Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Tour

This stunning geothermal park amazes visitors with its diversity in colour, ranging from bright orange to emerald green. The park’s landscape is scattered with a huge variety of thermal activity; steaming lakes, bubbling mud and other fascinating terrains.

Tour Duration

Tour duration 6 to 7 hours.

Tour Price

Join one of our group tours below or book a Group/Private Charter tour where you have a driver and vehicle for the day at an hourly rate of NZ$180.00 per hour. We have a maximum of eleven people per vehicle. Your Tour Guide/Driver Geoff has extensive knowledge and experience of New Zealand.

NZ$ 210 per Adult Pre-booked
NZ$ 190 per Child Pre-booked (under 14 years)

Book Your Tour

Tour departure points

Pickups can be arranged from cruise ships at the Port of Tauranga, Tauranga airport or your Tauranga or Mount Maunganui accommodation.

Deposit Payments

Our Terms & Conditions

Wai-O-Tapu Tour Itinerary

From your cruise ship, you will join Scott Tours for a journey to Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s most interesting destinations.

En route, while we travel to Rotorua, passing through farmland, bush, pine forest and beautiful lakes, you will have the opportunity to learn about our important industries and exports.

Time permitting, we will also stop at other attractions on the way to Rotorua or on the way back. Iconic sights of Rotorua city; the government gardens, the historic bath house and a lakefront drive.

Then it is time to spend some time at this tour’s key attraction, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland….

Wai-o-Tapu

Geoff, your driver, will escort you around the geothermal park of Wai-O-Tapu.

One not-to-miss highlight of the Wai-O-Tapu guided day tour is the “Mud Pool”. This feature was the site of a large mud volcano which was destroyed through erosion in the 1920′s. It now provides an opportunity to experience the captivating noise of bubbling mud.

Walk through this wonderland via clearly defined tracks and enjoy the diversity of this area through a series of different walks taking from 30 to 75 minutes or more, each with their own unique volcanic vistas to fascinate all ages.

Book Your Tour

Wai-O-Tapu Tour Gallery

Deposit Payments

Our Terms & Conditions

Chris H

2024-04-17

Outstanding Service My wife and I travelled to Rotorua yesterday with Geoff from Scott Tours. Not only was he professional, understanding, and friendly, he went above and beyond to ensure our day was fantastic. A side stopover to visit the Redwood plantation and a cheeky Hokey Pokey ice cream topped off an amazing day. Thanks Geoff for helping us to make lifetime memories of your part of the world. It was a day that Therese and I will be talking about for years to come. Outstanding service from an experienced tour guide that takes the time to ensure your day is memorable. 11/10. Thank you for an awesome day!!

Jerry M

2024-02-27

The Best Tour Service in Tauranga Our guide Geoff was knowledgeable and very personable, his narratives while driving entertained us while filling us in on local knowledge and lore. We did two tours with him, the first to the Whakarewarewa living Māori Village and the second to Hobbiton. Both were outstanding days giving us memories we will keep for a long time.

nelnsteve

2024-02-19

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Brilliance If you want to see Wai-O-Tapu, do yourself a huge favour and go with Geoff and Trixie. Geoff was our guide for the day and he was brilliant....he walked us around the various stunning sights of Wai-O-Tapu explaining things as we walked and answering our many questions. It was all at a very laid back pace, before we headed off to see Rotorua, the beautiful Redwoods and a stop for an ice cream on the way back to a quick drive around Mount Manganui. The whole trip was a highlight of our NZ cruise and we cannot recommend Geoff and Trixie highly enough.

Anon

2024-02-12

A lovely day Husband and I joined a small group tour of Wai o Tapu with Geoff. First we stopped to look at a kiwi plantation, then at a mud pool near Rotorua, then at Wai o tapu, a true geothermal wondrous park. Geoff walked with the group offering insights and information and generally took care everybody was ok. From there we had a look at Rotorua, its landmark and its parks, walked in an amazing redwood forest, stopped for hoke poke ice cream and had a drive around Tauranga and its Mount Maunganui . It was a lovely, relaxed and pleasant day in which we saw many lively sites and learned a lot, wishing we had more time to explore with Scott's tours. Very well recommended.

Dave S

2024-01-31

Scott Tours is the way ONLY way to experience Tauranga and Tororus All I can say is WOW!! I cannot say enough about Geoff and Scott Tours. My partner and I went to Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland with him as a guide, and he met and far exceeded whatever expectations we may have had. Geoff is a true ambassador of Tauranga and Rotorua. We were expecting to be dropped off at Wai-o-Tapu and sent on our way; however, he walked through with us, offering his knowledge, expertise, and insights into the area. Afterwards, he took us to a swimming area where we were able to experience a swim where the thermal water meets with the cold stream water - what a thrill!! From there, he took us on a road trip to the highlights of the area, such as the Redwoods Forest and the Rotorua Town Centre, where we were able to experience the friendliness and hospitality the town has to offer. If you have the chance to use Geoff’s services, we highly recommend it.

Voyage57645843213

2024-01-10

Scott Tours provided a great day out We booked a private charter tour for our family of 9. Our personalised itinerary included Hells gate, Zorbe and Red woods. We enjoyed everything about Hells gate and will definitely return, had amazing fun zorbing and Scott tours also suggested an amazing stop Red Woods which was breath taking. We would highly recommend this company, They communicated well, very fair pricing, reliable, prompt and provided us with a wonderful day out. Thank you Scott's Tours.

2024-01-05

Your First Chhoice We used Scott Tours twice during our stay in the area and both times had an excellent experience. Geoff makes you feel welcome and like one of the family, providing a safe and complete time. His knowledge of the area compliments the sights you see and the places your visit. Should we return here we will definitely use Scott Tours again.

2023-03-20

A Brilliant Day! This was our favourite day out of our 2 month holiday! Geoff picked 6 of us up at the cruise terminal and took us to Wai-O-Tapu in a small air conditioned coach. He was friendly, very informative and an excellent driver. He never rushed us and gave a running commentary throughout our tour. We visited the Te Puia geyser (amazing!), and boiling mud pools, plus a sequoia forest. He would have shown us more, but several people wanted to return to the ship-we had had a busy day and they were tired, but it was a FANTASTIC day! We thoroughly recommend Scott Tours, for ease of booking and a first class service. Thank you Trixie and Geoff. Steve and Geraldine Elliott

franki242

2023-01-23

Perfect Day I chose Scott Tours from their website and read reviews. I was not disappointed. Geoff was a great tour guide and all round nice guy. We weren’t rushed and we enjoyed all the information that was given to us. As well as the tour we booked Geoff also took us around the area showing us the sights and finished the day with and amazing stop at the Redwood forest. I would recommend Geoff and Scott Tours.

Anne K

2023-01-13

Wonderful day in Rotorua with Geoff and Scott Tours! Geoff organized an absolutely wonderful day in Rotorua for us! He was waiting for us at the cruise ship dock and took us to the amazing Te Puia site, where we saw the erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools, kiwi sanctuary, crafts center, and excellent Māori Cultural show. He also stopped at the Redwood Trees forest and took us on a lush, magical walk through the giant trees. The day was everything we hoped it would be. Geoff and Trixie were easy to work with and were prompt and professional. The small group tour was such a welcome alternative to the impersonal, large-group bus tours! Geoff told wonderful stories, gave us lots of interesting information, and even sang a lovely song for us. We highly recommend Scott Tours!!