Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

WaioTapu

736 Rankers Reviews

1 Geothermal

5 Waiotapu

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Information

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Thousands of Years in the Making. A Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity

"One of the 20 Most Surreal Places in the World" Trip Advisor

Explore spectacular nature at New Zealand's most colourful natural volcanic park. Walks through this unique geothermal area take between 30 and 75 minutes and provide a wide range of amazing photo opportunities at features including the world famous Champagne Pool, naturally coloured hot and cold springs, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. The natural bush setting, the Lady Knox Geyser erupting daily at 10.15 am and the nearby ever active "Mud Pool" add other dimensions to the experience. The first class Visitor Centre incorporates cafe and retail facilities, and there are picnic areas and plenty of parking. Wai-O-Tapu is situated just 20 minutes drive south of Rotorua, or 40 minutes drive north of Taupo on State Highway 5.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandRotorua RegionWaiotapu

Categories

  • Activity__volcanic_geothermal_attractionsGeothermal

Business Times

Opening Hours:

Open every day including all Public Holidays:

April-October: 8:30am-5:00pm (last admission 3:45pm)

November-March: 8:30am-6:00pm (last admission 4:45pm)

Christmas Day: 8:30 am-5:00 pm (last admission 3:45pm)

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.3558259976154

176.366321945191

Take a peak
Latitude
-38.3558259976154
Longitude
176.366321945191

Reviews

    • Also nice to see.
    • This area is so sweet and so beautiful.
    • Amazing colours and good pictures guaranteed.
    • A bit expensive but gorgeous!
    • Geyser and Park, $35 nzd each.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 119
    16%
    9/10 187
    25%
    8/10 228
    31%
    7/10 121
    16%
    6/10 49
    7%
    5/10 16
    2%
    4/10 8
    1%
    3/10 4
    1%
    2/10 3
    0%
    1/10 1
    0%
  • 0.5/5

    The price is at 45$ per person

    Reviewed 11 months ago

    S
    Sanja's avatar

    Sanja

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful landscape, truly amazing colours.

    Must do for every tourist in the Rotorua area. Nice, clean park, good pathways, not too crowded (can imagine in summer you will be queuing a lot for a good picture!).

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jv
    Janneke van Krieken's avatar
  • 4.5/5

    Very nice park!

    A lot of hot pools (colourful, stinky, bubbly) and we saw the Lady Knox Geyser at 10:15. Also we went to the mud pool nearby, what was also cool to see.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    JS
    Jeny Smolders's avatar

    Jeny Smolders

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice walk.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    IRELAND
    RH
    Rado Hank's avatar

    Rado Hank

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice place to see many effects that the geothermal activity has on the landscape.

    Maybe a little expensive for a self guided walk but you can grab some information from the flyer. The staff presenting Lady Knox Geyser is very friendly and knowledgeable.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    TY
    Takeru Yonahr's avatar

    Takeru Yonahr

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Very interesting and lots to see on their walks around the park.

    If you go at 10:00am you can see them induce the geyser to erupt but it makes it very busy at this time. As expected, quite smelly!

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    MM
    Matt McCloskey's avatar

    Matt McCloskey

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    This area is so sweet and so beautiful.

    The money is not wasted.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    GERMANY
    MB
    Michael Bley's avatar

    Michael Bley

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Super interesting park showing thermal activities.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    GERMANY
    F
    Florian's avatar

    Florian

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Cool experience but geyser only goes off in the morning - alternative times.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 3.0/5

    Disappointed to find out the Lady Knox Geyser did not erupt naturally.

    The park was interesting but busy from the rush after seeing the geyser. Would recommend trying to visit early, before the geyser. Quite pricey too.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    JF
    Jessica Freeland's avatar

    Jessica Freeland

    Customer

  • 0.5/5

    The price is at 45$ per person

    Reviewed 11 months ago

    S
    Sanja's avatar

    Sanja

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Very interesting and lots to see on their walks around the park.

    If you go at 10:00am you can see them induce the geyser to erupt but it makes it very busy at this time. As expected, quite smelly!

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    MM
    Matt McCloskey's avatar

    Matt McCloskey

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice park!

    A lot of hot pools (colourful, stinky, bubbly) and we saw the Lady Knox Geyser at 10:15. Also we went to the mud pool nearby, what was also cool to see.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    JS
    Jeny Smolders's avatar

    Jeny Smolders

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Cool experience but geyser only goes off in the morning - alternative times.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful landscape, truly amazing colours.

    Must do for every tourist in the Rotorua area. Nice, clean park, good pathways, not too crowded (can imagine in summer you will be queuing a lot for a good picture!).

