Huka Prawn Park, Prawn farm and tourist attraction in Taupō, New Zealand

Huka Prawn Park is a prawn farm and tourist destination beside the river in Taupō. The facility combines food production with leisure activities such as guided tours, paddle boats, and interactive water experiences.

Huka Prawn Park began in 1987 and is now New Zealand's only prawn farm, producing over 30 tonnes a year. It rears giant Malaysian river prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in water heated by geothermal waste water piped from the Contact Energy Wairakei power station, using heat exchangers to warm Waikato River water.

The mascot Shawn the Prawn greets guests during school and public holidays, and Chinese visitors form a large share of the international crowd. The prawns raised here are giant Malaysian river prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and the park has become one of the Taupō region's main draw-cards.

The park is about 10 minutes north of Taupō. Prawn fishing, guided tours and the interactive water activity loop are the main things to do; stand-up paddle boards, pedal boats and an aqua trike let you cross a pond full of prawns. Shawn the Prawn appears on school and public holidays.

The farm heats Waikato River water with geothermal waste water from the Contact Energy Wairakei power station, using heat exchangers and 250 tonnes per hour in summer, 400 in winter, at over 90 °C. The water is then used to rear giant Malaysian river prawns.