agoM2.015 km west of Taupo, New Zealand9.8 km
18d agoM2.1Within 5 km of Taupo, New Zealand19 km
18d agoM2.510 km west of Taupo, New Zealand12 km
18d agoM1.415 km north-east of Turangi, New Zealand12 km
18d agoM1.420 km north of Taupo, New Zealand37 km
19d agoM1.920 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand21 km
19d agoM1.625 km east of Turangi, New Zealand25 km
19d agoM1.930 km east of Turangi, New Zealand35 km
20d agoM1.320 km south of Turangi, New Zealand47 km
20d agoM2.430 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand40 km
20d agoM1.320 km east of Turangi, New Zealand26 km
20d agoM2.525 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand39 km
20d agoM1.810 km south of Taupo, New Zealand18 km
20d agoM2.115 km west of Taupo, New Zealand12 km
20d agoM2.110 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand30 km
20d agoM2.425 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand37 km
20d agoM2.820 km south of Taupo, New Zealand18 km
21d agoM1.810 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand33 km
21d agoM2.120 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand40 km
21d agoM1.840 km west of Taupo, New Zealand33 km
21d agoM1.85 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand26 km
21d agoM2.15 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
21d agoM2.05 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
21d agoM1.95 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
21d agoM2.85 km north of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
21d agoM2.510 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand37 km
21d agoM1.85 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
21d agoM1.85 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM1.915 km west of Taupo, New Zealand9.5 km
22d agoM1.95 km north of Taupo, New Zealand23 km
22d agoM0.45 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand32 km
22d agoM2.330 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand26 km
22d agoM2.25 km north of Taupo, New Zealand23 km
22d agoM2.330 km south-west of Tokoroa, New Zealand43 km
22d agoM2.15 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM2.25 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM2.25 km north of Taupo, New Zealand23 km
22d agoM2.15 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM2.25 km north of Taupo, New Zealand25 km
22d agoM2.15 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM2.310 km north of Taupo, New Zealand26 km
22d agoM2.45 km north of Taupo, New Zealand21 km
22d agoM2.75 km north of Taupo, New Zealand23 km
22d agoM2.45 km north of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
22d agoM2.35 km north of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
22d agoM3.05 km north of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
22d agoM1.820 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand25 km
22d agoM1.65 km north of Taupo, New Zealand24 km
23d agoM1.120 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand43 km
23d agoM2.730 km south of Taupo, New Zealand35 km
23d agoM2.335 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand26 km
24d agoM1.910 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand5.4 km
24d agoM1.915 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand5.1 km
24d agoM2.535 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand41 km
24d agoM1.220 km north of Turangi, New Zealand10 km
25d agoM1.910 km north of Taupo, New Zealand26 km
25d agoM1.95 km north of Taupo, New Zealand20 km
25d agoM1.710 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand22 km
25d agoM2.1Within 5 km of Taupo, New Zealand21 km
25d agoM2.1Within 5 km of Taupo, New Zealand18 km
25d agoM2.020 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand34 km
25d agoM1.615 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand29 km
25d agoM2.215 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand8.7 km
25d agoM1.310 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand5.3 km
25d agoM1.75 km north of Taupo, New Zealand25 km
25d agoM2.015 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand35 km
25d agoM1.515 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand37 km
25d agoM2.030 km north of Turangi, New Zealand17 km
26d agoM2.110 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand38 km
26d agoM1.830 km north of Turangi, New Zealand19 km
26d agoM2.130 km south of Tokoroa, New Zealand34 km
27d agoM2.115 km south of Turangi, New Zealand41 km
27d agoM1.215 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand12 km
28d agoM3.620 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand40 km
28d agoM2.120 km north of Taupo, New Zealand36 km
28d agoM0.915 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand44 km
28d agoM1.75 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand25 km
28d agoM1.510 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand31 km
28d agoM1.710 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand33 km
29d agoM1.915 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand37 km
29d agoM2.835 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand30 km
30d agoM1.720 km north-west of Turangi, New Zealand19 km
30d agoM1.925 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand37 km
30d agoM1.925 km south-east of Taupo, New Zealand40 km
30d agoM1.025 km north-west of Turangi, New Zealand28 km
30d agoM1.530 km south-east of Tokoroa, New Zealand47 km
31d agoM1.615 km north of Turangi, New Zealand15 km
31d agoM1.920 km south-west of Taupo, New Zealand3.7 km
32d agoM0.815 km west of Turangi, New Zealand41 km
32d agoM2.020 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand19 km
32d agoM1.410 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand32 km
32d agoM4.015 km west of Taupo, New Zealand9.8 km
32d agoM3.815 km west of Taupo, New Zealand11 km
32d agoM1.815 km north-east of Taupo, New Zealand34 km
33d agoM1.915 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand25 km
34d agoM1.715 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand44 km
34d agoM1.310 km north-west of Turangi, New Zealand21 km
34d agoM2.225 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand31 km
34d agoM2.15 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand16 km
35d agoM2.020 km west of Taupo, New Zealand6.3 km
35d agoM0.710 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand42 km
35d agoM1.720 km west of Taupo, New Zealand13 km
35d agoM1.930 km north-west of Taupo, New Zealand26 km
35d agoM2.025 km north-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand32 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Caldera

Taupo is an active Caldera formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Rhyolite.

Edifice TypeCaldera
Major rockRhyolite
TectonicsSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcTaupo Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #241070

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryNew Zealand
Crater Coordinates-38.781°, 175.893°
Summit0.8 km
SubregionTaupo Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#241070)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →
Seismic ObservatoryGeoNet
GeoNet (GNS Science & EQC)
Official Portal
ICAO Aviation Ash Center
Wellington VAAC (MetService)
Wellington, New Zealand
VAAC Advisory Desk
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile

North Island & Hikurangi Subduction

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for North Island & Hikurangi Subduction.

Open Regional Hub

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Taupo recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 260.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile