Pink and White Terraces

Once a dominant feature on the shores of Lake Rotomahana, the Pink and White Terraces were considered to be the 8th Wonder of the World.

What are the
Pink and White Terraces?

The pink and white terraces were reportedly the largest silica sinter deposits on earth. They were once a dominant feature on the shores of Lake Rotomahana.

Considered the 8th Wonder of the World, the Pink and White Terraces were the original New Zealand tourism destination, until they were buried in the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera.

The Round Trip –
Pink and White Terraces Legacy Tour

Follow in the footsteps of New Zealand’s first tourists, and uncover the stories of the Pink and White Terraces and the Tarawera eruption.

The Round Trip is a full day comprehensive guided tour of the Tarawera region including Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Lake Rotomahana (home of the Pink and White Terraces), Lake Tarawera and the Buried Village of Te Wairoa.

A must-do for any history lovers out there, looking to get fully immersed in the stories of this very special place.

Find out more about the Round Trip

Discover more about the Pink and White terraces

Where are the Pink and White Terraces now?

During the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, the Pink and White Terraces were thought to be destroyed. Since then, there has been many studies and claims made about their current location and state.

Learn about the hunt for the Pink and White Terraces
Visit the site of the Pink and White Terraces

At the base of Mount Tarawera lies Lake Rotomahana, otherwise known as the final resting place of the Pink and White Terraces. At Waimangu Volcanic Valley, you can take a boat cruise across the fabled lake, just like many people did to see the Terraces in the 1800’s. The lake is unlike any other, full of geothermal wonders only accessible by boat.

Learn more about the Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise
Rediscover the Pink and White Terraces with the Waimangu App

The Waimangu App allows you to get the most out of your visit to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Rediscover the Pink and White Terraces and other hidden content with augmented reality. The Waimangu App is completely free and includes information and features on both the self-guided walk/hike and the Lake Rotomahana boat cruise.

Find out about the Waimangu App
Guides of the Pink and White Terraces

Te Paea Hinerangi, known simply as Guide Sophia, was one of New Zealand’s first tourist guides, taking European visitors to across Lake Tarawera and Rotomahana to visit the Pink and White Terraces.

Read more about Guide Sophia’s story
Tourism after the Pink and White Terraces – the Waimangu Geyser

In 1900 the Waimangu Geyser started playing near Rotorua, attracting the first visitors back to the area since the destruction of the famous Pink & White Terraces in the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886.

Waimangu Geyser was the world’s largest, erupting to heights of up to 450m.

Find out about the Waimangu Geyser