Discover a world of magnificent caves and underground caverns glittering with glowworms at Waitomo. Jet boat to the thunderous roar of the Huka falls. Find a world where the earth’s crust exposes its molten core. Boiling geysers fountain hot steam jets and bubbling mud pools thrill the senses. Resorts, hot pools and springs await.
The geothermal highway is a superb year round attraction. Scenery unfolds with the season. Summer bright blue lakes, green foliage contrast with autumn golds and winter’s snow capped peaks. Beautiful photo moments throughout the year.
Join the geothermal explorer journey at Rotorua, Taupo or Napier.
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Rotorua has an excellent domestic airport connecting to towns such as Wellington (capital city) and Christchurch. Christchurch is a gateway city to the glorious South Island. Keep going south and find out more about New Zealand.
WEATHER – Mid 20°C in summer with brisk sharp winters average temperature 11°C. Expect most rainfall between May to mid-December. July is the wettest month.
Summer: Taupo beaches, swimming, picnics & fish early morning
Spring & Autumn: Walk in the brisk cool autumn, foliage colour, fishing around dusk.
Winter: Walks, indoor cafe experiences & soak in geothermal hot pools
Auckland, city of sails, is a popular visitor destination. Auckland, with its international airport is a convenient departure point for the geothermal highway road trip. What to spend some time in Auckland scroll through Auckland getting around, useful travel facts – Best Bits.
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Your itinerary is following the PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY route out of Auckland.
START PREPARING YOUR TRIP NOW!
Follow the Pacific Highway coastline to Matamata home of Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings).
DRIVING DISTANCE: 194 km
KEY PLACES: Auckland, Firth of Thames, Miranda shorebird centre, Te Aroha, Matamata
Omana Regional Park with its classic campgrounds, beaches, native bush reserve and cliff top views of the Firth of Thames waterways. Spectacular pohutukawa trees (New Zealand Christmas tree) line the scenic coastal route. Omaha beach & Whangateau Harbour white fine quartz sand sifting through your toes with shallow blue water is the stuff of summer holidays.
There are wooden boardwalks between beach holiday homes and sand dunes with access paths. The distinctive pouwhenua (carved Maori poles) are sentinels along the beach. The southern edge of the beach is a protected wetland for shorebirds.
Clevedon Village Market, 1 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Clevedon 2582 with its village markets. Clevedon Village is urban slick cafes nestled in a rural setting. While open studio days are must do activities the Clevedon Trail is open year round.
INTERESTING FACT NOTE AFFILIATE PARTNER STATEMENT
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For more information about culture, art galleries and places to go consult Auckland Travel Guide.
Pukorokoro Shorebird Centre, 283 East Coast Road, Pūkorokoro / Miranda 2473 Miranda Shorebird Centre and the visually stunning shell beaches where thousands of migratory birds nest and forage.
Te Aroha is a historic spa town with a distinctive Edwardian feel to its heritage spa pools. Discover the charms of a heritage town continuing to offer visitors hot pools, interesting walking trails and a vibrant main street.
Matamata, home of the Hobbiton, is one of New Zealand’s premier attractions. The Hobbiton movie set and film location (BOOK A TOUR) for Lord of the Rings trilogy is the recreated village for fantasy people, Hobbits. Hobbit dwellings nestled into the hillsides with their characteristic round doors. The attraction is accessible only through guided tours. It is approximately 9 km from the small town of Matamata.
Hobbit themed Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre Hobbiton, Waikato early spring blooms, rolling pastoral views DETOUR Matamata is less than 30 minutes (32 km) from Morrinsville and a ‘herd of cows’ Amusing public art installations dot the town centre, definitely will make the heart of a selfie fan sing.
Emerald green dairy country dotted with cows, pockets of native bush, outstanding Putaruru springs, Rotorua where the Pacific ring of fire puts on a display of might and power.
DRIVING DISTANCE: 84 km
KEY PLACES: Matamata, Tirau, Putaruru Blue Springs, Rotorua
Grab a quick takeaway paper coffee cup for the road in Tirau.
Look up, look around the corner at what the Tirau locals have managed to sculpt out of corrugated iron. Tirau is a town on State Highway 1.
Learn What’s So Great about Tirau
Stay at Tirau – BOOK NOW
Then it’s on the road to one of New Zealand’s hidden gems, a mesmerising fresh water Putaruru blue springs. Gaze at the stupendous amounts of crystal deep blue water in a natural bush setting.
