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Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland is a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of geothermal activity.
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All prices are in New Zealand Currency (NZD). All children...
- Features
Sculptured out of volcanic activity and thousands of years...
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Book a shuttle service with Rotorua i-SITE to Waiotapu...
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201 Waiotapu Loop Road, RD 3, Rotorua 3073, NZ Get...
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We take pride in our pro-active approach to the preservation...
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201 Waiotapu Loop Road, RD 3, Rotorua 3073, NZ Get...
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- Orakei Korako Geothermal Attraction - "The Hidden Valley" For me there is no question. Orakei Korako is my absolute favorite geothermal park in the Rotorua - Taupo region!
- Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland. Wai-O-Tapu is the most famous of the Rotorua volcanic Parks mostly because of the Champagne pool. Rotorua to Wai-O-Tapu - 30min.
- Waimangu volcanic valley. Waimangu was a pleasant surprise. For those looking for an enjoyable hike in Nature with well explained geothermal features along the way, this is a great option.
- Te Puia. Te Puia's main Geothermal attraction is the Pohutu geyser. But you can also enjoy a kiwi bird house, a Maori show and a lot of Maori arts. Rotorua to Te Puia - 5min.
Mar 6, 2024 · Enjoyed by many, Wai-o-tapu is the most diverse park of geothermal activity, with coloured water, bubbling mud and a geyser. While there, be sure to check out the Champagne Pool, Lady Knox Geyser, and numerous distinctive volcanic features.
- Why Visit The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland?
- Planning Tips – Wai-O-Tapu Rotorua New Zealand
- Walking Paths of Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park – Map
- Wai-O-Tapu Geyser & Mud Pools – Lady Knox
- Wai-O-Tapu Artist’S Palette
- The Champagne Pool – Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Valley’s Famous Feature
- Walking Along The Primrose Terrace
- Other Geothermal Features of The Wai-O-Tapu Wonderland
- Wai-O-Tapu Or Te Puia Geyser – Rotorua
Geothermal Rotorua
The region of Rotorua-Taupo is an active geothermal wonderland. It is home to many thermal valleys surrounded by lakes and forest. They all offer different features and incredible colors, as if painted by artists. It is also home to a rich Maori culture. The combination makes it a wonderful destination for your New Zealand road trip. But with so many options which geothermal parks should you choose to visit? Wai-O-Tapu is definitively in my top 3 Rotorua geothermal parks.
Why choose the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park over the others?
The reason I love Wai-O-Tapu (which means “sacred waters” in the Maori language) and rank it high are: 1. The intense unicolor features. The other parks tend to have multicolor features but here you have a few places with just a single intense (incredible) color. 2. The famous Champagne Pool, even though it is one of themost famous places in New Zealand North Island, does not disappoint (in my opinion). 3. The first loop is a very easy walk accessible to many
Geology of Wai-O-Tapu
You have access to only a small portion of the 18m2 of the geothermal area. It is located in the Northern part of the Reporea caldera. It has the largest remaining sinter terrace in NZ (since the Pink and white terraces disappeared). After the planning tips you can see more photos. Enjoy the beauty without the smell!
How to get to Wai-O-Tapu
1. Located on North Island, not far from Rotorua 2. Rotorua to Wai-O-Tapu = 30min drive 3. Taupo to Wai-O-Tapu = 40min drive 4. Auckland to Wai-O-Tapu = 3h15 drive 5. From Rotorua: south on SH 5 towards Taupo for 27km (20 mins drive) until you reach the Waiotapu Tavern. Turn left opposite the tavern and travel 2km 6. Wai-O-Tapu is included in my eBooks, to help you plan an unforgettable road trip:
Wai-O-Tapu Tour
But if you don’t want to drive, you can find group tours that include a visit to Wai-o-tapu departing from Rotorua – Check out options & Book
Visiting Wai-O-Tapu – Tips
1. For price, opening times and facilities check out the Wai-O-Tapu website 2. You can pre-purchase an entry ticket in your own currency 3. Opening Hours – Summer 8:30 am to 6pm / Winter 8:30 am to 5pm 4. The geyser Lady Knox show starts at 10:15am. 5. Plan 1 to 2 hours depending on which walking loops you choose 6. The paths are well maintained. The main loop is easy, the others do have stairs 7. Toilets near the entrance 8. Café with light meals at the visitor center 9. Outside of the park...
What to see – Wai-O-Tapu Map
Below is the map of the park displayed at the entrance. As you can see there are 3 loops you can take – 1. The first loop includes Champagne pool and artist’s palette. It takes 30min – I think it is the most interesting one. 2. If you add loop 2 that takes you along the Primrose Terrace, the whole tour will take 40minutes 3. And if you choose to combine all 3 loops all the way to Lake Ngakoro, it will take you 1h30 Those timing are not sufficient if you take thousands of pictures like me though
Safety on the Wai-O-Tapu walking paths
The trails are well maintained. The first loop is easy. However if you head to loop 2 and 3 you will have some stairs. For your safety, please stick to the walkways and stay behind the barriers. Make sure your kids don’t run around. This is a volcanic area! Thermal pools can reach over 100°C (210°F) and what look likes solid ground may only be a thin crust. And wear sturdy and closed footwear.
Outside of the geothermal park, you can observe other features: some fun mud pools and the Lady Knox Geyser.
One of the first colorful features you will see as you walk around the geothermal valley is the Artist’s palette (point 5). It is a large open area with a very thin crust creating a cream terrace. Water from the Champagne pool overflows on it. The different stains of colors are due to mineral deposits: the groundwater is superheated by old magma. I...
The highlight of Wai-o-tapu geothermal wonderland is the champagne pool and it is not hard to understand why. It is a large pool of steaming water: 65m in diameter and around 62m in depth. And along its round edge a deposit of deep orange color has built up. It formed 700 to 900 years old as a result of an hydrothermal eruption. So it is quite youn...
Loop 2 will let you walk all along the Primrose terrace. It is made my silica deposits moved by water overflowing from the Champagne pool. It is so delicate, it looks like lace, don’t you think?
Wai-O-Tapu has many other geothermal features apart from the champagne pool. Some are bright yellow or fluorescent green while other are grayish but with interesting shapes. My favorites were the very colorful ones.
If you want to see a geyser, you have mostly the choice of Wai-O-Tapu or Te Puia. The choice is difficult: 1. On one end, I really prefer the Pohotu geyser in Te Puia which sprouts consistently. The terrace under it is stunning. 2. On the other end, I love all the other features of Wai-O-Tapu with the colors… Sorry I am not helping more with the de...
whakarewarewa thermal park in rotorua, new zealand - rotorua geyser stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
Aug 20, 2024 · Rotorua’s biggest drawcard is its geothermal landscapes and there’s no doubt that the best geyser views come from inside the thermal parks. However, the most well know geyser - Pohutu geyser - can also be viewed for free from the Pohaturoa Track in the Whakarewarewa (Redwoods) Forest.
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10 geothermal hot spots in Rotorua. Discover geysers, bubbling mud, steaming lakes, hot pools and more. Add these places to your must-visit list!
