McDonald's Taupo

Fast food restaurant · Taupo

McDonald's Taupo

Fast food restaurant · Taupo

4

CNR ROBERTS & RUAPEHU STREETS, 48 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand

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McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by XPinger (Chris Sutton)
McDonald's Taupo by bgabel
McDonald's Taupo by mlinksva/mike linksvayer
McDonald's Taupo by bgabel
McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by Aero Icarus
McDonald's Taupo by Aero Icarus
McDonald's Taupo by mlinksva/mike linksvayer
McDonald's Taupo by mlinksva/mike linksvayer
McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by XPinger (Chris Sutton)
McDonald's Taupo by aERO ICARUS
McDonald's Taupo by XPinger (Chris Sutton)
McDonald's Taupo by bgabel
McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by Aero Icarus
McDonald's Taupo by dacubsrule (Atlas Obscura User)
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null
McDonald's Taupo by null

Highlights

Dine inside a vintage DC-3 airplane, a unique experience  

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CNR ROBERTS & RUAPEHU STREETS, 48 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand Get directions

mcdonalds.co.nz

NZ$10–20 · Menu

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CNR ROBERTS & RUAPEHU STREETS, 48 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand Get directions

+64 7 378 8679
mcdonalds.co.nz
Mcdztpo

NZ$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Oct 8, 2025

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@atlasobscura

8 Restaurants Hiding in Refurbished Planes and Trains

"Much like the country’s capital, Wellington, has embraced the “world’s coolest little capital” title bestowed upon it by Lonely Planet in 2013, many other New Zealand attractions now proudly declare themselves “the world’s coolest.” That’s at least the claim the city of Taupo makes about its local McDonald’s. Its rationale? The 20-seater airplane, decorated in the company’s signature red, right outside its main building. The Douglas DC-3’s history begins with its construction in 1943. After serving as a passenger plane, then a top dressing plane (crop duster, for the American audience), it was decommissioned in 1984 and became a promotional feature in the parking lot of Taupo’s Aeroplane Car Company, a car dealership. When the dealership’s location was purchased in 1990 to be turned into a franchise of McDonald’s (known locally as “Maccas”), the airplane was included. Nowadays, the plane’s interior features additional seating for diners, as well as the original cockpit, protected yet visible behind a clear screen. If you look around, you can find a timeline of the airplane’s life as well as a list of its pilots." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/best-restaurants-inside-airplanes-trains
View Postcard for McDonald's Taupo
@atlasobscura

Gastro Obscura's Top 20 Places to Eat and Drink

"Much like the country’s capital, Wellington, has embraced the “world’s coolest little capital” title bestowed upon it by Lonely Planet in 2013, many other New Zealand attractions now proudly declare themselves “the world’s coolest.” That’s at least the claim the city of Taupo makes about its local McDonald’s. Its rationale? The 20-seater airplane, decorated in the company’s signature red, right outside its main building. The Douglas DC-3’s history begins with its construction in 1943. After serving as a passenger plane, then a top dressing plane (crop duster, for the American audience), it was decommissioned in 1984 and became a promotional feature in the parking lot of Taupo’s Aeroplane Car Company, a car dealership. When the dealership’s location was purchased in 1990 to be turned into a franchise of McDonald’s (known locally as “Maccas”), the airplane was included. Nowadays, the plane’s interior features additional seating for diners, as well as the original cockpit, protected yet visible behind a clear screen. If you look around, you can find a timeline of the airplane’s life as well as a list of its pilots." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/cool-restaurants-bars
View Postcard for McDonald's Taupo
@atlasobscura