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jv
    Janneke van Krieken's avatar
  • 4.0/5

    Nice walk.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    IRELAND
    RH
    Rado Hank's avatar

    Rado Hank

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice place to see many effects that the geothermal activity has on the landscape.

    Maybe a little expensive for a self guided walk but you can grab some information from the flyer. The staff presenting Lady Knox Geyser is very friendly and knowledgeable.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    TY
    Takeru Yonahr's avatar

    Takeru Yonahr

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    This area is so sweet and so beautiful.

    The money is not wasted.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    GERMANY
    MB
    Michael Bley's avatar

    Michael Bley

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Super interesting park showing thermal activities.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    GERMANY
    F
    Florian's avatar

    Florian

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Incredible two hour walk through a geothermal area near Taupo.

    Lots of information and facts available on boards throughout the walk and the scenery is amazing.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    DH
    Daisy Hoopers's avatar

    Daisy Hoopers

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very well maintained, good information, bit pricey.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    BELGIUM
    LO
    Lisa Obers's avatar

    Lisa Obers

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Well explained and maintained park through geysers, mud holes, volcanic crater landscapes - expensive but well worth it.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    GERMANY
    DH
    Daniela Hintermayr's avatar
  • 5.0/5

    Well marked, enough parking spaces, well maintained.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    CZECH REPUBLIC
    HS
    Helna Saumanova's avatar

    Helna Saumanova

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    By far the best geothermal park in the Rotorua area, the artist palette, craters, lakes and devils bath are really colourful, simply amazing.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    SPAIN
    KN
    Kristina Nunoz's avatar

    Kristina Nunoz

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful, a bit expensive for a backpacker.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    FRANCE
    AL
    Adrien Lupin's avatar

    Adrien Lupin

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The Thermal Wonderful was absolutely beautiful but a little bit too expensive.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    SWITZERLAND
    PG
    Philip Grant's avatar

    Philip Grant

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Good range of geothermal activity.

    Champagne Pool was brilliant. Lots of walks - self guided and well signposted. Watched the Geyser but only lasted a minute or two and was overcrowded.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    RT
    Rebecca Tavernor's avatar

    Rebecca Tavernor

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Awesome landscape, nice loop track, a little crowded and expensive.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    AUSTRIA
    CG
    Christoph Grubmair's avatar
  • 5.0/5

    Good value activity and not overcrowded.

    Unlimited time to spend there and at no additional cost. Great facilities, brochure for free and in many languages.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    FRANCE
    L
    Lucile's avatar

    Lucile

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice walk, nice park.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    INDONESIA
    E
    Elli's avatar

    Elli

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    A typical tourist thing to do, but what a beautiful park!

    Especially the Champagne Pool is very impressive, it feels like you are on a different planet!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    BELGIUM
    JH
    Jet Henmans's avatar

    Jet Henmans

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice to see one of the most active volcano areas in the world.

    Beautiful colours, lots of information, not too long to walk.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    J
    Jaymi's avatar

    Jaymi

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Well organised and set up treks through a geothermal area with daily showing of a geyser erupting.

    Easy to find and friendly staff.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    IRELAND
    PS
    Philip Sheridan's avatar

    Philip Sheridan

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Everything in a small space - perfect for families - a well laid out and varied park with some astonishing sights and smells!

    Take a baby carrier and backpack to reach it all.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    SH
    Suzannah Hill's avatar

    Suzannah Hill

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Too crowded with the induced geyser.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    TG
    T Geelen's avatar

    T Geelen

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    It was a really nice area with a lot of different scenic views.

    But because the geyser sprouts at 10:15am sharp, it is very crowded (also at the walk after).

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    M
    Maaike's avatar

    Maaike

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful, Lady Knox WOW; the green lake impressive and Champagne Pool was beautiful.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    G
    Gretha's avatar

    Gretha

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice to see but very touristy.

    Geyser is induced to go off. Beautiful area however.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    WB
    Wouter Bleckmann's avatar

    Wouter Bleckmann

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Disappointed to find out the Lady Knox Geyser did not erupt naturally.

    The park was interesting but busy from the rush after seeing the geyser. Would recommend trying to visit early, before the geyser. Quite pricey too.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    JF
    Jessica Freeland's avatar

    Jessica Freeland

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Wai-o-Tapu was really nice, 75 minutes of walking.

    In the beginning of the walk it seemed kind of dull but it got better and was really nice.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    FINLAND
    JL
    Joonas Lehtomaki's avatar

    Joonas Lehtomaki

    Customer