Free outdoor and natural hot springs to enjoy. Go to the Spa Thermal Park to get access to the…read moreOtumuheke thermal stream that feeds into the Waikato river. From here, you can also do an easy hike to Huka Falls (50 mins one-way) or Aratiatia Rapids (2 hrs one-way). There's a car park at the intersection of Spa Road and County Avenue, but to get closer to the thermal stream, you can continue down County Ave to the end and park at the car park inside the park. From there, you'll do a short 10 minute walk down to the thermal stream. You'll see a bridge with the main pools near the river. This is where most people will be, but if you up a little further uphill, you'll hit a second bridge where it's more private. This area is fenced off though, so it's probably not encouraged to bathe in this part of the stream, although a lot of people still do. The water is pretty hot, so make sure to bring a towel, water to stay hydrated, and a change of clothes for afterwards. Note that there are toilets at the car park, but no changing facilities near the thermal stream itself. Even if you aren't interested in visiting the thermal stream, Spa Thermal Park is well worth a visit to see the stunning scenery of being high up a hill looking down on a large, curved river.

Tons of people, but don't let that discourage you! It's a must-visit free natural hot stream with a…read morebeautiful view/swim of the river. The park's been beautifully designed for enjoying the stream, which is a nice hot 38-39C right under the bridge, and pools down to cooler temperatures further down. It's a great place to relax in a natural setting and meet some people!

This is a great place to hike with trails of all types and levels. We parked at the main…read moreinformation center where the elevated Redwoods walk is located and hiked the Pohaturoa Track which initially runs through the redwoods, then along Tarawera road for a short distance then steadily goes up to viewpoints of the City and also Te Puia Dan the Pōhutu Geyser basin with lake views. We added on the joint use mountain bike track Mud pool loop which had one active mud pool. Loved that the plant life was so diverse with many different pine, fur and even eucalyptus which smelled wonderful.

Beautiful forest! The questions you need to answer is whether to visit during the day or at night?…read more And if you visit as night, do you do the (expensive) tree walk? I would highly recommend visiting at night. It is truly special. I can't speak to walking through the trees at night on the ground, as we paid the US$20 to walk through the tree tops. The view at night is like fairy lights; easy to imagine this as the setting for every elf story I have ever read.  BF liked the engineering aspects; it is cool how the tree walk has been hung without damage or drilling into the trees. Would definitely recommend this as an unusual way to spend an evening.

Steam holes, and one bubbling mud steam pool... Yes and a very nice nature stop…read more Visitor will encounter other similar locations, and we recommend a visit here

Get back in your car and go to Wai-O-Tapo Thermal Park near Rotorua instead. Seriously, this place…read morewas such a disappointment. There's a gravel path, sometimes a wooden path, and some steam vents. A "mud pool" that is as dry as a bone. There is absolutely no shade, and it takes about 45 minutes to walk around the short loop. I wish we'd turned back after 10 minutes cos it didn't get any better. Wai-O-Tapu has spectacular vents, mud pools, incredibly colored water. Just so much better than this. It's only $8 to get in this place, but in my opinion it's just not even worth that. Don't say I didn't warn you!

We bought tickets for both the Lady Knox Geyser and touring the thermal park. The gates to the…read moregeyser don't open until 9:45am and that wasn't clear so there was a long line of cars right outside the gate wondering if they were in the right place. They were. The geyser eruption can be controlled by the insertion of soap so it runs each day at 10:15am. Quite the crowd gathers. A woman sang a local native song as it erupted. It was quite lovely. After the eruption, most people head to the visitor center to tour the grounds. Well marked paths lead you interesting features throughout the park. It was a great way to learn and experience something unique that New Zealand has to offer.

I definitely enjoyed my trip here. Seeing all the natural beauty and wonder was amazing. Plus…read moregetting in some steps was also a plus. I thought the admission fee was a bit much for what the place offered but still happy I went.

This is a must do for those who are strong hikers. The initial 3 miles or so is a gentle grade…read morethrough the volcanic planes, then it traverses upward and the views start. Some of the areas were muddy and a bit treacherous even with high quality hiking boots so do not try this in anything less. We saw several persons trying to do the walk in regular athletic shoes and they were often on their rear end trying to go down the slope of the red crater to see emerald lakes. The Emerald and blue lakes are spectacular. The final 6 miles or so are all downhill with a few very short gentle uphills and hiking poles are highly recommended to take weight off of your knees. The last couple of miles are through lush green forest and bush, which was a pleasant surprise and offered cooling shade.

MOUNT DOOM!!! I…read moretraveled halfway around the world to destroy the Sauron's Ring of Power...but I'm not much a hiker, and certainly I'm not going to survive the 8-9 hours of hiking it takes to do the full Tongariro Alpine Crossing. So I ended up keeping the Ring instead...but I did enjoy a solid 2.5 hours worth of hiking along the south end of the hike. Lovely landscapes, a nice little stream flows along the well maintained path, and the views of Mount Doom are spectacular, especially for Lord of the Rings fans such as myself. The New Zealand government does a fine job of keeping the trails and bridges in great condition. Beware of the bathrooms though, be sure to bring some toilet paper and wet wipes...its gross inside!!!

