Home > Rotorua > Rotorua Eco Thermal Small Group Morning Tour
USD $113.00
Rotorua Eco Thermal Small Group Morning Tour
Rotorua, New Zealand
Explore the technicolor hot springs of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on a guided half-day tour of New Zealand’s most extensive geothermal site. Walk along well-groomed trails that skirt volcanic craters and natural hot pools in a surreal range of vibrant colors. Witness the daily eruption of the Lady Knox Geyser and take in the highlights of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Small-group tour limited to a maximum of 12 people allows for a more customized experience with your expert guide.
After morning pickup from your Rotorua hotel, travel about 25 minutes in a comfortable minivan to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, taking in the sight of farmland and forests as you drive.
Upon arrival at Wai-O-Tapu, your experienced guide leads you along well-marked paths to reach a series of brilliantly colored natural pools of steaming hot water that bubble with geothermal activity. Hear a morning presentation about the Lady Knox Geyser and watch the daily eruption that shoots a fountain of water high into the air.
Your guide explains how the Tarawera Volcano eruption in 1866 formed the park's natural hot springs that glow in bright yellow, orange and turquoise colors. Your guide also points out examples of how the native bush regenerated after the eruption. As you take in bubbling mud pools, steaming lakes and more, you’ll understand why Wai-O-Tapu is considered one of the world’s most surreal places.
Expect a leisurely walk along wide trails with plenty of time for photo ops and informative commentary from your guide. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have as you admire the otherworldly beauty of Wai-O-Tapu.
See even more geothermal spots during a short drive through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Your guide explains the ways that local Maori people have used the sites as well as how New Zealand’s volcanic processes work.
At the end of your 4-hour tour, your guide returns you to your Rotorau hotel.
Really interesting small group means easy to interact with guide. Tour guide very good but main thing is you can't come here and not see the amazing thermal activity on show. Another amazing world to see.
Review by: ibiddcons, March 2018
This tour was very good for people who enjoy walking tours but your advertisement did not emphasis that it included a 50 minute walking tour on a sloped terrain. If I had known that I would not have registered as I have a heart condition and found the tour difficult.
Review by: Michelle M, March 2018
Driver/tour guide, Linda, was very knowledgeable. This tour involved quite a bit of walking, both up and down hill, so reasonable level of fitness is required. We saw a geyser erupt and saw lots of geothermal pools of varying colours. Was very educational and definitely a highlight whilst in Rotorua!
Review by: NELSON S, March 2018
Very interesting and worth it
Review by: Tony, February 2018
We had experienced thermal phenomena before, but Rotorua is unique in size--it is very extensive, and it's got it all. Bubbling mud, steam vents, multi-colored mineral earth and a geyser. The geyser eruption if under human control. This is a great outdoor learning adventure for children and for anyone who doesn't realize what lies below terra firma.
Review by: shigeki, January 2018
It was a great tour thanks to the wonderful guide Linda. This tour is highly recommend if you are interested in geysers and some walking.
Review by: Douglas B, October 2017
Really enjoyable tour with a friendly and informative tour guide Linda.
Review by: Jaclyn R, September 2017
Very informative and fun tour! I got Brian and Linda as our tour guide. Recommended if you want to know more about the history and know more about maori culture.
Review by: Jiaxi L, August 2017
It's an awesome tour, I, myself have two tour guides with me, and we are all fans of GoT :-p_br/_ The Eco Thermal Parks are amazing, The are colorful and mysterious. I can learn lots of chemistry knowledge too :-
Review by: vincemooney, July 2017
Fascinating tour with a very knowledgeable guide. A must if you are in this area
Review by: Natalie D, April 2017
This was a great tour well worth the price. Trent is very personable and extremely knowledgeable. The tour itself is fascinating as we had never seen any kind of geothermal or volcano related stuff before. Cheers
Review by: FERNANDO A, April 2017
Really interesting tour. Great guy Trent, the guide and driver.
Review by: drbuddyj, March 2017
Took this tour with Trent. What an awesome tour. Trent was extremely knowledgeable...fully versed in the geothermal sciences behind the wonders of nature we witnessed on the tour. He was witty, patient and very informative. Being a native of Rotorua added to his narrative based on first hand experiences over many years. Couldn't give this one a higher rating...if I could I would.
Review by: Michael D, March 2017
Best tour that we have been on guide was great
Review by: MARINA N, February 2017
This was a great, perfect tour. The park is so beautiful and the guide was so kind and informative.
Review by: Mary A, February 2017
Great locations, very welcoming friendly guide, lots of info related to Maori customs and the Rotorua area. Excellent.
Review by: Joseph M, February 2017
This is normally a group tour but ended up being a private tour the day I did it. The drive out to the sight takes about half an hour and the guide times it so that you'll see their largest spout go off when one of the rangers stimulates it, then get to walk around the rest of the area a few miles away champagne pool, steaming rivers etc. This general walk is constrained a bit by needing to be timed with the sight's shuttle busses to get a lift from the end of the walk back to the visitor's centre, so it was a pretty brisk walk considering all the hills, but there was also free time in one of the visitor centres we walked around two sights, and the guide was happy to drop people off anywhere in Rotorua.
Review by: Jennifer L, February 2017
The small group tour was amazing! Trent was personable and knowledgeable as our expert guide. We got our money's worth with this experience!
