Rotorua Central North
5
Day Itinerary •
New Zealand
Five days in Rotorua and the Central North Island give you the full extraordinary sweep of New Zealand's most geothermally active region, from the erupting Pohutu Geyser and the Maori cultural immersion of Tamaki Village to the vivid Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu, the extraordinary Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Huka Falls, the glowworm caves at Waitomo, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the spectacular Mount Maunganui beach. This route covers the complete Central North Island. Te Puia and Tamaki Maori Village, Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal parks, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Huka Falls and Lake Taupo, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing through the volcanic craters, and the extraordinary Mount Maunganui beach and harbour on the Bay of Plenty coast.
Best Time To Visit
Nov to Apr for Tongariro Crossing. Year-round for geothermal.
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$420 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to challenging. Tongariro Crossing is a hard full-day walk.
DAY 1
ROTORUA MAORI
MORNING
TE PUIA GEOTHERMAL PARK AND POHUTU GEYSER
Te Puia contains the extraordinary Pohutu Geyser, the most active in the Southern Hemisphere erupting to 30 metres up to 20 times per day. The remarkable Ngati Wahiao carved meeting house, the extraordinary Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where master carvers and weavers work in a living school, and the remarkable geothermal landscape of mud pools, silica terraces and steam vents give the finest single geothermal and cultural attraction in Rotorua. Entry approx NZ$55. Travel: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
POLYNESIAN SPA AND ROTORUA LAKEFRONT
The Polynesian Spa is the most extraordinary geothermal bathing experience in Rotorua, its remarkable collection of outdoor pools fed by two different natural mineral springs giving pools of varying temperatures with extraordinary views over Lake Rotorua. The lake pool section gives the finest outdoor bathing in the city with views across the extraordinary steam rising from the lake surface. Entry approx NZ$30 to NZ$55 depending on pool type. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
TAMAKI MAORI VILLAGE
The Tamaki Maori Village evening cultural experience is the most extraordinary Maori immersion in New Zealand, the remarkable replica pre-European village with the extraordinary powhiri welcome ceremony, traditional games including poi and taiaha, the remarkable hangi feast cooked underground in an earth oven and the extraordinary kapa haka performance with haka giving the finest single cultural experience in the country. Approx NZ$145.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Kuirau Park free geothermal area in central Rotorua is the most extraordinary free attraction in the city, its remarkable bubbling mud pools, steaming vents and hot foot spa accessible without any entry fee. The finest introduction to the Rotorua geothermal landscape at no cost. Entirely free. Open 24 hours.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eat Streat, Rotorua Outstanding Rotorua restaurant strip. Local venison and New Zealand lamb. | Lunch: Cafe at Te Puia or Rotorua lakefront Outstanding local food with geothermal views. | Dinner: Hangi at Tamaki Outstanding traditional underground-cooked hangi feast with cultural performance.
DAY 2
WAIMANGU VALLEY
MORNING
WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY
Waimangu Volcanic Valley, formed entirely by the 1886 Tarawera eruption, contains Frying Pan Lake, the largest natural hot spring in the world at 38,000 square metres. The extraordinary Inferno Crater Lake whose vivid turquoise water rises and falling on a 38-day cycle, the remarkable steaming Waimangu Cauldron and the extraordinary hydrothermal explosion craters give the finest volcanic valley walk in New Zealand. The 45-minute walk to the lake is outstanding. Entry approx NZ$50. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
HELL'S GATE GEOTHERMAL PARK AND MUD SPA
Hell's Gate is the most extraordinary dark geothermal experience in Rotorua, its remarkable Kakahi Falls, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, and the extraordinary mud pool spa where visitors bathe in warm volcanic mud giving a unique experience. The park was named by George Bernard Shaw who said it reminded him of Hell. The extraordinary steaming landscape and the remarkable therapeutic mud bath are outstanding. Entry approx NZ$40, spa extra. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are the most extraordinary underground experience in New Zealand, the remarkable limestone caves lit by thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms creating an extraordinary star-like ceiling of living blue light above the underground river. The boat glides silently through the darkness under the extraordinary living constellation. The remarkable cave formations and the extraordinary blackwater rafting options are outstanding. Standard tour approx NZ$60.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo is the most extraordinary alternative to the main glowworm cave, a remarkable 2-hour guided walk through a much larger cave system with extraordinary limestone formations and a larger glowworm population in a more dramatic setting. Entry approx NZ$75. The finest cave experience at Waitomo.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Rotorua Early departure for Waimangu. | Lunch: Cafe at Waimangu or Hell's Gate Outstanding geothermal park cafe. Local New Zealand food. | Dinner: Restaurant in Waitomo or Taupo Outstanding Central North Island dinner on the return.
