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2 hours
Mobile ticket
Join this completely self-guided tour for an extraordinary geothermal experience!
A unique natural geothermal attraction, situated between Rotorua and Taupo. View up close, geysers, mud pools, hot springs, silica terraces, New Zealand's natural bush and a very rare thermal cave. Said to be "Arguably the Best Thermal in New Zealand".
The attraction is a self guided walk of 2.5kms and takes between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete. Open 365 days of the year (including Christmas Day) from 8m through to 4:30pm. A short return ferry trip to the attraction is included and runs on demand.
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Return ferry rides on demand
Self guided tour
Food and drinks
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Guide - this tour is completely self-guided
Orakei Korako Cave & Thermal Park
Orakei Korako boasts the most active geysers of any geothermal park in New Zealand. Up to 23 active natural geysers play freely through the area, which is constantly changing. Marvel at the number of boiling hot springs and the vibrant colours all around you, or take a native bushwalk through this untouched geothermal paradise. The Lonely Planet Guide describes Orakei Korako as "...arguably the best thermal area left in New Zealand".
174 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Roam09986802363,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Fabulous site well maintained with lots to see, friendly staff and good cafe. Be prepared for lots of steps but the team that built all the walkways really deserve a mention as it must have been hard work but made the experience so much easier.
ssarcot,
Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Perfect location close to Taupo to get a feel for nature’s power when it comes to geothermal activity. The entire trail is very walkable and can be done in little more than an hour if necessary…
R4484JGsarahm,
Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
There are MANY thermal parks in this part of New Zealand. Frankly, they have many similar features. This one ia part way between Rototuro and Lake Taupo, between Rt 1 and Rt 5, so could be a good enough route stopping point. It opens at 8am, so if you're getting an early start and trying to fit a whole lot into your day, this could be a good option. Some positives: A lovely patio deck outside of reception overlooking the lake. The park is in a rather isolated location, making for a delightful place to have a coffee and peacefully watch the boat coming and going. The 5 minute boat ride to the attraction is included in the admission. It runs continuously, so no need to worry about scheduling it. It's a large park with good viewpoints.. the directional signage is good. It boasts having a cave. Nice, but frankly underwhelming when you get to it. Some negatives: The 2.5k route is probably 75% on boardwalk. The boards are far enough apart that hiking sticks, crutches etc can easily get caught up on them. There are hundreds of stairs in the course of the route, most admittedly necessary, but many are without handrails. If you have balance issues or children who don't pay attention, the lack of handrails could be troublesome. Descriptive signage is difficult to read and in poor condition. If you want to know something about what you're seeing, you're at a loss until returning to ask the boat driver at the end. Good luck remembering where and what it was. As I stated in the beginning, there are MANY choices. This one doesn't particularly stand out, but maybe it's the most convenient for your itinerary.
Michel M,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
We were able to observe remarkable places, on a very well appointed course, friendly welcome.
LizHolidays,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Very interesting site with different thins to see. Very well organised and looked after. Staff were great. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Lucile H,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
Easy boardwalk path among beautiful colored slica terraces with bubbling pools and steam vents. Free short ferry brings you across lake to get there.
EM AJM20,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
First time we have seen any geo thermal locations and we weren’t disappointed. Really well organised, loved the fact that out was self guided so we cold take our time. The route was clearly marked and the path was well looked after. The staff were really friendly and informative. 100% with the money.














K5939EIdeborahh,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Had a wonderful time taking photos and exploring spent double the smount of time there without any problem at all Well worth the cost






999teenaw,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Nice experience . must watch. The tour uphill walk gives a very good view of the Geothermal and the cave. Worth it. Enjoyed the whole trip though it was raining that day.
PamNord,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Of the three geothermal parks we visited near Rotorua (Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland and Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park), this is by far my favourite. Compact but packed with so many different and fascinating features to admire: small boiling geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pools, gorgeously colourful silica terraces and a geothermal cave (one of only two in the world!). An additional plus is the short on-demand boat ride to/from the thermal park, which gives a great view of the silica terrace “flowing” into the lake. The park is divided into 3 zones and the routes are well-marked. There are also signboards with maps at key points highlighting the current location, so no worries about getting lost. Really appreciated the interesting information signs for the key features. Just be warned there are lots of steps uphill and downhill which provide a decent workout. The visitor centre has a cafe and a small gift shop. There’s also a spacious shaded deck overlooking the lake. It’s a lovely place to have lunch or a snack after visiting the thermal park - recommend the pies. If you only visit one thermal park in NZ North Island, visit this one!



Operated by Orakei Korako Cave Thermal Park