Rotorua's geothermal wonders are full of bubbling mud pools and steaming vents. Here are the top 5.
One of Rotorua's most popular geothermal sites, Whakarewarewa boasts some excellent geothermal activity and a traditional Māori village. With approximately 500 hot springs, the terraces and pools are known as a living thermal village.
The ominous-sounding Hell’s Gate(opens in new window) is Rotorua's most famous geothermal attraction. This sacred Māori site boasts 50 acres of mud pools, geysers, hot springs and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest hot-water waterfall.
The Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland(opens in new window) features a number of thrilling mud pools, geysers and sulphur pools. View the stunning Champagne Pool or marvel at the force of the Lady Knox Geyser.
Meaning “black water” in Māori, Waimangu(opens in new window) is a thermal area that was created after the devastating 1886 Tarawera Eruption – the same eruption that buried the then ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, the Pink and White Terraces. Waimangu is located about 20 minutes south of Rotorua.
The Craters of the Moon(opens in new window) is a geothermal walk located just north of Taupō. The tracks on this walk lead to several viewing platforms at the edge of large craters, from where the relentless power of the earth's fiery core becomes truly apparent.
