population from Taupo north...wouldnt try my luck any further south of BOP ...thats not to say there arent good buys...just not my area ...heard of beach front in Tairua where there are 3 looking to buy but no properties for sale...thats ocean beach...once again very few houses on the beach, but close to the main population of Auckland and Waikato...sure you go one road back and its a disaster...same as the Mount and any other beach...of course the odd on will come up where the owner needs to sell but the buyers will be there...where I did own a beach property, ether side of me 3 each way,the properties were owned by families and had been in the families over 25 years..just dont come on the market...that is the areas you need to be ...if you can get in...