Mesmerizing, water welling up forming blue ribbons with tendrils of green swirling freshwater plants. Photo opportunities galore against the blue / green water, hillsides and regenerating bush.
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Approximately 15 minutes drive from Tirau. Signposted from State Highway 1.
ROTORUA is one of New Zealand’s must-go destinations. Adventures await; lakes and forests invite you to zipline through redwoods and luge down mountain summits.
Rotorua attractions (choose your adventure here) are showcased by the extraordinary lunar landscapes. The volcanic activity offers visitors a chance to experience nature at its most raw, to indulge in a mineralised mud bath or soak in the geothermal hot springs.
ALL DAY (OR SEVERAL) EXPLORING ROTORUA
DRIVING DISTANCE: less than 20 km
Maori crafted objects hold tightly held values. Hear the story of Maori crafts at TE PUIA. Beautiful jewelled objects would make a perfect holiday memento available in the gift shop. Wonder at nature’s display of sheer power as a geyser blows its top. Te Puia is home to the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute.
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Lunch or dinner at Te Puia restaurant, Superb value for money overlooking the geothermal park. What a view and the food is excellent.
ROTORUA GOVERNMENT GARDENS is a picturesque garden and park with its beautiful resort buildings capturing a bygone era in tourism. Discover where tourism started in the 19th century. Government Gardens. FREE.
Sulphur Bay Boardwalk provides fascinating insights into Rotorua’s enduring charm as a top visitor destination. Sulphur Bay played a key role in the development of modern tourism.
The Bay is barren, streaked with mineral water stains, stunted vegetation and fascinating with its lunar-like landscape. And the birds love it.
Original geothermal landscapes offering an array of sensory attractions from massage, spa treatments or simply relaxing in warm natural mineral water.
Read more why you will probably want to stay longer in Rotorua.
KAITUNA CASCADES RAFTING ADVENTURE
Adventure beckons with Kaituna Cascades taking you rafting over a 7 metre waterfall. Awesome. Take the plunge, unleash the holiday spirit and raft the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world with Kaituna Rafting. The Kaituna River is home to Tutea Falls, a roaring juggernaut 7 metre high waterfall.
Redwood Forest Adventures from canopy boardwalk to magical lantern lit twilight walks. Zipline through the forest tree tops for the ultimate adventure. Designed mountain bike trails and walking tracks encourage visitors to get out and explore the area on foot.
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A twilight tour on the redwood forest elevated boardwalk complete with twinkling lanterns is a must-do for the romantic at heart. FREE TO WALK UNDER THE MASSIVE TREES.
Pompeii eat your heart out, New Zealand delivers with an authentic BURIED VILLAGE. Te Wairoa village was smothered in the 19th century during the 1886 violent volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera. Te Wairoa buried village is now a heritage site narrating the stories of the inhabitants and the vanished wonder of the pink and white terraces.
Rotorua to Taupo. Unearth and explore natural attractions on the geothermal explorer, state highway (SH) five between Rotorua and Taupo. The journey is picturesque with rolling hills and farmland interspersed with several major visitor destinations on the route.
The 80 km stretch of road is well travelled with considerable traffic between the two tourist destinations. There are eight great places to pull over and enjoy. Check out Rotorua to Taupo: Geothermal Scenic Highway – Best Bits for tips.
DRIVING DISTANCE: 80 km
KEY PLACES: Orakei Korako Thermal Park, Tamaki Village, Waimangu Valley, Huka falls
ORAKEI KORAKO THERMAL AREA (Book Your Adventure Here) is a highlight. Silica formations, boiling water, and thermal activity are naturally carved out of the forest against the backdrop of a lake that steams on the edges.
Up to 23 active natural geysers play freely through the area, which is constantly changing. The visual impact of geothermal activity reminds the visitor the world can be very hot.
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Soak your weary feet in warm water of Orakei Korako Lake, just be careful, as the water can be very hot. It is difficult to leave a natural massage.
Tamaki Village is home to the people who invite visitors to experience a pre-European Maori daily life, share a hangi (stone oven cooking) and enjoy traditional arts and crafts. Feel right at home with a delicious hangi. And practice your haka technique.
Tamaki Village is rolling out a wellness and bush experience.
Watch the stunning power of the Waikato River being forced between the narrow gorge. The blue white foaming depths roar through the confined space dominating the landscape. Huka falls are sheer awesome power torrents of water spin, roll and surge past their feet on the viewing platform.