25 Places Where Planes Are Right at Home on the Ground

"Much like the country’s capital, Wellington, has embraced the “world’s coolest little capital” title bestowed upon it by Lonely Planet in 2013, many other New Zealand attractions now proudly declare themselves “the world’s coolest.” That’s at least the claim the city of Taupo makes about its local McDonald’s. Its rationale? The 20-seater airplane, decorated in the company’s signature red, right outside its main building. The Douglas DC-3’s history begins with its construction in 1943. After serving as a passenger plane, then a top dressing plane (crop duster, for the American audience), it was decommissioned in 1984 and became a promotional feature in the parking lot of Taupo’s Aeroplane Car Company, a car dealership. When the dealership’s location was purchased in 1990 to be turned into a franchise of McDonald’s (known locally as “Maccas”), the airplane was included. Nowadays, the plane’s interior features additional seating for diners, as well as the original cockpit, protected yet visible behind a clear screen. If you look around, you can find a timeline of the airplane’s life as well as a list of its pilots." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/repurposed-airplanes
View Postcard for McDonald's Taupo
@atlasobscura

"Eat your Big Mac in a DC-3."

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/airplane-mcdonalds-taupo
Gastro Obscura's Top 20 Places to Eat and Drink
View Postcard for McDonald's Taupo

г๏ ɭคภ๔

Google
I stopped in at the Taupō McDonald’s and had a great experience overall. The location is convenient, right in town, and it offers plenty of seating both inside and outside. The restaurant was clean and tidy, with tables being cleared quickly, which made it easy to relax and enjoy my meal. The service was friendly and efficient, with staff greeting customers warmly and handling orders quickly even though it was quite busy. My food came out fresh, hot, and exactly as ordered, which isn’t always guaranteed at fast-food places, so I really appreciated that. The big bonus here is the view – sitting near the windows or outside gives you a nice outlook, making it more enjoyable than a typical quick stop. It adds a local touch to what you’d expect from McDonald’s anywhere else. Overall, a reliable spot for a quick meal in Taupō: clean, friendly staff, fast service, and better views than you’d expect from a fast-food chain.

Alyssa Felizardo

Google
One of the coolest maccas I ever been. The airplane display really attracts a lot of tourists. The service was fast and plenty of kiosk so you no longer need to wait. The service crew were all kind and polite. The toilet was well maintained and cleaned. Plenty of tables and parking.

Nesh khalifa

Google
The food was nice here. Food came very fast. Customer service was nice. It's get very busy. Can sit inside the plane and eat. Nice and big kids playground.

Brad Whynn

Google
Awesome to see an old DC-3. Would've liked to see more decor inside of it tho. Kinda boring interior but still really cool to dine in an old DC-3

Lotus Tower

Google
Taupo McDonald's is a game-changer! The decommissioned DC-3 aircraft turned dining area is a stroke of genius. The view from the plane's windows is breathtaking, and the nostalgic charm is undeniable. It's a unique spot that sets it apart from your average fast food joint. Taupo McDonald's is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a quirky experience in New Zealand. Its unique blend of history, nostalgia, and good food makes it a standout."

Loga_KL

Google
McDonald’s Taupo The Coolest McDonald’s on Earth 🍔✈️❄️ So I pulled up at the McDonald’s in Taupo, and let me tell you this isn’t your average Big Mac and fries stop. Food wise,yeah standard Macca’s taste,nothing new there (breakfast combo did its job though ✅). But the view? Bruhhh. Sitting there in winter,munching hash browns while overlooking Lake Taupo with Mt Ruapehu snow capped in the background… That’s like fine dining Macca’s edition. Michelin star who? 😂 And of course the plane.. Yup a legit airplane parked on top of the restaurant. You can actually climb in and eat inside from 9am–4pm. I mean only in Taupo you get to say, “Yeah,I had my McChicken 30,000 feet below cruising altitude.” But honestly the real winner for me wasn’t the plane. It was that mountain view straight from the restaurant fries in one hand,world class scenery in front of me. That’s why this ain’t just McDonald’s… it’s the coolest McDonald’s on earth. ❄️🍔 Logan was here at the Coolest McDonald’s on Earth! 🍟✈️⛰️

Isabella Pitt

Google
I wouldn’t normally review a maccas but this one is pretty friggin cool. Food was surprisingly better than usual too - really good hash browns

John Huân Vũ

Google
👍 Like my review! It's not everyday that you can go to a McDonald's and see a refitted plane making this place iconic. I didn't want to go to McDonald's on my vacation but I had a reason to this time and it was worth the memories. It was really cool that people can go and see the plane and learn its history. The staff and atmosphere was amazing. The Kiwiburger (limited edition) was a treat. I highly recommend to friends and family!
google avatar

Doug L.

