Rotorua Central North
3
Day Itinerary •
New Zealand
Three days in Rotorua and Central North Island take you through the most extraordinary geothermal landscape in the Southern Hemisphere, where the earth steams, bubbles and erupts across the most active volcanic zone in New Zealand. From the extraordinary Pohutu Geyser at Te Puia erupting to 30 metres and the vivid Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu to the remarkable Maori cultural experience at Tamaki Maori Village and the extraordinary Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This route covers the essential Rotorua and Central North. Te Puia geothermal park with Pohutu Geyser and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, the extraordinary Waimangu Volcanic Valley formed in the 1886 Tarawera eruption, Wai-O-Tapu with its vivid coloured pools, Lake Taupo and the Huka Falls, and the extraordinary Tongariro Alpine Crossing through the volcanic craters of the central plateau.
Best Time To Visit
Year-round. Nov to Apr for Tongariro Crossing. Jun to Aug quieter.
Getting There
Fly or drive from Auckland (3 hours) or Wellington (4.5 hours).
Getting Around
Car essential throughout the Central North Island.
Budget Per Day
Approx NZ$200 to NZ$400 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Tongariro Crossing is a full-day hard hike.
DAY 1
ROTORUA GEOTHERMAL
MORNING
TE PUIA GEOTHERMAL PARK AND POHUTU GEYSER
Te Puia is the most extraordinary geothermal park in Rotorua, its remarkable Pohutu Geyser erupting to heights of 20 to 30 metres up to 20 times per day making it the most active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. The extraordinary Ngati Wahiao meeting house, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where master carvers and weavers work, and the remarkable mud pools and silica terraces give the finest combined geothermal and cultural experience in New Zealand. Entry approx NZ$55. Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
KUIRAU PARK FREE GEOTHERMAL AREA
Kuirau Park in central Rotorua is the most extraordinary free geothermal attraction in the city, its remarkable bubbling mud pools, steaming vents and the hot water foot spa right beside the main road giving the finest accessible geothermal experience in New Zealand at no cost. The extraordinary Rotorua lakefront promenade a short walk away gives the finest view over the city's thermal lake and the Mokoia Island in the centre. Entirely free. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
TAMAKI MAORI VILLAGE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
The Tamaki Maori Village evening experience is the most extraordinary Maori cultural immersion in New Zealand, its remarkable replica pre-European village with the extraordinary powhiri welcome ceremony, the traditional games, the remarkable hangi feast cooked in the earth oven and the extraordinary kapa haka performance giving the finest single Maori cultural experience in the country. The powhiri, where visitors must choose a chief, is outstanding. Approx NZ$145.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Hell's Gate geothermal park east of Rotorua is the most extraordinary dark geothermal experience in NZ, its remarkable Kakahi Falls, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, and the extraordinary mud spa where visitors bathe in volcanic mud. Entry approx NZ$40. The most extraordinary alternative geothermal experience to Te Puia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eat Streat, Rotorua Outstanding Rotorua restaurant strip. Local venison and New Zealand breakfast. | Lunch: Cafe at Te Puia Outstanding cafe at the geothermal park. Local Maori-inspired food. | Dinner: Hangi at Tamaki Maori Village Outstanding traditional hangi feast cooked underground in earth oven.
