The 15 Best Geothermal Tours in Rotorua

1.Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,601 reviews · 3 months · from $28Our pick

Walk three marked trails through Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, seeing Champagne Pool, Artist’s Palette, Devil’s Bath, bubbling mud, and steaming ground. Arrive by 10:15am for Lady Knox Geyser, then return to explore at your own pace. Parking, a map, café, toilets, and picnic areas are provided.

“Very well organized. The staff was friendly and helpful. The park is maintained very well and easy to walk. Beautiful sights.”

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2.Hell’s Gate Outdoor Mud Spa & Guided Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,140 reviews · 3 hours · from $68

Spend three hours at Hell’s Gate, about 15 minutes from Rotorua, walking a steaming geothermal field, trying Māori carving, and soaking in mineral mud and sulphur pools. Choose a self-guided route or join an English tour led by guides such as Liam, Tee, Zia, or Nati.

“The tour was fantastic. Tee was our guide and he was so informative, respectful and fun. He made the tour exceptional. We highly recommend it.”

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3.Hell’s Gate Mud Bath & Spas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 475 reviews · from $55

At Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve near Rotorua, you cover your skin with mineral-rich mud, rinse, then soak in sulfur spas. Allow about an hour, bring old swimwear and a towel, and expect a lingering sulfur scent. Children can join, with age limits for each bathing area.

“We persevered with the trip despite the pouring rain and we were assured the rain would make the views even better and they were right! The walk was beautiful. We then hit the mud baths which was really fun and the hot pools after were really relaxing. All the staff were super friendly.”

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4.Hells Gate Outdoor Mud Bath & Spa Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 398 reviews · 1 hour · from $53

At Hells Gate, 15 minutes from Rotorua, you cover yourself in warm grey geothermal mud for 20 minutes, rinse, then relax in sulphur pools and a cool plunge. You can add the geothermal reserve walk, and the optional shuttle may be driven by Mike, a friendly, punctual local driver.

“The staff were all excellent and made me feel nostalgic welcome - thank you”

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5.Rotorua based Small Group Morning Tour Waimangu and Wai O Tapu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $130Top rated

Travel by air-conditioned minivan from Rotorua to Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Guides such as Clint, Phil, Shaun, Clive, and Robbie share geology, Māori culture, plants, birds, and local stories in groups capped at 15 people.

“Very knowledgeable tour guide Shaun. He made it much more interesting and we learned a lot. Really good experience for teen and adults.”

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6.The Hell’s Gate Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 338 reviews · from $71

Spend 2 to 3 hours walking among Rotorua’s mud pots, hot springs, forest, and Kakahi Falls. Choose a guided or self-guided route, try complimentary Māori carving, then relax in a mud bath and sulphur spa. Guides such as Luke and Arihi add local stories and practical tips.

“First time taking a mud bath. Could have soaked in the sulphur springs all day! We did a self guided tour of the geothermal springs. Took lots of pictures. Took an Uber there and back. Less than 10 miles out of town.”

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7.Wai O Tapu & Waimangu Eco Thermal Morning Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 320 reviews · 5 hours · from $131

Start with central Rotorua pickup, then visit Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Your English-speaking guide, such as Clive, Shaun, Phil, or Clint, leads the walks and explains the geology, Māori culture, plants, and local history. Lunch is not included.

“Our guider was very knowledgeable and a great speaker that makes our tour exceptionally interesting. Wai O Tapu and Waimangu are so impressive that exceeded my expectations.”

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8.Rotorua Lake: Deluxe Lake Spa Geothermal Hot Spring Bathing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 302 reviews · from $47

Spend a day at Polynesian Spa’s Deluxe Lake Spa beside Lake Rotorua. You get four shallow Rachel Spring alkaline pools, one Priest Spring acidic pool, a cold plunge, heated recliners, towels, lockers, toiletries, and an indoor lounge. The setting suits families and quiet morning soaks.

“The pools are managed very well. We had an amazing time.”

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9.Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 248 reviews · from $46

Walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley independently, using the Wanderer Guide or free app to understand steaming vents, Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, Lake Rotomahana, native plants, and volcanic history. Choose your pace and route, then ride the internal shuttle back uphill.

“Was a lovely area Lil disappointed I couldn’t do the full walk or boat due to renovations but what I did was mesmerising. Thankful the bus journey back up and the lil tour guide chat from the driver as I went in to explore areas he’d spoken about”

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10.Hell’s Gate Geothermal Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 217 reviews · 1 hour · from $26

Walk through Rotorua’s active Hell’s Gate geothermal reserve, alone with a map or with an English-speaking guide at 10:30 AM or 2:30 PM. See boiling pools, sulfur deposits, a mud volcano, hot waterfalls, and bush. Allow about an hour for the walk, longer for carving or the mud foot pool.

“Overall the tour was pretty great and informational. Though it can be done without a guide as the reception provides an informational booklet but having a guide helps in knowing about the history of the place. the guided tours run at specific times only (10:30 AM and 2:30 PM) There is no hot water geyser at this which might be available at other similar places”

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11.Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu and Te Puia Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 178 reviews · 8 hours · from $209

Travel from Rotorua with a local guide such as Clint, Linda, or Shaun to Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and Te Puia. Expect easy-paced walks, Māori arts, kiwi viewing, geysers, and plenty of useful commentary in a group capped at 20.

“Our guide was excellent (forgot his name, but he and his brother run the company). He really embraced the indigenous culture and knows so much about everything, friendly and down to each guy. Taught the group a great deal about everything. For each of the areas we visited the tickets are quite expensive if you look at them individually, in this case the booking included everything so no need to worry. You have to go with a guide since you just won’t get the same experience. Must see though, you can’t go to New Zealand and not see this stuff.”

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12.Waimangu Volcanic Valley Ticket & Self-Guided Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 104 reviews · from $38

Walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley at your own pace, choosing trails from 45 minutes to four hours. See Frying Pan Lake, blue Inferno Crater Lake, Echo Crater, hot springs, steam vents, native bush, and Lake Rotomahana, with a shuttle to cut the uphill walking.

“Great sites to see and very friendly staff. Highly recommend”

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13.WAI-O-TAPU Geothermal Wonderland Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 76 reviews · from $105

Join a small English-speaking group of up to 10 for a four-hour trip from Rotorua to Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, and New Zealand’s largest mud pool. Your guide handles transport and commentary, while you explore Wai-O-Tapu on a self-guided walk at your own pace.

“We all members arrived early, so the driver took us to another places: Lakeland Queen and Redwoods. So nice. Waiotapu is amazing place you need to visit. Thanks our driver, safety driving and introduced places”

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14.Scenic Flight over Mt Tarawera & Waimangu Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 25 reviews · 40 min · from $236

Join Volcanic Air for a 40-minute floatplane flight from Lake Rotorua, with about 30 minutes in the air. Fly over Mokoia Island, Mount Tarawera’s 8-kilometer crater rift, Waimangu Thermal Valley, Pohutu Geyser, and Rotorua City. Your English-speaking pilot provides commentary, and groups are limited to 10.

“Toller Flug, 40 min Dauer, abwechslungsreiche Landschaft mit super Fotomotiven, interessanter Vortrag des Piloten”

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15.Geothermal and Freshwater Combo Family Pools in New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 15 reviews · from $18Best value

Spend a full day at Polynesian Spa’s Family Pools in Rotorua. You get a 33°C freshwater pool, mini hydro slide, and two Rachel Spring alkaline mineral pools at 37°C and 40°C, with lifeguards, family changing rooms, and optional towel and swimwear hire.

“Great area for the younger children lovely to hear the excitement from the younguns”

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