Rotorua New Zealand 🇳🇿 Geothermal Wonderland & Geyser Wai-O-Tapu New Zealand

Join us on a tour around the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, located on the North Island of New Zealand.

Adding Wai-O-Tapu to your list of must-see places is the perfect way to experience the unrestrained power of Earth and the beauty of the Rotorua region.

This unique piece of land is actually an active geothermal area and part of a volcanic zone. So, while exploring Wai-O-Tapu, we were really walking on a volcano!

Alongside the picturesque landscapes, there was the appalling stink caused by the mixture of elements coming from within Earth’s belly.

Because of the strong and unpredictable geothermal activity, there were caution signs all over the area warning visitors to evacuate immediately if a siren went off. For the same reason, we were advised to watch our steps and stick to the marked trails and viewpoints.

There were three different trails around Wai-O-Tapu — red, orange, and green — combined into 3km-long tracks, which took 90 minutes to cover. However, we suggest that you take between 3 and 4 hours to enjoy the beautiful viewpoints and incredible landscapes.

At the start of the red trail, we saw a few open craters, including the famous Devil’s Home and Rainbow Crater. Then we walked across the boardwalk that led over a boiling mud terrace. The sight was more than other-worldly.

Our next stop was the Champagne Pool. Measuring 65m diameter and 62m deep, it’s the largest hot spring in Wai-O-Tapu and nothing short of breathtaking. The name of the hot spring comes from its champagne-looking surface caused by the carbon dioxide bubbles.

Right at the end of the red trail, we saw probably one of Nature’s most incredible works of art. The Inferno Crater, a.k.a. Devil’s Bath, looked like someone photoshopped this small lake in a lime green color.

We visited Wai-O-Tapu’s gift shop on our way out, where they sell natural products made with materials and elements from the volcanic park itself.

Since we missed the eruption of the famous Lady Knox Geyser, we decided to return the following day.

Although slightly away from the main Wai-O-Tapu area, the Lady Knox Geyser is still considered part of the Thermal Wonderland. Every morning, the geyser goes off at precisely 10:15. To produce this timely effect requires more than just Mother Nature though 🙂 Years ago while prisoners were doing laundry in the geyser area, the soap they were using caused a chemical reaction that resulted in a near-immediate eruption. To this day, the same trick is employed to make the Lady Knox Geyser erupt.

Since we were back we decided to go for a another loop around the park.

Passing through the Sacred Red Track, we arrived at the Green Walk - the most active area of the volcanic zone. Stopping occasionally to admire the views, we were also enthralled by an emergency assembly point halfway to Lake Ngakoro.

Ngakoro Lake and Waterfall at the far end of Wai-O-Tapu are highlights you shouldn’t miss. So are the Sulphur Cave and the Oyster Pool.

Standing for “Sacred Water” in Maōri, Wai-O-Tapu gave us the perfect opportunity to get close and personal with mother nature. It’s a one-of-a-kind place that everyone should experience.

Enjoy the video and stay tuned for many more videos exploring the beauty and uniqueness of the Rotorua area.

0:00 Hello from Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
1:41 We Are Walking on a Volcano!
2:15 Rotorua Smells Like Rotten Eggs 🤢
2:44 Devil’s Home and Other Craters
4:00 Crossing the Mud Terrace on the Boardwalk
4:34 Champagne Pool - Largest Hot Spring in Wai-O-Tapu
4:53 Inferno Crater - Devil's Bath
5:58 Rotorua Tourism Information Corner
6:05 Eruption of Lady Knox Geyser
6:15 How Prisoners Discovered the Lady Knox Geyser
7:58 Choosing Your Walking Track at Wai-O-Tapu
8:26 Beautiful Lookout of Champagne Pool
9;12 Wai-O-Tapu Wildlife
9:42 Wai-O-Tapu Green Walk
11:05 NZ Emergency Assembly Point
12:03 Wai-O-Tapu Lake Ngakoro and Waterfall
12:50 Wai-O-Tapu Sulphur Cave
12:59 Wai-O-Tapu Oyster Pool