There are some of the world’s most surreal and expansive geothermal walks in Rotorua. Ans it’s my favourite spot on New Zealand’s North Island! The town is about three hours from Auckland, making it much more accessible than some of the country’s other epic adventure spots like Milford Sound. Especially if you’re only visiting for a couple weeks. There are a million things to do in the area, but you absolutely must experience at least one of these walks near Rotorua and Lake Taupō.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I get a commission if you buy/book something I’ve linked to. Thanks for supporting my writing!
My rating system from easy to hard isn’t like, compared to all walks ever, just relative to the other geothermal walks in Rotorua. “Hard” isn’t haaaaard, it’s not Everest. It’s just among the hardest of the bunch, and maybe not your top choice if you hate walking.
Geothermal walks in Rotorua
Wahhh there are so many geothermal walks in Rotorua that it’s hard to choose my favourites! But fortunately for you, they’re all cool, so you can’t really go wrong. In no particular order, here are my top choices:
Cost: $32 NZD
Distance from Rotorua: 25 minute drive
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium – mostly flat
Highlights: This is where you can find that crazy orange and green lake you’ve probably seen on Instagram. Wai-O-Tapu is probably the most colourful of all the geothermal walks in Rotorua, and is a great option if you’re trying to fit in as many cool sights as you can in a small period of time.
When to go: Arrive before 10:15am so you’ll be able to catch the Lady Knox geyser erupt. It goes off at the same time every morning, regardless of the time of year. She’s consistent, and I don’t understand the science behind that, but they’ll tell you all about it on site!
Cost: $44–$89 NZD
Distance from Rotorua: 25 minute drive
Time to complete: 1 hour 45 minutes (+ optional path that adds 45 minutes)
Difficulty level: Medium/Hard – includes stairs and steep hills
Highlights: Pretty good variation in the landscape. And it’s one of the longest and most challenging, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for a bit more exercise. You can also kayak on the steaming lake which looks so amazing, but I didn’t know about it when I went. I’ll be going back to try it!
You also have the option to take a boat tour at the end of the main trail, and if you get tired along the way, there’s a little bus that comes infrequently to take you between various points. We didn’t do the boat or the bus, and I don’t think either is necessary. But hey! That might be your jam.
The team was a little dramatic and took some creative license when naming the sites on the map. Like “frying pan lake” in no way resembles a frying pan… but I’d argue that makes it funnier.
Cost: $39–$99 NZD
Distance from Rotorua: 20 minute drive
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium – includes some stairs
Highlights: The walk itself is beautiful and there’s lots of cool bubbly stuff to see along the way, but the real draw here is the mud baths! Slather yourself in mineral-rich mud to soften your skin, and soak in the sulphur pools overlooking the steaming geothermal landscape.
When to go: Aim to arrive two hours before sunset. That gives you enough time to do the walk before hitting the spa baths and gives you a better chance of missing some of the crowds. We got there just before the cutoff time and were the only people on the trail, and had the added benefit of watching the sun go down.
Kuirau Park
Cost: Free!
Distance from Rotorua: 2 minute walk from the city centre
Time to complete: 20 minutes — 1 hour
Difficulty Level: Easy – flat, paved
Highlights: K so obviously the free part is the major draw here. But it’s also a great option if you’re only passing through Rotorua and don’t have much time to explore the outskirts. Dip your toes in the sulphur foot bath to get a mini express spa experience.
When to go: Literally any time! It’s open all day long. But of course, the bubbling mud is a little more interesting in the light of day. There’s also a farmer’s market every Saturday morning, so grab some breakfast before you explore.
Also in central Rotorua: The Polynesian Spa and an Evening Glow Worm Kayak Trip
Cost: $70 NZD
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes (+ other activities to consider)
Distance from Rotorua: 5 minute drive
Highlights: This one comes with some extra cool features. We did the “Geyser by Night” experience, which is a guided tour through the park after dark. I can still recommend it, but I think you actually might get more out of a day visit.
Day tickets include the kiwi bird sanctuary and access to areas where you can learn about Maori history and carving techniques. They also do a hāngī buffet, with traditional Māori food cooked in the ground using the natural geothermal heat.
Cost: $45 NZD
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes
Distance from Rotorua: 45 minute drive
Highlights: Admission includes a short boat trip to get to the start of the track. The silica terraces and large cave make it unique, and there’s also a geyser on site!
Cost: $10 NZD
Time to complete: 45 minutes (+ optional path that adds 15 minutes)
Distance from Rotorua: 1 hour drive
Highlights: This one is just outside Taupō, about 10 minutes from Huka Falls. It’s a very easy, family-friendly walk. Most of the trail is along a flat boardwalk or gravel.
I’ll be honest — not the best of the bunch. There’s nothing that impressive or colourful, just some steaming areas, which pale in comparison to Wai-O-Tapu or Waimangu Volcanic Valley. I didn’t love this one, but it’s a good budget option.
Save your hard-earned money on experiences!
Definitely check out BookMe to see if there are any discounts on these geothermal walks in Rotorua before you pay the full price! They often have great deals on. Then of course, there’s always GetYourGuide for tickets and other fun stuff in the area as well.