DAY 2
WAIMANGU AND WAI-O-TAPU
MORNING
WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY
Waimangu Volcanic Valley is the most extraordinary volcanic landscape in New Zealand, formed entirely by the catastrophic 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera which killed 153 people and buried the famous Pink and White Terraces. The extraordinary Inferno Crater Lake with its vivid turquoise water rising and falling on a 38-day cycle, the remarkable Frying Pan Lake which is the largest hot spring in the world, and the extraordinary steaming cliff faces are outstanding. Entry approx NZ$50. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL WONDERLAND
Wai-O-Tapu is the most extraordinary coloured geothermal park in New Zealand, its remarkable Champagne Pool of brilliant orange and green mineral deposits around vivid turquoise water, the Artist's Palette of multicoloured silica terraces and the extraordinary Lady Knox Geyser erupting at 10:15am daily giving the finest natural colour spectacle in the country. The remarkable Devil's Bath pool of vivid fluorescent green-yellow water is outstanding. Entry approx NZ$40. Travel: 45 min drive to Taupo
AFTERNOON
LAKE TAUPO AND THE TAUPO WATERFRONT
Lake Taupo is the most extraordinary lake in New Zealand, a volcanic caldera lake of 619 square kilometres formed by a supereruption approximately 1,800 years ago so powerful it temporarily changed the colour of the sky in Rome and China. The extraordinary lake gives a view of the Tongariro volcanic peaks above. The remarkable Taupo waterfront and the extraordinary Maori rock carvings accessible by boat on the Whanganui River are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Orakei Korako geothermal park north of Taupo is the most extraordinary hidden geothermal experience in the Central North Island, accessible only by boat across the Waikato River, its extraordinary silica terraces the finest in New Zealand, surpassing the destroyed Pink and White Terraces in beauty. Entry approx NZ$45. Almost entirely unknown internationally.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Rotorua Early departure for Waimangu before the tour groups. | Lunch: Cafe at Wai-O-Tapu Outstanding cafe at the thermal park. Local New Zealand food. | Dinner: Plateau Restaurant, Taupo Outstanding Taupo restaurant. Local Lake Taupo trout and New Zealand lamb.
DAY 3
TAUPO AND TONGARIRO
MORNING
HUKA FALLS AND THE WAIKATO RIVER
Huka Falls on the Waikato River near Taupo is the most extraordinary waterfall in New Zealand by volume, the entire flow of the Waikato River compressed through an extraordinary 15-metre-wide gorge before exploding over an 11-metre drop in a remarkable torrent of brilliant blue-white water. The extraordinary power of the falls, with 220,000 litres per second passing through the narrows, is the finest single spectacle near Taupo. A short walk from the car park. Entirely free. Travel: 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING START
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the most extraordinary day walk in New Zealand, its remarkable 19.4km route across an active volcanic plateau past the extraordinary emerald and blue crater lakes of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro giving the finest alpine landscape in the country. The walk starts at Mangatepopo and ends at Ketetahi, requiring a shuttle bus at both ends. The extraordinary Red Crater at the highest point at 1,886 metres is outstanding. Walk free, shuttles approx NZ$35. Travel: 5 to 7 hour hike
AFTERNOON
TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING COMPLETION
The second half of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing descends from the extraordinary Red Crater past the vivid Emerald Lakes and the Blue Lake through the remarkable Ketetahi steam vents and the extraordinary native bush to the Ketetahi car park. The entire crossing takes 6 to 8 hours. The remarkable views of Mount Ruapehu, the Rangipo Desert and Lake Rotoaira from the high point are the finest in the Central North Island. Finish at Ketetahi road end.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tongariro National Park visitor centre at Whakapapa is the most extraordinary mountain visitor centre in New Zealand, its remarkable exhibits on the volcanic geology and Maori mythology of the three volcanoes giving the finest context for the crossing. Entirely free. The extraordinary evening view of Ruapehu from the Whakapapa village is outstanding.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Taupo Early departure. Be at the Tongariro trailhead by 7am. | Lunch: Pack lunch for Tongariro Crossing No facilities on the crossing. Bring all food and water. | Dinner: Restaurant in Taupo or Whakapapa Outstanding central plateau dinner after the extraordinary crossing.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Rotorua, Night 1 Princes Gate Hotel or Pullman Rotorua. City centre. Approx NZ$180 to NZ$350. Taupo, Night 2 Wairakei Resort or Huka Lodge area. Lake Taupo location. Approx NZ$180 to NZ$400.
Top Tips
1. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing requires an early start. Be at the trailhead by 7am in summer.
2. Book the Tamaki Maori Village dinner show in advance. One of the finest cultural experiences in NZ.
3. Wai-O-Tapu is most extraordinary in morning light. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15am.
4. The Polynesian Spa in Rotorua is the finest geothermal bathing in the city. Book ahead for the lake pools.
5. Check Tongariro Crossing weather at doc.govt.nz before departing. The crossing can close in bad conditions.
6. Rotorua smells of sulphur throughout the city. This is entirely normal and part of the extraordinary experience.
Total Budget
Approx NZ$200 to NZ$400 per person per day