DAY 3
WAI-O-TAPU
MORNING
WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL WONDERLAND
Wai-O-Tapu's extraordinary Champagne Pool is the most visually remarkable geothermal feature in New Zealand, its brilliant orange and green mineral deposits surrounding vivid turquoise water giving an extraordinary colour combination found nowhere else on earth. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts at 10:15am daily triggered by a soap solution. The extraordinary Artist's Palette, Devil's Bath and the steaming Primrose Terrace silica deposits are outstanding. Entry approx NZ$40. Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
HUKA FALLS AND THE WAIKATO RIVER
Huka Falls compresses the full flow of the Waikato River through a 15-metre-wide gorge before exploding over an 11-metre drop in a torrent of extraordinary blue-white water at 220,000 litres per second. The extraordinary power and brilliant colour of the water is unlike any waterfall in New Zealand. The short walk from the car park to the viewing platform above the falls is entirely free and takes less than 10 minutes. Travel: 10 min drive
AFTERNOON
LAKE TAUPO AND THE MAORI ROCK CARVINGS
Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake and a volcanic caldera of extraordinary scale. The remarkable Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay, only accessible by boat on the Whanganui River arm of the lake, give the finest living Maori carving encounter in the region. The extraordinary carvings of Ngatoroirangi and Maui carved into the volcanic rock face in the 1970s are outstanding. Boat tours from Taupo approx NZ$30 to NZ$45.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Orakei Korako geothermal park north of Taupo is the most extraordinary undiscovered geothermal park in the Central North Island, accessible only by boat across the Waikato River with extraordinary silica terraces surpassing anything at Rotorua. Entry approx NZ$45. Almost entirely unknown internationally. The finest hidden gem in the region.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Early departure for Wai-O-Tapu to reach Lady Knox Geyser by 10:15am. | Lunch: Cafe at Wai-O-Tapu Outstanding thermal park cafe. Local New Zealand food. | Dinner: Plateau Restaurant, Taupo Outstanding Taupo restaurant. Local Lake Taupo trout and lamb.
DAY 4
TAUPO AND HUKA
MORNING
ORAKEI KORAKO HIDDEN GEOTHERMAL PARK
Orakei Korako on the Waikato River is the most extraordinary undiscovered geothermal park in New Zealand, its remarkable Emerald Terrace of iridescent silica the finest intact silica terrace in the country following the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces. The boat crossing to the park and the extraordinary cave with its hot pool inside are outstanding. The park sees a fraction of the visitors of Rotorua's parks yet is arguably more beautiful. Entry approx NZ$45. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK ARRIVAL
The drive from Taupo to Tongariro National Park gives the extraordinary first views of the three volcanic peaks, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, rising above the remarkable Rangipo Desert plateau. The extraordinary approach through the tussock and volcanic desert landscape is unlike anywhere else in New Zealand. The Whakapapa visitor centre gives the finest context for the volcanic landscape and the Maori significance of the peaks. Visitor centre free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
WHAKAPAPA VILLAGE AND TONGARIRO PREPARATION
Whakapapa village has the extraordinary Bayview Chateau Tongariro, one of New Zealand's finest historic hotels, set directly below the Ruapehu summit. The remarkable village gives the finest evening view of the volcanic peaks in the Central North Island. Prepare for the Tongariro Crossing by checking weather at doc.govt.nz, booking the shuttle at Mangatepopo and packing provisions for the full crossing day.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Desert Road section of State Highway 1 south of Taupo is the most extraordinary road in the Central North Island, the remarkable tarmac crossing the Rangipo volcanic desert plateau below the three volcanoes giving the finest volcanic landscape drive in New Zealand. Entirely free. The most extraordinary drive approach to Tongariro National Park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Taupo Early breakfast before the Orakei Korako drive. | Lunch: Picnic at Orakei Korako Pack provisions. Outstanding setting beside the Waikato River. | Dinner: Chateau Tongariro restaurant Outstanding historic hotel dining below the Ruapehu volcano.
