Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 07-366 6137;
www.waimangu.com
; 587 Waimangu Rd; adult/child walking tour $34.50/11, boat cruise $42.50/11;
8.30am-5pm daily, to 6pm Jan, last admission 3.30pm, 4.30pm Jan)
This interesting thermal area was
created during the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 - geologically young! Waimangu
(Black Water) refers to the dark, muddy colour of much of the water here.
The easy downhill stroll through the valley passes spectacular thermal and volcanic fea-
tures, including
Inferno Crater Lake
, where overflowing water can reach 80°C, and
Frying Pan
Lake
, the largest hot spring in the world. The walk continues down to Lake Rotomahana
(meaning 'Warm Lake'), from where you can either get a shuttle ride back up to where
you started or take a 45-minute boat trip on the lake, past steaming cliffs and the former
site of the Pink and White Terraces.
Waimangu is 20 minutes south of Rotorua, 14km along SH5 (towards Taupo) and then
6km from the marked turn-off.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
MAP
VOLCANIC AREA, GEYSER
( 07-366 6333;
www.waiotapu.co.nz
;
201 Waiotapu Loop Rd, off SH5; adult/child/family $32.50/11/80;
8.30am-5pm, last admission 3.45pm)
Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) is a fairly commercial operation
with a lot of interesting geothermal features packed into a small area, including the boil-
ing, multihued
Champagne Pool
, bubbling
mud pool
, stunning
mineral terraces
and
Lady Knox Gey-
ser
, which spouts off (with a little prompting from an organic soap) punctually at 10.15am
and gushes up to 20m for about an hour (be here by 9.45am to see it).
Wai-O-Tapu is 27km south of Rotorua along SH5 (towards Taupo), and a further 2km
from the marked turn-off.
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools
MAP
SWIMMING
( 07-333 1861;
www.hotpools.co.nz
;
648 Waikite Valley Rd; public pools adult/child/family $15/8/38, private pools
40min $18; 10am-9pm)
Around 35km south of Rotorua are these excellent open-air pools,
formalised in the 1970s but utilised for centuries before then. There are four main pools,
two more relaxing, smaller pools, and four private spas, all ranging from 35°C to 40°C.
There's also a cafe and camping (adult/child unpowered sites $20/10, powered sites $22/
12; pools free for campers).
To get here, turn right off SH5 opposite the Wai-O-Tapu turn-off, and continue 6km
(worth the drive if only for the gorgeous valley view as you come over the hill).
