Doughboats Lake Taupo is a family-owned and operated business, run by the Kells - James, Laurel, and Sophia. They have been living in Taupo since January 2017 and have fallen in love with the area. James, originally from Auckland, met and married Laurel, an American from North Carolina.

Taupo is the only place in New Zealand that felt like home to them, which led them to leave Auckland and settle down here. Their journey towards Doughboats began after a life-changing incident on New Year's Eve 2018 when James suffered severe burns in a bonfire accident. Prior to this, they had discussed two business ideas - a paleo donut business and a rental boat business on Lake Taupo.

While James was in the hospital, fate intervened when he encountered an ad for donut boats on Facebook, sparking the idea for Doughboats. Driven by James' entrepreneurial spirit and Laurel's support, they immediately embraced the opportunity and worked tirelessly to bring donut boats to New Zealand. Today, Doughboats offers a fun and unique activity on Lake Taupo, and the Kells are excited to share it with visitors.

Whether you're a local or a tourist, come and experience the joy of Doughboats and make unforgettable memories on the beautiful lake