The White Terrace, (Te Tarata), was a stairway of semi-circular silica terraces descending to the lake by steps of decreasing height. Each terrace held shallow basins of clear blue water, and each pool had a raised brim. The cascade feeding these basins poured from a crater-shaped cauldron of boiling water. Turquoise-coloured water filled the basin, boiling up in the centre and cascading down the white terraces, cooling on its way.

Across the lake was another phenomena, the Pink Terrace, (Otukapuarangi). This was less grand and more delicate than the White Terrace. Most of its terraces lacked basins, except for the upper platform where several metre-deep pools of sky-blue water were used for bathing. The silica-rich waters creating these terraces came from a wide, deep hole whose walls were tinged red, white and yellow.