Full Waimangu Experience - Walk & Cruise
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the geothermal valley in its entirety with the full Waimangu Experience. Discover New Zealand’s geothermal landscapes at your own pace on this independent Waimangu walking & hiking tour. Follow gentle graded track or rugged hiking trails through the geothermal valley, and take in top natural attractions like Frying Pan Lake, the World's largest hot spring, and the stunning blue Inferno Crater Lake.
The trails head down to Lake Rotomahana, where you'll board your geothermal boat cruise. Learn about the history of the lake and the famous Pink and White Terraces, and see geothermal lakeside features like spouting geysers and steaming cliffs and fumeroles.
The valley is serviced by a free shuttle bus service, so you can walk as much or as little as you want, and return up to the visitor centre by bus after your cruise.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair access is limited. We only recommend it for confident and experienced wheelchair users.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
45 Minute Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise
Air-conditioned vehicle
Internal Shuttle Bus
Admission Fee for Self-Guided Walk
Guide Sheet
Alcoholic Beverages
(Available to purchase)
What To Expect
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Explore the geothermal valley in its entirety with the full Waimangu Experience. Discover New Zealand’s geothermal landscapes at your own pace on this independent Waimangu walking & hiking tour. Follow gentle graded track or rugged hiking trails through the geothermal valley, and take in top natural attractions like Frying Pan Lake, the World's largest hot spring, and the stunning blue Inferno Crater Lake. The trails head down to Lake Rotomahana, where you'll board your geothermal boat cruise. Learn about the history of the lake and the famous Pink and White Terraces, and see geothermal lakeside features like spouting geysers and steaming cliffs and fumeroles. The valley is serviced by a free shuttle bus service, so you can walk as much or as little as you want, and return up to the visitor centre by bus after your cruise.
Lake Rotomahana
The trails head down to Lake Rotomahana, where you'll board your geothermal boat cruise. Learn about the history of the lake and the famous Pink and White Terraces, and see geothermal lakeside features like spouting geysers and steaming cliffs and fumeroles.
Options
Full Waimangu Experience - Walk & Cruise
Reviews
12 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The experience of a live time
eloiseb885,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00It was beautiful and wood definitely do again. Walkway was good and nice to walk on .the information boards was helpful and really helped to understand how everything happened.
Must do visit if near Rotorua
Adventure28380029701,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very good experience. Good maps ans signs. Plenty to see along the walk. Dan our tour boat skipper was excellent. Good explanation of what had happened with the eruption. Skilled skipper with a clear ability to explain what we were seeing.
A Geothermal Wonderland
I3451SYlaurae,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It is a must‑see in Rotorua. The self‑guided walk offers a range of trails suitable for all fitness levels, from a short 1.5 km highlights walk to a more challenging 4.5 km hike, including a climb over Mount Haszard for panoramic views.
If you can only do one volcanic place in Rotorua, make it this one!!
lisamP5396EU,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I can't count how many times this day we said 'this is incredible' It just doesn't feel like the same planet once you leave the car park! There are plenty of Volcanic / Geysers around Rotorua, but we had the best time at this one! We did Wai-o-tapu first and then came here, and wish we'd have started here and did Wai-o-tapu a different day... you can spend an ENTIRE day here! There are what feels like 40 different looking planets in this place! and bird life too... The cruise was cool to do too, we were very lucky to have silk water, sunshine and the boat to ourselves. This was our favourite place in Rotorua
Ko te TINO o ngā rā katoa 😍😍😍
illuminNG4T1,
Jun 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00MĪHARO RAWA ATU!! Mai i te tīmatanga o tā māua taenga mai ki Waimangu i rongo māua i te aroha me te manaaki o ngā kaimahi katoa 👍👍👍❤️ ĀTAAHUA te whenua!! ĀTAAHUA ngā tāngata!! ♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫
Beautiful place worth the visit
sozsoz321,
Apr 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice and beautiful place (the same applies to Orakei Korako and Wai O Tapu, which are both also very nice, still different, so all the three places are definitely worth the visit - contrary to Te Puia which is not that beautiful and interesting at all and is heavily overpriced). I would only not buy the boat trip which was not bad at all but was quite expensive).
Very majestic views, a...
Linda F,
Mar 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very majestic views, a steep walk so go in suitable footwear and take a walking pole if you have any mobility issues. The path at the bottom divides and it is not clear which way to go but you end up at the same place anyway.
Fantastic Experience
399garethc,
Feb 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Couldn't have asked for better. Great 2 hour walk down to where we got on the boat for the lake trip. Whilst walking down we were able to enjoy the full benefits of the geothermal activity within the area. Each individual viewing area had a board spelling out the nature of the activity going on. When on the boat the 'skipper' provided an easily understood talk on what we were seeing and the background to what had happened during the previous volcanic activities. Highly recommended
Good views of geothermal features
LiMcG,
Feb 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Lovely walk through lush vegetation with various geothermal sites en route- hot springs, craters, geysers. Good information boards . Boat trip on lake at the end of the main trail, lots of birds and geysers to see. Cafe and toilets at entrance.
Fascinating trip through geothermal events happening live
Geoff W,
Jan 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fascinating engaging and educational experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk which was on a warm day and in the sun, so don't underestimate how warm you can get. It is truly amazing to see how the valley has changed in just over 100 years, and the newly formed lakes are incredible. The whole team including the lake cruise made this a memorable experience. Highly recommended +++ Minor slight quibble: the buses bringing you back up to the start are so old they emit more pollution than the rest of the geothermal vents put together. Isn't it time to retire them for EVs.....?
From NZ$180.00
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