Taupo's right in the middle of the North Island - a beautiful little tourist town on the edge of a big volcanic lake.
It's a small town and minor racetrack, but because of the volcanic soil it has amazing drainage, so good horses have raced there over the last few springs - Keep The Peace, Military Move, He's Remarkable, and now Recite and Bounding! This should be a great race. I can't wait!
There are some other interesting 3yos running there today too - Dunoon is rated pretty highly by Roger James, and El Roca has apparently looked good in trials.
Te Awamutu's another small town - not far from Hamilton (where the racetrack is Te Rapa). Must admit I've never actually been to Te Awamutu.