You might have to queue for your photo moment. There are walking tracks along both sides of the falls, so you can figure out the best place for your selfie. The crowds could make supervision of children a challenge. There are toilet facilities next to the gift shop.
Lake Taupo’s inky blue crystal clear water is fringed by lush native bush and pumice beaches. The glorious scenery has a stunning backdrop of the three snow-tipped peaks of Tongariro National Park mountain ranges.. It is the stuff of holiday dreams with the picturesque landscape encouraging water sports, adventures from jet boating, rafting and kayaking or walking tours soaking up the views.
Craters of the Moon is an outdoor steam bath for vegetation complete with gushing water. The vegetation is unique to the area due the geothermal activity. Descriptive signs explain the plants adaptation to a climate where roots have warm feet and live in a natural spa.
While walking around on a brisk spring day it’s pleasantly warm with damp heated mist swirling around.
Find & Book Your Adventure – BOOK NOW
Consider spending time walking trails in the Tongariro River. For fishing enthusiasts you will likely be found in waders on the Tongariro River, remember to post a photo of the catch.
Active holiday fans have great cycling trails to explore. Adventure awaits on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Find a quiet thermally heated pool in Tokaanu to soak away the cares of the world.
Tokaanu is the size of a postage stamp and off the beaten track. Why choose Tokaanu? It is in an ideal location for visits to mountains, lakes and the fly fishing mecca of Tongariro River and it has natural geothermal pools. In Tokaanu there is not a lot of choice as the place is small, even by New Zealand standards.
National Trout Centre is a practical name for a mesmerizing encounter. The State Highway One sign is functional. Children will not be bored and adults get a chance to view, at very close quarters lots and lots of swimming trout. NATIONAL TROUT CENTRE’s narrative is the story of fishing in New Zealand, various fish species and the importance of trout fishing.
Outside the museum centre are numerous trout swimming in the Centre’s pools and streams.
Tongariro National Park & the majestic mountain Mt Ngauruhoe is a striking landmark, a highlight of the famous multi-day tramp, the Tongariro Crossing.
Summer in the mountains is glorious with the temperatures between 18c to 25c making walking comfortable. While the sun is not scorching you will need sun protection as well as a layer for the occasional brisk nip in the air.
Winter white snow with tints of ivory are magical to look at. There are a number of short walks in the vicinity of Chateau Tongariro. Note the Chateau Tongariro is permanently closed.
TAUPO – WHERE TO GO NEXT IN NEW ZEALAND?
Visit the MIGHTY WAIKATO with Hamilton, one of New Zealand’s largest cities wrapped around the majestic flow of the Waikato river. The Waikato is the city’s calling card.
KEY PLACES: Cambridge, Hamilton – onward to Auckland
Adrenaline fuelled underwater adventure or a leisurely cruise on an underground river Waitomo Caves offers choices on how to experience the massive underground geological wonder. Find out what makes the place one of New Zealand’s internationally renowned tourist attractions.
Raglan, surf, sand and adventure all rolled together in a beachside community. Enjoy walks around the estuary checking out the heritage trails around the seaside village.
Raglan, Wairēinga/Bridal Veil Falls is one of New Zealand’s top ten waterfalls. The walk to the fall is well signposted with descriptive plaques describing the bush walk through native forest.
Take in the contrast between the central North Island plateau and Lake Taupo with art deco coastal Napier. The route traverses the highest North Island hill pass. This route can be reversed from Napier to Taupo.
What an exciting end to the geothermal adventure.
Napier is a vintage art deco beauty. Napier is Food and Wine a New Zealand showpiece.
The attractive city is framed by the sea, cliffs and a dazzling waterfront. Norfolk pines march along a marine parade with brightly painted houses heralding the arrival into town.
Victorian facades are rare in a town where devastating fires, the result of a major earthquake, destroyed much of the town’s buildings.
Art deco Napier emerged out of the burnt remains of the earthquake, complete with soft pastel colouring. Napier is home to several significant museums, art galleries, established parks and gardens. The busy Napier port remains a key transport highway for a premier food bowl economy.
Town and country merge creating fertile ground for a fusion cuisine. The joy of edgy menus in innovative cafes and restaurants truly supports the ‘food and wine country’ motto.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE
Best Bits travel guide is published by nzjane.com. Owned and managed by PacificJane Ltd.
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