Things to do in Broadlands Forest

Bring your camera as well as your swimsuit to the Wairakei Terraces & Thermal Health Spa, because there are few thermal spas as picturesque as this one. While you bathe, enjoy the views of the uniquely New Zealand landscape of steaming hot springs, lush forest and drooping silica terraces.

Stand close to the Huka Falls and watch as powerful cascades of fast flowing water come crashing down from a height of 36 feet (11 meters) into a pool.

Cross boardwalks above gently simmering water and see pools of hot bubbling mud at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Peer into dark craters and watch as a geyser shoots water up to 20 metres (65 feet) into the sky.

Craters of the Moon is an otherworldly landscape of craters and steam vents where hissing clouds of steam rise into the air and hot mud bubbles beneath your feet. Explore this geothermal hot spot by taking the boardwalks and tracks to the edges of large craters.

Watersports and jaw-dropping natural beauty feature at beautiful Lake Tarawera. This is one of New Zealand’s largest lakes and a superb place to enjoy boating, fishing and hiking activities. Once home to a collection of Māori settlements, tragedy struck Lake Tarawera in 1886 when the peaks of Mount Tarawera erupted and buried the communities. The eruptions rose the lake by around 39 feet (12 meters) and left behind an area of tranquil landscapes.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley is one of the Rotorua area’s most popular natural attractions and also among its youngest. Formed following the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, the valley is comprised of a series of crater lakes, hot springs and untouched natural landscapes, with Lake Rotomahana at its centre. The valley can be seen by boat or explored using the network of hiking trails that traverse the protected reserve and wildlife refuge. Take a guided tour of the valley to learn about its delicate ecosystems or venture out on a self-guided hike to experience the serenity offered by the New Zealand bush.