• Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

    Historic wonders

Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

Enjoy the history and geothermal attractions on a boat cruise around beautiful Lake Rotomahana. Learn about the important role this Lake has in New Zealand’s history. Please note, our iconic boat Ariki Moana is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance and will return to Lake Rotomahana on 1 October. In the meantime, our Self Guided Walk through the valley is a great alternative.

Includes

  • Duration - 2+ hours

    Each cruise is 45 minutes long. Allow 2 hours for your visit. See below for daily times.

  • Price - NZD $80

    Unaltered by humans since its creation in 1886.

  • Departures - from 10.45am
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Overview

Explore this amazing, natural environment that has been unaltered by man since its creation in 1886. The youngest of New Zealand’s large, naturally formed lakes, Lake Rotomahana is New Zealand’s original tourist attraction. During the 19th Century, visitors travelled to Rotomahana attracted by the legendary pink and white terraces which were destroyed in 1886. You can choose the boat cruise only or add the boat cruise to your walking tour. See below for departure times.

Rotomahana is one of the deepest lakes in NZ’s North Island. It is protected as a wildlife refuge, and large numbers of birds live here all year round. Beautiful geothermal springs and geysers display along the south west shoreline. It will always remain as one of NZ’s beautiful, unspoilt, natural wilderness areas.

The cruise is 45 minutes long. There is English spoken commentary on every cruise. Transport is provided from the entrance to the boat jetty and return after the cruise. Prior bookings for this option may be necessary in peak seasons between November and March each year.

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Price

  • Adults (17 years+) $80.00pp
  • Children (6-16 years) $45.00pp
  • Family (2 adults & up to 3 children) $255
  • Under 6's FREE with adult

Timetable

Last Check-In Time Boat Cruise Departure Return to Visitor Centre
10.45am 11.25am 12.50pm
12.00 Noon 1.10pm 2.30pm
1.15pm 2.00pm 3.15pm
2.15pm 2.50pm 4.05pm

Other Experiences

  • Full Waimangu Experience

    The best way to experience the entirety of Waimangu. This half-day geothermal experience completely immerses you in the unique environment of Waimangu Volcanic Valley. You’ll enjoy beautiful walking & hiking trails, woven through a natural geothermal ecosystem. Complete the experience with a 45 minute boat cruise around Lake Rotomahana, the final resting place of the Pink & White Terraces.

    Our cruises are especially popular during the summer; we strongly recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.

    Includes


    From

    - NZD $125

    Learn More Book Now

    Full Waimangu Experience

  • What an unbelievable walk, really good information on both the brochure and on boards at strategic points. Lots of activity from the thermal vents and the lakes, it took us 3 hours to walk down, and after the boat around the lake we took the free bus back to the top, but you can walk back. A great day…

    Andy
    Hatherleigh, United Kingdom

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  • We had a great trip here - very organised walk with lots of information and fascinating views of the craters. The boat trip on the lake was very relaxing and timed to allow us to catch the bus back up. We had a good lunch back at the…

    Penny
    Brisbane, Australia

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  • So impressive and wonderful to tramp through...fantastic vapor whirls on the magnificent colorful lakes...great ferns with thousands of different shades of green.....amazing viewpoints to look down into the valley...awesome hues of ever changing volcanic terraces in different lights of the day....a great bus service for weary people or elderly ones to appreciate this veritable gem of…

    Thomas Rhöse
    Google Review

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  • A must-go in Rotorua, where you'll explore a stunning scenery of ferns and volcanic rocks and…

    Simone
    Brasillia

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  • A peaceful quiet walk in the rain. We came here on a rainy day, as there wasn’t much else to do outside when in rains in Rotorua. Staff was nice and walked us through the bus stops and how everything worked there. We paid the additional $5 to rent a heat thermometer gun (not sure was the actual name of it is). It was cool to see how hot the water was getting with the temperature gauge. This was a good place to go when it rains. The walkway is…

    Spring
    Texas

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  • We were fortunate to visit when there were no crowds and walked the valley in almost complete isolation which added to the mysterious and prehistoric feel. Everywhere we turned was a feast for the eyes. Our teenage son only wished we could have spent more time there. If you appreciate nature, enjoy an easy hike, want to see something unique Waimangu is for…

    Dianna
    Tokyo, Japan

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