Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Explore New Zealand’s geothermal landscapes at your own pace on this independent Waimangu hiking tour. Follow rugged hiking trails through the Waimangu region, and take in top natural attractions like Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, and Lake Rotomahana. Trek past the unique craters and steaming geysers, and capture the spectacular scenery on camera. At the end of your hike, return to your starting point via the shuttle bus.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wheelchair accessible, please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required. Passenger must provide their own carer.
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities.
What To Expect
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Check in at the Waimangu Volcanic Valley and pick up your Wanderer Guide. You may also like to download the free Waimangu App. Then follow the walking trails through the valley at your own pace. There are a number of different options to take depending on how much time and energy you have. Marvel at the stunning geothermal attractions as you learn about the history and legacy of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the Tarawera eruption and the now hidden Pink and White Terraces.
Options
Walking
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Internal Shuttle Bus
Admission Fee for Self-Guided Walk
Guide Sheet
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Food and drinks (available to purchase)
Transport to/from attractions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
263 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Incredible place
N1293GAjosephineb,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely fantastic! I've never seen anywhere like it - it's like stepping back in time. And Jurassic Park.
A Stunning, Family-Friendly Geothermal Adventure
Louisa R,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fantastic experience exploring Waimangu as a group with little ones. We managed the first section comfortably with a small wheeled stroller—no need for a mountain buggy—which made things much easier than expected. You get to see about 80% of the key sights in the first part of the walk, so it already feels very worthwhile even if you don’t go further. There are two additional paths, but we chose not to take the younger kids along for those since the second path involves quite a lot of stairs going up and down. That said, the rest of my family (with the older kids) completed the 2nd and 3rd sections and said it was the most beautiful hike they’ve ever done—high praise! We all met up again after taking the bus to the 3rd stop, which gave us access to the lake view… absolutely magnificent and not to be missed. The self-guided app was also a standout feature. It really brought the landscape to life—pointing out things like feeling the heat radiating from the mountainside and clearly explaining the geothermal activity (bubbling pools, steam vents, geysers). It added a lot of depth to the experience. Highly recommend this walk for families and nature lovers alike. Whether you do a short stroll or the full hike, it’s an unforgettable place that truly showcases the raw beauty of New Zealand’s geothermal landscape.
Recommended
Gustavo Bs As Arg,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00There are several thermal parks in the area, but this is highly recommended for everything you can see and that also has a bus to return to the entrance, as the route is descending to the one way. The best, the hell crater
Worth a visit
mrsmupps,Apr 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Probably my favourite thermal site in Rotorua. Really beautiful.
It's worth it though it's a little expensive
Gustavo Bs As Arg,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Going through this geothermal valley, the most modern because it is the last one that was created on the planet, is certainly worth it. The whole tour can take about 2 hours but the road is on the descent, it is not tiring. And it turns to bus. There are several very interesting points to see, the cratering hell stands out. I found the wreck expensive, 75 NZD per person.
Fantastic valley
Mary D,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The whole area is immaculately maintained. The information boards , leaflet and numbered stops are extremely informative. We had a great quiet walk to lake. There are shuttles available but we walked back in about 45 mins. Overall a lovely few hours in beautiful scenery
Great geothermal vally to visit
Duncan F,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent self guided tour. Sadly we did not have time to do the lake boat ride. Allow 2.5hrs for the self guided tour with free bus return from the lake.
An absolute must!
earuiter,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This valcanic valley walk was the best geothermic excursion we had. It was the only one nearby RotoruA we could do woth an unguided walk. The walkingtrack is split in 3 parts, one after the other. After each track you can take a pick-bus to bring you back to the entrance. The walking path is of good quality, not for wheelchairs, because there are some stairs. The map you get gives some explanation points. But the app (free) gives even more. We enjoyed this trip very much.
Nice walk
Kathia M,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful landscape. It is possible to only walk and return by bus, which makes it less tired
Extraordinary experience in close contact with nature
giuseppemE5573HU,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful experience. Absolutely not to be missed.Many panoramic points from which to observe the various paths of the park
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