Lively Rotorua is home to New Zealand's volcanic landscapes which have swollen, steam-flowing geysers and sand-filled waters. This small town is filled with geothermal operations and you'll smell them when you get there. They created a moonscape filled with colorful silica landscapes and bubbling lakes near Rotorua. It's also filled with lake and vast forests that make excellent contrasts to the geothermal terrains.

Geothermal wonders

The clichés of the day are true: Rotorua has become the most active geothermal site in New Zealand. Colourful pools with silica terraces, steamy lakes with geyser and others are located all throughout the town. How can I visit Rotorua' s top geothermal parks? For colourful and steamy lakes visit Wai-O-Tapu, while Te Puia has the largest and most impressive geyser in the region. Wai Mango Volcanic Valley likewise covers a bigger area that includes spectacular rock formations, massive steam rushing lakes, bubbling thermal pools, and much more.

Soothe your skin and get muddy) at Hell's Gate

With 50 hectares of geothermal activity, the park offers the most active and violently hot mud that anyone can imagine. The Kakahi Falls were once used by Maori warriors to bathe, and plummeting waters spout over rocks at constant temperatures and the aptly named Inferno area has steamy scenes of pools and bubbly pools.

If you want Rotoruas mud to float you need to visit this one. At Hell Gate, you'll see bubbling mud, land corals and the surrounding landscape of their geothermal park and you'll also enjoy a relaxing mud bath that helps refresh your skin. This is an amazing hot pool experience!

Rather cooler and much less violent is the nearby Hell Gate spa, in which you may have the chance to relax in geothermal pools and hot springs.

Book Hell Gate entrance through Clic A Tour!

Wai-O-Tapu

Another geothermal anomaly awaits at Wai-O-Tapu, home to the Lady Knox geyser. This eruption begins every morning at 10am with water bursting 20 metres from the sky. It is bursting with volcanic activity with bubbling pooled waters from collapsed volcanic volcano water lakes tinted fluorescent green and terraced pools with hues of yellow or orange all creating an almost mystical feel and ambiance. The Waio Otpu Park offers numerous walkway options that allow you to traverse it to see the most amazing volcanic sites. Take a few days to visit the visitor's centre.

Take a day trip to One of the Lakes of Rotorua

How can you get the best deals in Rotorua – a city that offers plenty of free attractions? Visiting a lake in the area on a day trip will be fun and exciting. We recommend the Blue Lake (Lake Tikitipu). It offers good beach swimming beaches, a pleasant path, and a play area for kids. Alternately Lake Okareka provides suitable conditions for picnicking and is wheelchair-accessible and strollable in the wetland area. Explore the best day trips from Rotorua in the list of the 10 Must-do Walks in Rotorua.

Mount Ngongotaha Scenic Reserve

It is a thick forest protected reserve at the volcanic cone of Ngongotaha, a peak at a height of 757 metres. The reserve offers 2 very good and easily accessible walking paths at the centre of Rotorua. This nature walk offers a short 3 kilometre walk through native bush and offers several informative guides which illustrate the natural fauna along the journey. Jubilee Trail offers tougher walking that takes you from summit to peak on a five-kilometre hike completely enveloped by tall trees. The complete route is walkable by taking a mountain path from the summit where there's a stunning panorama across Lake Rotorua all around.

Walk on Mt Tarawera

Have you been exploring volcanocraters for many years? Make this in Tarawana! The volcano was a hugely important site in New Zealand with a massive eruption in 1886 that changed all the surroundings. Despite its red volcanic landscape, scree slopes and stunning photography opportunities this walking route can rival the famous Tongairo crossing. Clic A TOur offers trekking excursions to the mountains, alternately, land at Mount Tarawera on the helicopter tour with volcanism air.

Zip through trees with Rotorua Canopy Tours

If you like to explore Rotorua's canopy trails, take a peek here.

Rotorua Canopy Tours will take you on a journey through prehistoric native forest. Explore the canopy as you fly on a network of ziplines, swing bridges, cliff-walks, tree top platforms and more.

Their adventure is ziplining in 6 large zip lines through centuries-old forests and ancient trees. You can go above 2,000 feet and learn about forests on this educational ecotourism trip. Alternately conquer the entire zip-line and the tandem zipline.

Guided by knowledgeable and experienced guides. They will keep you safe, make you laugh and bring the forest to life as you become part of our forest restoration story.