We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very…read moremuch and it's a unique experience. The tour starts with some quick stops at the traditional way the food is cooked and at a carved canoe to give a glimpse of Māori life. You get to see some kiwi birds, then cruise around the geyser area. Lots of lookouts and viewing sites. You finish the tour in the art center where the intricate carvings and weaving are done. Next is dinner. The buffet has a ton of meat (meat coma) along with vegetables, salads, desserts, etc. so many options. You are given a seating assignment so we conversed with folks from Denver and California. Funny we go all the way to New Zealand and end up hanging with folks from the US. Finally, you end with the show. It is well done. You get a good variety of battle, love, and storytelling songs. It was an educational and enjoyable experience.

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia:…read more1) NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) - A fascinating school that allows Maori adult students to study (tuition free) traditional crafts such as wood, stone, and bone carving and weaving, using tradtional methods. This allows the students to perpetuate Maori culture. Recommendation: NZMACI should offer classes (for a fee) for Pākehā (non-Maori people) who could also learn the techniques, and their fees would also help subsidize the school. The classes could range from the full course for NZ residents, to shorter courses for tourists. 2) Geyser- Spectacular! 3) Cultural Show - Interesting, Informative, Entertaining. Recommendation: Do a full Haka, and outside where everyone can see. Also, give a more full explanation of all the parts. 4) Maori Staff - All of the staff were superb! I was with Kia (sp?) and she very patiently answered all my many questions about the Maori language. Recommendations: I would like to have known a little about each Staff member- origin, tribe, etc. 5) Maori Culture- I cannot imagine a better place to learn about Maori culture! Recommendations: I would like to have known more about Maori tattoos - designs, placement, symbolism, etc. It's such a visible part od Maori culture that it should be featured. If it would be offensive to do so, I would withdraw this comment. Overall, and exceptional visit to a very entertaining place. Nga mihi!

Gorgeous park and walk around the lake. Lots of ducks everywhere so watch for "hazards" underfoot…read more Beautifully maintained grounds and a lovely copper lotus fountain in the lake. Shame dogs not allowed, even if well behaved and on a lead.

This is the best free thing we did in New Zealand. Its a natural hot water river, creek, stream,…read moreor whatever you want to call it. Jump in and chill. Get a free massage from the waterfall or strong current. My only mistake was not bringing some beer and wine. Otherwise its wonderful! It sure beats paying $15-25NZ for one of the spas. It does require about a 20 minute drive south of Rotorua, a short drive on a gravel road(1km?), and a very short walk from the impromptu parking lot. Its so worth it!

An enchanting natural hot spring water fall. Short hike through beautiful wooded area next to the…read morestream and small water falls along the way. The waterfall is nestled in a cozy wooded open area. Sit and enjoy the water rushing around you at the top of the water fall area, or climb down into the warm/hot water below. It is hot at first, hotter than the reviews I read. You can walk up to the water fall at the bottom, but be careful it does dip down and the soft dirt below does not give you much grip to hold your balance. This is a magical beautiful place not to be missed. As you drive onto the dirt road you will see the green pool lake to your left and a small pull off to the right. Pull off and you will hear a rushing waterfall in the woods. You can hoist yourself up the trail not too bad of a climb and come to a small waterfall area with a plank. It is not hot, this is a cool one we did not swim in. Further down the road is Wai-O-Tapu hot spring, but decided not to wade in it because of the warning sign, see pic in review.

Looking for a great way to see the great outdoors of New Zealand? Then check out Mountain Biking…read moreRotorua. While biking is in their name, know that they also do a wide range of active tours like the obvious biking, but the not so obvious, rafting over water falls, kayaking to the hot mineral pools and riverside hikes. I had signed up for th Roturua adventure day which includes 3 activities that take about 8 hours to complete. I was a little apprehensive at first as I wasn't sure if I could actually do all the things I signed up for. But my fears were quickly put aside when I met my guide for the day, Wade. Wade assured me that he could put together the perfect day for my skill level, and he did. And his warm, genuine style made me feel like I was hanging out with a friend for the day rather than someone who is paid to put up with my lack of athleticism! So our first stop was the bike shop where I was fitted with a bike, helmet, alnd given some water. This is located right at the entrance to the Whakrewarera forest that is filled with giant American redwood trees. The perfect place to start out day! This forest is free to the public and has plenty of trails from the most beginning rider to the very experienced rider. The woods are shared with hikers and people on horseback as well. It is stunning underneath those towering canopies. And while I was a little horrified that I started on the " kids loop", let me assure you that there are hills, valleys and banked curves even on the kids path. I quickly graduated to the next level and found me on a trail that had so many dips and valleys that I was laughing out loud! We finished up the bike ride and drove over to the Kailuna River where we hiked along the river and watched the rafters go over 3 sets of falls. After a delicious lunch at a local cafe, it was then time to kayak on Lake Roiti and head over to the hot mineral springs. Wade took care of not only getting me any equipment I needed, but also took the time to explain kayaking and some of the history of the area. The best thing about this day? Wade was such a great guide and was so patient with my remedial skill level, that I felt I was out spending the day with a friend versus a hired guide. And how great is that? If you are looking for a great way to experience some of the great natural beauty this part of New Zealand has to offer, give mountain Biking Rotorua a call. It may be the best day of your vacation!

I wish I had more time on this trip to enjoy the mountain biking. The trails and options for…read moredifferent level bikers are awesome. The rental staff were knowledgeable and helpful. The gear was well maintained. I enjoyed exploring the forests.