Wairakei

Travel Guide

Wairakei which includes mist or fog as well as an individual femail
Wairakei showing forest scenes and a park
Wairakei showing mist or fog and a hot spring
Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave
Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave featuring forests and a river or creek
Get close to volcanic wonders and experience the geothermal power of the center of New Zealand's picturesque North Island.

Make Wairakei your home base when you want to explore the geothermal power of the Earth. See bubbling mud pools, silica terraces and geysers, the result of one of the most violent volcanic eruptions of the last 5,000 years. Approximately 1,800 years ago Taupo Volcano erupted, sending plumes 31 miles (50 kilometers) into the air.

Wairakei is a small town north of Taupo in the Central Volcanic Plateau, close to a highly active geothermal area. Sightsee the geothermal valleys, silica terraces and geysers of Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave.

Discover more examples of the impressive power of nature at Wairakei Tourist Park. Here you can go on a boardwalk tour of the Craters of the Moon, a landscape of boiling mud craters and steam vents. Then watch mighty surges of water at Huka Falls and Aratiatia Rapids.

The tourist park also features a number of outdoor activities to get the heart pumping, including wakeboarding at Anarchy Boarding Park, a rope course and 50 miles (80 kilometers) of mountain bike tracks. For some leisurely sporting activity, play the 18 holes of the Wairakei Golf Course, which is spread across 445 acres (180 hectares)) of the Wairakei Geothermal Park.

After your activities, soothe your body in the thermal pools of Wairakei Terraces. Then stroll along the walkway to see the man-made geysers and man-made silica terraces. Along the way, you will pass by carvings that depict local Maori history and culture. While you are here, go to the recreated Maori village and pick up insights into how the Maori people have used the thermal pools for healing. You can also see traditional tattooing and weaving, learn about the culture and try a traditional barbecue.

With a number of accommodation options and its close proximity to natural attractions, Wairakei is a superb choice for an active and fun-filled holiday. This spectacular location is 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) from the center of Taupo, a 3-hour scenic drive from Auckland and a 4.5-hour drive from Wellington.

Wairakei Resort Taupo
Wairakei Resort Taupo
4 out of 5
640 Wairakei Road, Wairakei
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Wairakei. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,005 reviews)
"very unforgettable experience"

Reviewed on Apr 27, 2025

Wairakei Resort Taupo
Huka Lodge
Huka Lodge
5 out of 5
271 Huka Falls Road, Wairakei
Stay at this 5-star luxury lodge in Wairakei. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (29 reviews)
"Beyond exceptional."

Reviewed on Aug 9, 2023

Huka Lodge
Lakefront Lodge Taupo
Lakefront Lodge Taupo
3 out of 5
100 Lake Terrace, Taupo
The price is ¥6,888 per night from May 4 to May 5
¥6,888
¥7,932 total
includes taxes & fees
May 4 - May 5
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Taupo. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (837 reviews)
"We had a quiet room at the back so it was fine. Bed was comfortable."

Reviewed on Apr 24, 2025

Lakefront Lodge Taupo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Barn style cottage
Barn style cottage
Taupo
Stay at this vacation home in Wairakei. Enjoy patios. Popular attractions Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley and Wairakei Terraces & Thermal Health Spa are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (8 reviews)
Cool Barn
"Very comfortable and well-appointed accommodation"

Reviewed on Apr 13, 2025

Barn style cottage
Shinkou House UE - Newly Built Secure and Hypoallergenic
Shinkou House UE - Newly Built Secure and Hypoallergenic
3 out of 5
64 Lake Terrace, Taupo, Waikato
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Taupo. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9/10 Wonderful! (305 reviews)
"We loved the convenient location, but parking is a bit tricky."

Reviewed on Apr 19, 2025

Shinkou House UE - Newly Built Secure and Hypoallergenic
Quest Taupo Serviced Apartments
Quest Taupo Serviced Apartments
3.5 out of 5
59-61 Kaimanawa Street, Taupo, Waikato
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly aparthotel in Taupo. Enjoy free parking, an outdoor pool, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (698 reviews)
"Ir was safe ans good stay"

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2025

Quest Taupo Serviced Apartments
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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