Taupō
Taupō – opening early 2026
Beautifully designed, safe and secure early childhood centre designed to create a family-like atmosphere with three rooms facing north so they are sunny and warm. Heat pumps ensure it’s cosy during winter.
Just like a home, our kitchen is at the heart of our centre. With barstools around our kitchen bench, parents and visitors can stop and chat to our chef and enjoy a coffee.
Social interaction and educational development is very focused within our rooms with teachers experienced in that specific age group.
Bordered by a nature reserve but located within a commercial street in close proximity to major roads, our location is ideal for families living or working nearby or commuting from other areas. Dedicated easy parking right outside makes drop off and pick up easy.
Pre-enrol now to guarantee a space and to get a 20% discount on our normal fees for your first 8 weeks.
Please fill out the form below
Fees include nappies, morning tea, a hot cooked lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack
Large natural outdoor areas with bike paths, natural grass and trees to explore and play
Calm, spacious and light filled rooms and large covered decks.
Separate sleep room’s opening onto the deck for our babies and toddlers
0 - 2 YEARS
15 children
Our babies room is an open, welcoming space with its own safe outdoor space with play equipment suitable for our youngest Tamariki. A beautiful separate sleep room opens onto a deck and each baby has their own full size cot. To ensure a high level of care we have one teacher to every four babies during the busiest times of the day.
2 - 3.5 YEARS
30 children
This beautiful light-filled space shares a huge natural playground with our older children. The equipment is designed to keep the younger children safe whilst providing a range of activities and close contact with nature. After lunch younger children can have a nap on comfy stretcher beds in their own sleep room that includes windows opening onto the deck.
3.5 - 5 YEARS
40 children
Recognizing their growing independence our older children have the luxury of huge indoor and outdoor spaces. The playground includes a bike path, water play fountain (summer), sandpit and two separate climbing equipment areas as well as open grassy spaces to explore. Kaiako in this room are specialized in the needs of pre school children and will encourage them to participate in extra activities as part of school readiness. Families also have the option of providing their own lunchbox on Fridays as another way of developing school readiness.
Taupō Leadership team
Elizabeth Burton
Owner + Centre Director
I am the mum of two amazing kids and Taupo has been our home for all of their lives and most of mine. I was raised on a farm in Taumarunui and I believe my love of the outdoors is a direct result of that active lifestyle. We enjoy walking/running, exploring mountain bike trails and baking together. A personal highlight of my life was completing the 2005 Ironman New Zealand – an experience I’ll never forget.
Earlier in my life after completing a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Marketing & Tourism, I held sales and marketing roles at both Wairakei Resort and the Grand Chateau at Mt Ruapehu. I then co-owned and managed Huka Falls Resort, helping develop it into a sought-after destination for weddings, conferences, events, and group getaways. During this time, I was also a co-owner of a business in the catering sector. Most recently, I worked as an Emerging Client Manager with BFA, a Taupo accountancy firm.
My passion for early learning spaces is grounded in creating environments where children feel safe, engaged, and connected—especially to the natural world around them.
Pre-enrol now!
CONTACT SAPLINGS Taupō
Located at 11 Keehan Drive, Taupō, our location offers easy access from main routes and is minutes away from the town centre, making drop-off and pick-up simple.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Saplings Taupō:
Monday to Friday, 7.30am – 5.30pm
Weekends and Public Holidays – closed
11 Keehan Drive, Taupo