Rotorua Waimangu Volcanic Valley Walk & Lake Rotomahana Cruise Ticket

Enjoy a walk and a lake cruise
at Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Waimangu Volcanic Valley is about 20 minutes’ drive south of Rotorua or 40 minutes north of Taupō. This ticket combines a self-guided nature walk with a boat cruise; allow at least 3 hours to fully enjoy both.

Choose a trail to suit you and walk through the geothermal valley

The ecology-focused self-guided walk takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Choose from trails of 1.5 km to 4.5 km to suit your fitness and ability, and see Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, and geothermal terraces, hot springs, and steam vents set among native forest and grassland. Information sheets and maps describe each feature, and you can shorten the walking distance by riding the shuttle bus between stops in the valley.

Cruise Lake Rotomahana aboard the Ariki Moana

After the walk, board the Ariki Moana for a 45-minute cruise on Lake Rotomahana. Relax indoors or outdoors as you pass Patiti Island and enter Star Hill Crater, looking out for geysering hot springs, geothermal features only visible from the water, and native birds living on the lake. The skipper shares the history of the lake and the Mount Tarawera eruption in English.

Return to the visitor center by shuttle or another trail

After the cruise, take the free shuttle bus back to reception or walk back along a different trail. The free shuttle runs regularly through the valley and returns to the Waimangu Visitor Centre.

※ The itinerary may change depending on local conditions.
※ Native birds and hot spring activity depend on natural conditions, so sightings are not guaranteed.