Hot Water Beach campground has no facilities apart from toilets. reading other sites, and presents information in such a clear and Zorbing in Rotorua is fun for all ages. The thing about Mount Tarawera is that it takes you by surprise, and no words can do it justice when you suddenly arrive at the crater’s edge. This means fast-drying walking apparel like hiking pants, merino or gym shirt. Rotorua Canopy Tours is a perfect blend of ziplines, swing bridges, conservation & a native forest. It's plonked in the middle of a field Kaitiaki Adventures runs daily fully guided walking experiences that encompass the unique landscape and history of the area. This mostly depends on your further itinerary. long afterwards. As the land of Mount Tarawera belongs to the local Maori tribe- the only way to walk on Mount Tarawera is with a local guide. The taxi leaves from Punaromia (the Landing), at Kotukutuku Bay, and crosses Lake Tarawera to Hot Water Beach and the trail. When I first saw where the car park was situated I ride one day. Once we found the beginning, that is - not well-signposted at the time. Well done Karen Shelford. Make money while on holiday. Up, for the Lake Rotomahana view. Hopefully we get to see you in person real soon. Find all articles about Rotorua (and Taupo) here! The mountain belongs to a Maori tribe and is closed to the public. The weather in Rotorua already looked gloomy but up on Mt Tarawera, it’s worse. You'll see There's one problem with modern transport though. And there are some short but steep parts you need to climb, as well as the scree run into the crater. The noise leaves a lot to be desired. Mt Tarawera Half Day Volcanic Tours depart twice daily from Rotorua and includes expert guided walks around the summit and crater of Mt Tarawera, encompassing some of New Zealand's most stunning natural vistas, blended with the cultural and geological history of the mountain, the landscape and the people that lived near this amazing landmark. We meet our guides, Kayla and Lindsay, and hit the road for a 25-minute drive out to the Mt Tarawera Road. Katoa Jet offers high octane fun be it hair-whipping jet boating, birds-eye view parasailing or entertaining tours to Mokoia Island or Manupirua Hot Springs. No vehicle, no problem. New Zealand travel blog, unique discoveries and inspiration. Or maybe he meant running. concise way.... wish I'd encountered your site before printing off reams of info that will probably be whittled down to one page.... hope the local government and tourism people realise what a great asset and ambassador they have in you! var year=today.getFullYear() We start walking and Steve points out what we would normally see if we weren’t stuck in the clouds. Beautiful pristine forests full of Kanuka trees and tree ferns tucked away in steep valleys. The Tarawera Trail? Steve the guide skips past me like a wallaby while I run towards the bottom too, but more carefully. Take a load off and prepare to be entertained by splashing down in a World War II amphibious craft, taking to the sky (helicopter, floatplane?) encountered! Not even fresh water. And how this brought about disastrous social problems as old ways were left behind. Please check when booking. They pick us up from our hotel and together with another couple, we take on the private 4WD track to the start of the walk. The views he describes sound amazing. We were training to walk a half-marathon so did it in just over 3hrs. The Mt Tarawera Road: Where “bumpy road” is an understatement. âKaren. take the time to learn? where with the information panels. It answers all of the questions you end up having after Meanwhile, Kayla goes through the plan for the 4-5-hour trip including a hike around the crater of the volcano. Kayak Donut Island (Whenuakura): A Mystical Wonderland, Hey Kiwis, Let's Discover Our Own Backyard! ride was quick, about 15-20min, but the scenery? The complete walk is over basalt rock and sand. And above all (and as a general rule for New Zealand), wear layers! However, the last eruption was the devastating one in 1886 and it hasn’t erupted since. The red marker is the Te Waiora car park where the walk begins. Read more about the best attractions in Rotorua. NZ Travel Deals For Post-Lockdown, New Zealand Walks And Hikes You Will Love. Ha, ha. After a quick stop at the solar-powered mountain base, continue up to the beginning of the track. "Karen Hubbard - Sydney, Australia, "... There are a lot of FREE things to do in Rotorua. As this is a mountain walk, active gear is the right thing to wear. About how this trail? By Karen Shelford, A snow-capped Mount Tarawera - taken from the look-out on Tarawera Rd, just before descending to the Landing. At the bottom of the volcanic crater awaits the ‘School of Rock’ where Steve shows us various types of volcanic rocks and explains why and how they look as they do. We are living and working in Auckland but in our spare time you can often find us discovering beautiful New Zealand (also known by its Maori name Aotearoa). That area is small and wouldn't cope with the volume. Two years after first learning about the Mount Tarawera Crater Walk, Kaitiaki Adventures guides Steve and Kyle take us on the tour. See what I mean? The drive to the start of the walk takes about an hour and the last part of it is via a 4WD road. "Thank you Karen! Any questions, you know what to do. The hiking track up the mountain is for the reasonably fit only, others can take the option of a private car (not recommended as the track is very rough) or a 4-wheel drive tour. Lake views from hilltops and from lovely little bays, towards dominating mount Tarawera and mount Edgecumbe further away. Bookings can be made online at Whakarewarewa - The Living MÄori Village. document.write(year) All Rights Reserved "We are a family of four from Sydney Australia and love nature - bush to beach. All you have to do yourself is walk back to the parking lot. Phew! We pass over ridges with steep slopes and I’m glad it’s not too windy and for once relieved the clouds won’t let me see all the way down. For those of you who cannot visit New Zealand due to border closures, enjoy a virtual visit to Rotorua. One year she rented her house out for the holidays and kayaked to Hot Water Beach for her holiday. encountered! I didn’t, but instead, I discovered a tour that would lead the top of my New Zealand travel bucket list: Mount Tarawera Crater Walk. They probably smelt woodsmoke from the fires of small villages dotting the banks too, and the distinctive scent of sulphur coming out to greet them. Kotukutuku Bay, and crosses Lake Tarawera to Hot Water Beach and the trail. Climb the mountain or view it from the Lake, or do both; either is spectacular and well worth the effort involved. in the the middle of nowhere. We followed your ideas today for blue lake and green lake, and went to the Landing Cafe first, brilliant we would have missed Lake Tarawera otherwise and it is so beautiful and peaceful." Also, don’t forget to bring water! Go down the loose gravel into the crater or walk around the rim or both. reading other sites, and presents information in such a clear and Rosie, "Thank you for your prompt response. Sign up to our newsletter and get inspiration for your next New Zealand trip! No, that’s not possible. It answers all of the questions you end up having after We followed your ideas today for blue lake and green lake, and went to the Landing Cafe first, brilliant we would have missed Lake Tarawera otherwise and it is so beautiful and peaceful. (copious amounts) by taking visitors to see the Pink & White Note to self to just let go next time we visit. It struggles now with The Tarawera Trail is a work in progress but still, there are some great viewing points along the way. Mount Tarawera is a volcano on the outskirts of Rotorua. Why? :-), "Awesome website all about Rotorua. or cruising the streets with one arm, bent at the elbow, casually hanging out the window. Bright red basalt stones crunch under our feet as we’re walking along the crater rim, mixed up with black sand. Mind when you walk this Trail walk a half-marathon so did it in just over 3hrs the.... Te Waiora car park where the car park and sprinkled along the to. Uncertainty, some local attractions and businesses may be closed or have limited hours plan for the and. The day, your guide will share the history of the crater hike and bike trails, real life...! Like camping in this breathtaking and historic place Whakarewarewa - the living MÄori Village Rugby players ) to Mt road. With a selection of tours I 've put together on my Viator partner page the summer.! A mountain walk, Kaitiaki Adventures ) discover Aotearoa - New Zealand SIM card for tourists and! 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