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Whaka Geothermal Trails Self-Guided Tour: Exclusive Access to Untouched Geothermal Landscape
3.8
46 Ratings
Rotorua
Embark on a self-guided tour of the Whaka Geothermal Trails and explore an untouched geothermal landscape. Experience the regenerative powers of nature as you encounter hot spring lakes, mud pools, geysers, and native manuka bushlands.
Embark on a self-guided tour of the Whaka Geothermal Trails and explore an untouched geothermal landscape. Experience the regenerative powers of nature as you encounter hot spring lakes, mud pools, geysers, and native manuka bushlands.
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village - The trails are self-guided walks ranging between 30 and 60 minutes and suitable for people with a low level of fitness. These trails combine views of native ferns, edible plants and eerie glimpses of our unique geothermal landscape, including colourful steaming lakes and thermal pools that you can only…
- Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village - The trails are self-guided walks ranging between 30 and 60 minutes and suitable for people with a low level of fitness. These trails combine views of native ferns, edible plants and eerie glimpses of our unique geothermal landscape, including colourful steaming lakes and thermal pools that you can only view at Whakarewarewa. You will definitely find a most memorable photo-snap opportunity for your social media profile! The Whaka Geothermal Trails will be an ongoing reserve development as we open new areas to be discovered. PLEASE NOTE: The times set for this self-guided tour are the last entry times, you may enter anytime from 9am through to 4pm.
What's Included
- Whakarewarewa Entry Ticket
- Whakarewarewa Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Our new geothermal nature trails provide exclusive access to an untouched geothermal landscape where visitors can experience the raw nature of Papatuanuku (mother-earth). The Jurassic park-like landscape is described as providing regenerative powers as you find yourself face-to-face with Nature, Hot Spring Lakes, Mud Pools, Geysers and native manuka bushlands.
Our new geothermal nature trails provide exclusive access to an untouched geothermal landscape where visitors can experience the raw nature of Papatuanuku (mother-earth). The Jurassic park-like landscape is described as providing regenerative powers as you find yourself face-to-face with Nature, Hot Spring Lakes, Mud Pools, Geysers and native manuka bushlands.
Location
17 Tryon Street
Tryon Street
17 Tryon street, Whakarewarewa
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.8
(46 Ratings)
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Lesley_w
Dec 27, 2025
Lovely bush walk views of the hot springs - Wear good shoes not open toes. Makes sure you have sunscreen and hat. Look in the shops before you go. For further Maori experience get guided tour.
Review provided by Viator
Delyth_j
Nov 25, 2025
Lovely walk through geothermal parks - Really lovely walk with great information all the way around we weren’t disappointed.
Saw the geyser at the end
Review provided by Viator
Richardmp1661jv
Oct 25, 2025
A lovely historic and interesting visit - We went and did the thermal walk around the natural wonders of the village. We got to see some of the amazing buildings at the village as well. There are lots of stories of the Maori attached to the various parts of the natural thermals that are fascinating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H3535eqjessicat
Oct 5, 2025
A cultural & geothermal wonder - the mix of geysers, hot springs, and deeply fascinating Māori cultural performances. The guides are warm, knowledgable, and it feels very authentic — carvings, traditional songs, stories, hangi smells in the air.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveler31941746588
May 15, 2025
Brilliant guided tour - well worth it - just walking around wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting - We had great weather for our tour but the best part was our Guide Ngatiroirangi! What a comedian - we laughed our way around the geothermal area for two hours. Very interesting facts learned and we saw lots of bubbling mud pools etc. Well worth the money and a great coffee afterwards
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Blueheeler777
Jan 17, 2025
Interesting, but we wouldn't recommend to friends - An interesting walk looking at various facets of geothermal activity. However, I thought it was a little overpriced for what we saw. Lady at check-in saw us waiting to get tickets but took her time in serving us as if we were an interruption to her day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rolfa318
Nov 21, 2024
Badly planned tourist trap - A really good example of bad planning and over pricing! The natural mud and hot pools are great to see, but the city has been built far too close up to it. From every point you see houses and even a very ugly multi-story hotel. Entrance fees are ridiculous for such a gift of mother nature. If you want to see the geysers and the mud pools and hot pools, it will cost you 72 NZD. That for a short trail around gifts of mother nature. The track is not even that well maintained. Numbers on the map do not match the numbers on of the sights of the track. The entrance building where you have to buy the tickets is far over the top on luxury, while the toilets are dirty and falling apart. This is a shameful tourist trap. New Zealand, you can do better and should do!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T7879kgchrisn
Oct 9, 2024
Kinda cool, kinda meh. - The self-guided geothermal pool tour takes you around some geothermal pools. They’re interesting but there are lots of other places in the area where you can walk around geothermal pools for free. The map they give you is all messed up, with places given the wrong numbers on the map, more than one place given the same number placard, etc. You can also see the geyser (partly hidden behind a tree) maybe around 800 meters away from the end of the trail if you don’t want to pay the additional admission for the guided village tour that takes you to it. Kinda cool but not sure it was worth the price of admission.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theleongohana
Jul 2, 2024
Just An OK Experience - After picking up our tickets, we approached the entrance to the Maori Village. The initial scene was quite ethereal with lots of steam venting continuously as we walked from the Memorial Archway, over the bridge and past the Wharepuni. After clearing the village, we walked the entire geothermal trail passing by a couple of lakes, mudpools and ended up on a hill with multiple lookout views. The map we picked up in the ticketing office did not match all the highlighted stops on the actual trail so it got a bit confusing what exactly we were seeing. In addition, while the gravel travel was in good condition some of the benches and fences could stand to be repaired. Overall opinion from the family that there was nothing that unique or exciting to see. Kuirau Park would have sufficed for our exposure to the geothermal activity in Rotorua and much cheaper.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paekakariki
Mar 21, 2024
Disappointing - The performance was so commercialised it felt like Disneyland. The village itself was not explained unless you had a guide and 30 people with you. Very disappointing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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