Rotorua Eco Cultural full day tour (Wai o Tapu, Waimangu,Te puia)
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
The tour departs daily between 8:00-8:30 am. from your accommodation and drives you through forestry and farmland to New Zealand’s largest boiling mud pool. Your guide shows you a series of colorful hot springs and volcanic features at Wai-O-Tapu. Then see the Lady Knox geyser eruption at 10:15 am.
Next a short drive to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley where your guide explains the Mt. Tarawera eruption which blew open this spectacular, bush-covered, geothermal park.
Spend the afternoon experiencing Rotorua’s Maori culture and geothermal activity and see how they are intricately entwined. First, a guided tour through Te Puia, Rotorua’s premier cultural attraction. This includes a visit to the wood carving school, art and craft gallery, Rotowhio Marae, weaving display, kiwi house and finally the Pohutu geyser.
Next, we visit the Lakefront area to see the Maori War Canoe and learn more about Maori history and customs.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Medium level of fitness required
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Bottled water
Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Prepare for a captivating journey to Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland, one of the world's most surreal and active geothermal parks, located just 20 minutes from Rotorua CBD. You will be guided through Wai O Tapu for approximately 45-60 minutes to explore its vibrant and unique landscape before we depart for the majestic Lady Knox Geyser.
Lady Knox Geyser
Our journey continues to the Lady Knox Geyser, a true marvel that erupts just once a day, precisely at 10:15 AM. Join us to uncover the fascinating story behind her remarkable punctuality!
Options
Rotorua Eco Cultural full day tour (Wai o Tapu, Waimangu,Te puia)
Pickup included
Reviews
29 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The guide is a very cheerful and fun person, from start to finish...
TOMOKO S,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide was a very cheerful and fun person and I felt comfortable from start to finish. I'm glad that the number of participants was compact, too, with eight. In the morning, the other participants ended, and we were the only two participants until the end. Lake Rotorua, where we went in the afternoon, we had gone beforehand, so with the other participants gone, they changed where we took them to places we hadn't yet. Thank you very much. Finally, he took me to a shop where I could buy Jade. I was grateful to the kind guide.
Beautiful area
366juliannap,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really nice experience! Our tour guide Shaun, was very lovely and full of interesting tidbits and knowledge about the area and plants. He picked us up from our motel and kept us on schedule so we can make it to Lady Knox geyser on time. Waimangu Volcanic Valley was definitely a highlight of the tour. Stunning views. Te Puia was also a great place to visit. Basta as a guide was very funny and charismatic. Even if he isn't an expert of bamboo cutting (check later). We even go to see a few baby kiwis! Te Puia's souvenir shop is very well stocked too so worth waiting until then with your shopping. At the end of the tour, Shaun drove us around Rotorua and took us to the breathtaking lookout point on Blue and Green Lakes as well as Lake Okareka. The only nitpicking I have is that lunch break place didn't have many healthy food options so we ended up starving that day a bit. Take something to eat with you if you don't like sandwiches. Overall, very informative and well-covered tour, even if it can be a bit intense, pace-wise. Take good shoes and make sure you can handle fast walking (one couple couldn't keep up and held up a group for a bit there, but Shaun handled it perfectly). Thank you for taking care of us, Shawn! To tour company boss: little elf told us Shaun really wants a Bluetooth headset for Christmas. He works really hard for it!!
Great day trip
Angela B,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Shawn was very knowledgeable and friendly. This was a lovely tour and a great way to find out about Rotorua
Absolutely loved this...
Joe,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely loved this experience. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and really felt we connected to the local culture!
Great day exploring - well structured
I1556SBmichaelf,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic day with Shaun - his knowledge and joy for what he does is second to none. Well structured day and some great photos.
All the sites in the tour...
ORYITZHAK N,
Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00All the sites in the tour were really amazing. Stunning. I would really reccomend to join this kind of tour around Rotorua. The guide was very good.
Great local tour with Clive - could skip the formal Maori tour
Julie D,
Jul 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great way to spend some time. Clive, a wonderful local gentleman and as our guide he was so knowledgeable about the all the places we went. Keith was on time, personable and super nice. He took us to so many cool places that we would have never thought to go, it was so worthwhile and enjoyable. He explained things about our stops that only a local could know. Highly recommend taking the tour with Clive. As for the second half of the activity spending time on the Maori tour, (without Clive) that was just okay. Our family would have been just fine traveling the day with Clive and stopping by the Maori location on our own for a short time to see the sites.
Hot (springs) experience
Katerina S,
May 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience! Clint was very knowledgeable and friendly. As a female solo traveler, I was alone for half of the tour but never felt uncomfortable. I highly recommend it—the hot springs and the mini hike were incredible! Take with you some snacks and water bottles.
Day filled with exploring
596emesej,
May 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I spent an amazing day full of nature and culture. It was a small group tour with a fantastic, knowledgable guide. The tour covers the most important sights around Rotorua area. As I did not spent much time in Rotorua it was the perfect choice to me to discover as much as I can.
Great day
Asta B,
Apr 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I really liked that I could visit 3 main attractions in one day. The guide/driver was very friendly and informative. An amazing day out.
From NZ$390.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Chat with us on social
Related Experiences
Operated by Elite Adventures