Breathtaking Waimangu & Rotomahana: Tauranga Volcanic Day Trip
Price From $135.89 per person
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Leaving Tauranga you head south through rolling farmland and forestry, past Lake Rotorua and on to the magical Waimangu Valley where your guide will take you through the world’s youngest geothermal valley. Starting at the head of the valley you will wind your way down the 4 klm walk, passing a range of geothermal activity, hot springs, volcanic craters, and wildlife. Some highlights to look out for include the world's largest hot spring, and the brilliant blue Inferno Crater. The trails ultimately lead you down to the lake, where you’ll enjoy a relaxing 45 minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana. On the cruise, you'll encounter stunning geothermal activity only accessible by boat, as well as rare native birdlife, and stunning views across the lake at the imposing Mount Tarawera. You can also listen to the onboard commentary of the historic stories of the lake, and hear about the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption that covered and destroyed the pink and white terraces.
Reviews
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Suballin759, 3/20/2025 3:00:45 PM
A very nice and informative trip. However, The van was not comfortable. I was stuck in the very back as a family with 2 teens took up all the front seats.
Christine_H, 3/17/2025 4:14:19 PM
The driver, Robert, was easy to find outside the cruise ship. Robert was charming and knowledgeable. The van ride was comfortable. I really enjoyed the changes in the vegetation as we walked down the hill.
Carol_W, 3/4/2025 4:09:09 PM
Although this adventure was a 90 minute drive from the port, it was well worth it. I love the small group tours and our tour guide, Robert, was so informative. Robert met us right in the pier and was an excellent tour guide. The hike and boat ride on Lake Rotomahana was beautiful!
Claudia_K, 3/4/2025 1:58:06 PM
Incredible experience! Tour guide was fabulous and did a fantastic job in explaining and giving us the history of this area. I would highly recommend this tour.
Margaret_T, 3/2/2025 11:41:25 PM
We were on a cruise ship and met up with our tour guide within a very short walk from our ship. Very well organized! We rode in a small comfortable 10/11 passenger van. Our driver and guide, Robert, was very knowledgeable and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our ride through the suburb of Mt. Maynganui and surrounding area. Once we reached the Waimangu Volcanic Valley we enjoyed the 2.5 mile walk to Lake Rotoma. The trail is mostly gravel, so wear good tennis shoes, not flip-flops. Bring water. We saw geothermal activity, hot springs, and beautiful scenery all around. The boat ride was great! We learned the history of the lake and viewed geothermal activity that surrounded us. After the tour we were shuttled back to where we started our walk, and then Robert got us all back to our ship in plenty of time. No worries!
Della_H, 3/1/2025 6:24:20 PM
This was a great tour! On the ride to volcanic springs and lake, we stopped at a kiwi farm and learned about that. Then we arrived at the volcanic area and had a terrific walk through the craters, seeing and learning about the hot springs and waters. We took a short boat ride on the lake and saw where the great white and pink terraces had once stood. A totally fun and wonderful filled day.
AvgMom2Travel, 2/24/2025 5:15:04 PM
When our cruise ship docked in Port Rotorua last month, we took this 7-hr Waimangu Geothermal Valley and Lake Rotomahana Tour with Wicked Wanders, booked via Viator before leaving home. The day was beautiful and the tour was as wonderful as advertised! Robert picked us up at the port with other couples. He was very knowledgeable and friendly and answered everyone’s questions. We moved at a comfortable pace and were never rushed. The boat ride on the lake was also very well done with the captain narrating along the way. Robert kept the schedule and we were back at the port in a timely manner. The only thing that was bothersome about our tour that day (and completely NOT Robert’s fault) was having this mother and her adult daughter walking alongside us -- as though they were part of our group. The mother asked Robert a lot of questions and he was very kind to answer her. In the beginning, our group tolerated their presence, but as the day went on, it became bit much. The mother especially took gazillion photos of her daughter and sometimes acted like we were in her way. Had the mother offered Robert something at the end, it would’ve been more acceptable, but the only thing she offered him was her cough drops. While you can walk the park on your own, book this tour to have more meaningful visit. It makes a world of difference to have an experienced guide to lead the way.
Janeth_F, 2/19/2025 10:34:31 AM
We booked this excursion expecting a hike to a beautiful lake and then a boat ride around the lake. Our guide was very nice but obviously was told the boat ride part of the trip would not happen so he filled the void with a longer hike and odd side trip. It was a long day with only half of what we paid for. We should have been given the option to book another tour or get a refund I do not recommend this tour
Marijo_E, 2/18/2025 6:21:19 PM
Truly phenomenal experience seeing so much geothermal activity in one area. The area is beautiful. The tree ferns are beautiful. The area is unique and we saw a lot of black swans in the lake. We went for a boat ride around the lake. Would highly recommend.
Trail27084872894, 2/15/2025 7:00:24 PM
We researched our Rotorua tour well ahead of time and we were looking forward to the day, with the highlight being the lake cruise. Unfortunately when we were seated on the small tour coach we were informed that due to time constraints with the passengers from the cruise ship we would not be going on the boat. We paid $460 for the day. Robert was a knowledgeable and informative guide. John Hogan
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Departure point
Please meet at the WICKED WANDERS sign board on the grassy mound opposite the port gates.Return details
Leaving Tauranga you head south through rolling farmland and forestry, past Lake Rotorua and on to the magical Waimangu Valley where your guide will take you through the world’s youngest geothermal valley. Starting at the head of the valley you will wind your way down the 4 klm walk, passing a range of geothermal activity, hot springs, volcanic craters, and wildlife. Some highlights to look out for include the world's largest hot spring, and the brilliant blue Inferno Crater. The trails ultimately lead you down to the lake, where you’ll enjoy a relaxing 45 minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana. On the cruise, you'll encounter stunning geothermal activity only accessible by boat, as well as rare native birdlife, and stunning views across the lake at the imposing Mount Tarawera. You can also listen to the onboard commentary of the historic stories of the lake, and hear about the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption that covered and destroyed the pink and white terraces.Redemption
Thank you for booking with Wicked Wanders Tours. ***PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOU HAVE BOOKED THE CORRECT DATE, TIME AND PICKUP LOCATION*** If you have any specific questions or requirements regarding your booking with us that is outside of pick-up location and food allergies etc, please contact us directly via email or direct message so we can action it in a timely manner. When we are busy, we may not be able to check the booking notes until the days leading up to your tour and by then it may be too late to accommodate your request. IMPORTANT: You will receive an automated reminder three weeks prior to your travel date with all the information regarding where to meet on the day, as well as a confirmed departure time for the tour which may differ to the time on your original booking. Please look for this. If you book less than three weeks prior to your travel date, we will still manually send you the meeting information. CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS: If you are traveling by cruise ship it is important we have a contactable phone number or email address that we can reach you on if anything changes. We appreciate that you may not want to pay for internet on the ship but at the very least you must regularly check your messages while ashore. We take no responsibility in the unlikely event that things change last minute, and we cannot contact you. If you are starting your cruise in New Zealand, we recommend you purchase a prepaid New Zealand SIM card before boarding and notify us of the number. Thank you and happy holidaying.24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund




