{{Short description|Tourist attraction in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}

[[File:Huka Prawn Park's mascot Shawn the Prawn.jpg|thumb|Huka Prawn Park's mascot Shawn the Prawn]] The '''Huka Prawn Park''' is an [[aquaculture]] venture and tourist attraction located 10 minutes north of [[Taupō]]. It was started in 1987, and is currently New Zealand's only [[prawn farm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hukaprawnpark.co.nz/history|publisher=Huka Prawn Park|title=History|date=|access-date=17 February 2011|archive-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173644/http://www.hukaprawnpark.co.nz/history|url-status=dead}}</ref> It can produce over 30 tonnes of prawns a year.<ref name=Lund1995>{{cite journal |last1= Lund |first1= John W.|last2= Klein|first2= R|year= 1995|title= Prawn Park - Taupo New Zealand|journal= GHC Bulletin|url= http://www.africanecosystems.co.za/Downloads/Shrimp%20Farm.pdf|accessdate= 2011-02-17}}</ref>

The Huka Prawn Park grows giant Malaysian river prawns ([[Macrobrachium rosenbergii]]), by using [[Geothermal energy|geothermal]] waste water from the [[Contact Energy]] [[Wairakei]] geothermal powerstation. It uses 250 tonnes per hour in summer and 400 tonnes in winter of over 90&nbsp;°C geothermal waste waster in a system of heat exchangers to heat water from the [[Waikato River]] to rear the prawns.<ref name=Lund1995/> [[File:Row Boats at Huka Prawn Park.jpg|thumb|People fish for prawns from a row boat at Huka Prawn Park]] The park offers activities such as prawn fishing, guided tours of the park, and an activity loop with a number of interactive water features.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hukaprawnpark.co.nz/park-map|title=Park Map {{!}} Huka Prawn Park, Taupo, New Zealand|website=www.hukaprawnpark.co.nz|access-date=2017-02-20|archive-date=22 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222052820/http://www.hukaprawnpark.co.nz/park-map|url-status=dead}}</ref> Visitors can make use of stand up paddle boards, pedal boats and an aqua trike to pedal over a pond full of prawns. Huka Prawn Park has become one of the major draw-cards for tourists to the Taupō region. It now has more than 75,000 visitors a year, with a large number of Chinese among the international visitors.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.greatlaketaupo.com/new-zealand/product/?product=huka-prawn-park |publisher= Great Lake Taupo |title= Huka Prawn Park |date= |access-date= 17 February 2011 |archive-date= 31 December 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101231171312/http://www.greatlaketaupo.com/new-zealand/product/?product=huka-prawn-park |url-status= dead }}</ref> It uses a mascot, Shawn the Prawn, for marketing purposes. Shawn the Prawn often visits his guest on school and public holidays.[[File:People fish for prawns on a bridge at Huka Prawn Park.jpg|thumb|People fish for prawns on a bridge at Huka Prawn Park]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Waikato]] [[Category:Aquaculture]] [[Category:Taupō District]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Waikato]]

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