1 / 3Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
đ Rotorua, Waikato
Best for kids who will walk and gawp. Three self-guided loops past the orange-rimmed Champagne Pool, bubbling mud and lurid green lakes, with the Lady Knox Geyser set off each morning. Shortest loop takes prams.
A wonderful delight for the family! We started the day with the Lady Knox geyser show that erupts daily at 10:15... Why is it so precise? It is a naturally occuring geyser, but they induce it at the specific time both for the spectacle and as a homage to how it was discovered in the first place! The walk around the geothermal vents and pools was awesome. Be prepared to be smelling sulphur for a while! This is a place to visit if you are in awe of the wonders of the natural world!
đ Family Action Verdict
Brilliant for primary-age kids who love a bit of gross with their geology, and the shortest loop is flat enough for a pram. Do the full circuit only if your crew can manage a couple of hours on their feet. Arrive early to catch the morning geyser first, then walk the pools, and do not skip it in drizzle, because the steam looks better in the wet.
âšī¸ What to Know Before You Go
đŦ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews â8,632 Google reviews
Chris Lee
âA wonderful delight for the family! We started the day with the Lady Knox geyser show that erupts daily at 10:15... Why is it so precise? It is a naturally occuring geyser, but they induce it at the specific time both for the spectacle and as a homage to how it was discovered in the first place! The walk around the geothermal vents and pools was awesome. Be prepared to be smelling sulphur for a while! This is a place to visit if you are in awe of the wonders of the natural world!â
Ben Farmer
âTotally worth it. You can do all stretches of every trail here in a couple hours. I did not make it early enough in the day to see the geyser, but the park entrance fee was still well worth it personally. This is all pretty easy walking, and while self-guided for the trails, the signs are very informative.â
I Love Summer
âWatched the Lady Knox Geyser erupt and hiked through Wai-O-Tapu today. The rain made the scenery even more stunning, with the steam, vibrant colors, and mist creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The staff is absolutely amazing! High recommended this place.â
Nathaly Winkler
âA truly impressive place and well worth a visit. The walk through the geothermal landscape is easy to follow and offers stunning views of colourful pools, steaming vents, and unique volcanic features. A really fascinating experience.â
Reviews from Google
Overview
Wai-O-Tapu, about half an hour south of Rotorua, is the most colourful of the region's geothermal parks: the Champagne Pool steams behind an orange crust, the Devil's Bath glows a lurid green and mud plops away in craters beside the path. Three overlapping loops of one, two and three kilometres are well signed, with only a gentle rise and a few sets of stairs on the longer ones. Each morning staff trigger the Lady Knox Geyser for a ten metre eruption at a separate site a short drive away.