Yelp
We came just to see the airplane during our stop in Taupo. We agreed with their sign that it was the coolest McDonald's we've visited. The plane was well maintained and by the cockpit we read about its history and how it got there. This McDonald's can deliver your order to your table except if you want to sit inside the plane. You are on your own to carry it up. Based on the width of the fuselage there was only about 10 tables that could seat up to two persons only.
google avatar

Dave H.

Yelp
Awesome DC-3 airplane dining. The place is so busy! Service was good, no complaints. Food was as expected, tastes good, great fries! A bit noisier than usual but the location was packed so nothing unexpected. Visiting from the US and this was a must see Maccas! Thanks for the experience!

Paulo Antonio P.

Yelp
I know this is just McDonald's and expectations for good service aren't even high, however they were able to disappoint even more. For a customer expecting to see the coolest branch in the world, you would expect that they would at least have a good set of standards for the branch staff when serving people. Granted we weren't in the right, but even normal people are talked to nicely and aren't embarrassed in front of the entire public. We were treated harshly, hastly, poorly and were threatened by the staff of no service in a loud voice. Imagine being a tourist excited to see something never seen before and was blasted on spotlight, it ruined our entire day today. We wanted to talk to the person and get some clarification also an apology, but the person couldn't be seen after. I hope management would do something about it, yes it's just McDonald's, yes we wrong but we never argued with it. Nevertheless, you serve people so show some kindness.
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Gongbi C.

Yelp
Tremendous experience in the coolest McDonald's in the world The food is average level as a McDonald's but there is much more fun to eat in the airplane
google avatar

Janice T.

Yelp
I wasn't really coming for the food since I'm an American. I came mainly for the novelty that they made a McDouglas airplane into seating and incorporated into the McDonald's. HOWEVER.. they do have some differences in the menu here versus the states. I had a Banoffee milkshake, which I think is banana and toffee. It was pretty good. I say go and check it out. The only thing is to sit on the plane you have to enter the kiddie area and it was hot as heck in there. They actually have kiosks with touch screens and credit card readers so you can pay ahead or you can pay at the counter. Come on, U.S.!! We need to get with the times and get those touch screen order kiosks in play!!

Berkeley G.

Yelp
I really lov the plane, this may have changed my life forever, thank you mcdoanlds for this amamzing experience!
google avatar

Belle A.

Yelp
Menu is nothing exciting! C'mon, it's fast food! But it's in an old retired plane! Worth checking out!

Joseph D.

Yelp
TLDR: If you want a chance to eat at a unique McDonald's, here's your chance. I never would have guessed Taupo would have such a unique McDonald's when I visited New Zealand, but sure enough, if you see a plane sticking out of a building, you know you're at the right place. Apparently, the plane sticking out was actually used in the 1960s before being attached to this building. See here: https://www.rd.com/culture/coolest-mcdonalds-locations/. As far as the food and service goes, this particular McDonald's is actually really good, especially when compared to the McDonald's in the United States. I'd go as far as saying that the service here was comparable to what you'd expect at Chick Fil-A (for any readers who've dined there before). Since this is a New Zealand based McDonald's, there are some country specific menu items, including the Kiwi Angus Burger and the steak and cheese pie. I really recommend the Kiwi Angus Burger, which is your typical burger that adds on a egg and sliced beet root and swaps in a chili chive bun. If you've never had it before, I think you'll find it quite delicious. Another nice thing about this McDonald's is that it is open 24/7, which is great since many of the business around Taupo close early, which does limit your food options later in the night. Overall, while it can be thought of just being another McDonald's, this location is fairly unique and worth at least dropping by for a quick visit.