• Geothermal Highlights

    Highlights

Waimangu Geothermal Highlights

World unique geothermal features including Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, Birds Nest Terrace, Hot Water Stream, Sinter stalactites, Marble Terrace, Warbrick Terrace, Pink Terrace Bay, and Fumarole Bay

Geothermal features at Waimangu are awesome. There is a huge amount of volcanic energy driving the Geothermal System. This energy comes from a large magma chamber which is approximately 2.0km below the Valley. The magma superheats the geothermal aquifer ( fluids trapped within the earth). Fluid from the aquifer finds its way to the surface along dykes (cracks and fissures) formed during the eruption in 1886. Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot water spring in the World, by surface area, and the second largest hot spring by discharge.

Inferno Crater Lake is a huge geyser-like hot water spring (Crypto Geyser). There is an unexplained link between Frying Pan Lake and Inferno Crater. The discharges of each spring vary inversely to each other. Magnificent sinter terraces and delicate stalactites are forming from minerals solidifying out of the geothermal fluids. Steam billows out of fumaroles. Many hot springs bubble and spout. Geysers play.

  • We stopped in for a quick coffee having seen the sign on the highway. The coffee was great and the quiche and muffin were fantastic. While eating we read the details of the Valley walk and decided to stay and see what it had to offer. Leave plenty of time, don’t rush it, we left at just after 10am and just caught the 1:10pm boat trip around the lake. What an unbelievable walk, really good information on both the brochure and on boards at…

    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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  • I hiked the whole of Waimangu Volcanic Valley down and back up again. It's located near Rotorua-where I didn't go because it's too touristy and overcrowded- and that place is just 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…

    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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