Police are treating the death of a man, whose body was found lying on a rural road near Taupo this morning, as unexplained.

The man, believed to be in his 60s, was found at about 8.45am on Maroa Road in Oruanui off State Highway 1 by a member of the public.

Maroa Road off State Highway 1 near Taupo.

Maroa Road is a rural gravel road leading from SH1 north of Taupo near the Kinleith Forest.

A vehicle was located a few hundred metres away parked on SH1 near the intersection with Maroa Road.

At first police thought it beleonged to the dead man, but have since discovered the van appears to have broken down.

The man in his 60s was found a few hundred metres from the vehicle lying on the side of Maroa Road. A post mortem will be carried out tomorrow to establish the cause of his death.

Meanwhile police are keeping an open mind and are treating the man's death as unexplained.

Initial enquiries lead police to believe the man was travelling along that stretch of SH1 towards Taupo between approximately 5pm and 6.30pm last night.

Anyone who the white Hyundai van or has any other information that may be relevant is asked to contact Taupo Police on 07 378 6060.

No further details about the man will be released until his next of kin have been notified and he has been formally identified.