DAY 5
TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING
MORNING
TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING START
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is consistently rated the finest single-day walk in New Zealand, its remarkable 19.4km route across the active Tongariro volcanic field starting at 1,120 metres at Mangatepopo. The extraordinary South Crater, Red Crater and the vivid Emerald Lakes are the highlights of New Zealand's most spectacular alpine landscape. Start at 7am for the finest light on the craters and to avoid the crowds at the summit. The shuttle from Whakapapa takes 20 minutes. Travel: 5 to 7 hour hike
MIDDAY
RED CRATER AND THE EMERALD LAKES
The Red Crater at 1,886 metres is the highest point on the Tongariro Crossing, its extraordinary rust-red volcanic vent above the vivid Emerald Lakes giving the finest single viewpoint on the crossing. The remarkable Emerald Lakes, their extraordinary vivid green colour from dissolved minerals, and the Blue Lake above give the most extraordinary naturally coloured landscape in New Zealand. The descent from Red Crater to the lakes is steep but extraordinary. Travel: 2 hour descent
AFTERNOON
KETETAHI DESCENT AND CROSSING COMPLETION
The descent from the Emerald Lakes through the extraordinary alpine scrub and native bush to the Ketetahi road end gives the finest farewell to the Tongariro volcanic plateau, the remarkable Ketetahi hot springs visible below the track and the extraordinary view back up to the Red Crater above. The total crossing time is 6 to 8 hours. The shuttle returns to Whakapapa from the Ketetahi road end.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Taranaki Falls loop walk from Whakapapa is the most extraordinary short walk in Tongariro National Park, a remarkable 2-hour loop through ancient lava flows and native bush to a 20-metre waterfall with extraordinary views of the Ruapehu summit above. Entirely free. The finest short walk in Tongariro National Park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Pack breakfast for trailhead Early departure. Be at Mangatepopo by 7am. | Lunch: Pack lunch for the crossing No facilities on the crossing. Bring substantial food and 2 litres of water. | Dinner: Restaurant in Whakapapa or Taupo Outstanding farewell Central North Island dinner after the extraordinary crossing.
Where To Stay
Rotorua, Nights 1 to 2 Princes Gate Hotel or Pullman Rotorua. City centre. Approx NZ$180 to NZ$350. Taupo, Night 3 to 4 Wairakei Resort or Suncourt Hotel. Lake Taupo. Approx NZ$160 to NZ$350. Whakapapa, Night 5 Bayview Chateau Tongariro or National Park village. Approx NZ$150 to NZ$400.
Top Tips
1. Book the Tongariro shuttle and the Waitomo glowworm tour well ahead. Both fill quickly in summer.
2. The Tamaki Maori Village dinner show is the finest Maori cultural experience in New Zealand. Book ahead.
3. Wai-O-Tapu Lady Knox Geyser erupts at 10:15am every day. Arrive by 10am to get a good position.
4. The Tongariro Crossing requires a full day. Start by 7am and pack 2 to 3 litres of water per person.
5. Check doc.govt.nz for Tongariro Crossing conditions before departing. It closes in bad weather.
6. The Orakei Korako hidden geothermal park is far better than its fame suggests. A must-do near Taupo.
Total Budget
Approx NZ$200 to NZ$420 per person per day