Review by: Glenn H, January 2017
Excellent tour with a very friendly and knowable guide. His interaction with us and the other tour guides was brilliant and it was clear to see Robbie took time and patience to make sure we saw all we wanted and had time to enjoy and learn something about the area and its sights.
Review by: Jeffrey T, November 2016
This tour was awesome! The guide was very knowledgeable of each location we visited. Some very cool crates and geo-thermal sights I've never seen in my life. Easy to communicate with, they picked us up from our hotel and dropped off same.. Thank you!
Review by: Mts G, October 2016
Amazing tour, well worth the time and money, excellent guide with so much local knowledge
Review by: agnetha.foong, September 2016
What an educational and interesting experience. My group and I really enjoyed walking around and exploring the different thermal sites, getting to know nature better. Our guide, Huru, was very friendly.
Review by: Anne-Marie L, July 2016
Amazing tour and the guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely recommend to friends and family.
Review by: Kristen P, June 2016
Great tour guide
Review by: Helen n, March 2016
This was a fabulous trip, despite the pouring rain ! Our guide, Huru sp? was fantastic, and in fact we my friend and I stayed on for the afternoon trip. In the morning we visited Wai-O-Tapu thermal area and the Waimangu Volcanic valley, and in the afternoon we visited a Maori village, the blue lake, lake Tarawera and Te Puia where we saw a Kiwi!. The whole day was interesting, fascinating, informative and full. Although I had been to a couple of the places before, having such a knowledgeable guide, and being driven, made the experience that much better. Our guide is a full-blooded Maori and hearing about the culture as well as the places we visited was really absorbing. A great trip - both the morning and afternoon, and trips that I would certainly recommend.
Review by: strugatch, February 2016
Great guide for two amazing venues. A wonderful way to explore Rotorua.
Review by: Larry, February 2016
Nice tour of the geysers and ecological systems in the area. Small group is nice and tour guide was native Maorian.
Review by: Christine S, February 2016
Was a great little trip. Our tour guide was Maori who was very accommodating. There were only four of us on the tour, and we were both late, and he still managed to get us back on time without us feeling rushed. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Review by: David R, February 2016
A fabulous tour. A great guide, very knowledgeable and informative, with a great sense of humour and quick-wit thrown in. Never thought we'd be able to get so close to the thermal springs. Best thing we've done since we arrived in NZ.
Review by: Colin E, January 2016
Trent was an excellent tour guide, informed and informative. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Review by: ZHM, January 2016
Very informative guide
Review by: Kai A, December 2015
Awesome tour and the guide was very friendly and very funny too!! Saw some amazing sites and learned a lot about the Volcanic and tectonic nature of the area.
Review by: Ana L, November 2015
Amazing tour, wonderful and unique landscape. And Trent is the best guide ever! He gave us plenty of information about Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua and New Zealand. He also shared with us a really nice dose of great sense of humour! We'll definitely do this tour again when we go back to NZ, it's a must!
Review by: d86rod, June 2015
Rotoura is an amazing area. The geothermal areas are beautiful. Our tour guide Trent was awesome. His knowledge of the area and history of New Zealand and Maori culture is 2nd to none.
Review by: Cliff, June 2015
New Zealand itself is beautiful but this just opened up another part of the Island that was incredible. What made this more so was Trent our guide. His knowledge of the surrounding area and the formations you witness was not only interesting but his explanations were easy to understand. He even took the silly questions in his stride and came out with some good humour as well. I believe this is worth doing as you get a better understanding of what is occurring in the region plus the spectacular views and excellent commentary. 'Trent may you always walk on water'
Review by: Mary Ann W, June 2015
This tour was excellent. A great deal of credit goes to Trent, the driver/tour guide, who provided great information and background on this amazing part of the world. I recommend it to anyone. Not too strenuous, and gets one out into the thermal areas and parks.
Review by: Matthew S, May 2015
Amazing guide, exploring some fab sights
Review by: Wendy L, May 2015
Brilliant tour terrific knowledgeable guide Trent should be highly recommended
Review by: christine w, March 2015
patrick our tour guide was great just enough information the thermal areas we went to were great mud pools were my highlight we saw the geyser erupt and visiting all the thermal areas
Review by: Julie T, March 2015
Covered all the main things to see, and did it very well
Review by: Luca C, March 2015
Fantastic way to see and learn about all of Rotoruas main sites and history behind them, made even better by a great tour guide Trent! A must!
Review by: manuel m, March 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Simone L, March 2015
Great Tour. Good time managment. Well organised.
Review by: Jing S, March 2015
our guide, Huru is fantastic! small group, only 3 people in our tour. highly recommend it.
Review by: Amanda S, February 2015
Loved it. Very entertaining and knowledgeable guide.
Review by: Ruth M, February 2015
The tour was great. Was on my own but the tour guide made sure I was ok and made sure he took photos for me along the way.
Review by: Sergey Kondratenko, September 2014
Excellent tour! Highly Recommend.
Review by: Erin M, July 2014
Awesome!
Review by: Erin M, July 2014
Awesome!
Review by: furumotoi, April 2014
Trent was a super guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and up beat, never a dull moment! As advertised, small group and memorable tour, somehow managed to avoid the large crowds. We felt like cherished relatives. Thanks for Kia Ora experience!!
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