Mount Tarawera / Waimangu Volcanic Valley

MOUNT TARAWERA / WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY

Tour Code: 3A

Take off from Rotorua’s lakefront for an unforgettable floatplane adventure over hidden crater lakes, sacred Mt Tarawera’s dramatic rift, and the geothermal wonders of Waimangu Volcanic Valley, before returning via colourful lakes, forests, and steaming Sulphur Bay.

Highlights

Thrilling take off and landing on Lake Rotorua
Unparalleled views of Mokoia Island, Sulphur Bay, and Rotorua City
Stunning views of 12 distinct Crater Lakes
Experience the majesty of Mount Tarawera’s 8km rift and craters
Aerial views of Waimangu Volcanic Valley featuring the vibrant Inferno Crater, Frying Pan Lake, and Steaming Cliffs
Fly above the iconic Redwood Forest and Rotorua City
Expert commentary on the geography and cultural heritage

Tour Description

Departing our City Lakefront pier, experience the thrill of a floatplane takeoff from Lake Rotorua (the second largest lake in the North Island) before climbing around Mokoia Island. Once you ascend over the eastern ridgeline, a previously hidden world of lakes and volcanic peaks spreads out below your feet. Volcanic activity over thousands of years created large craters that filled with water to form beautiful lakes throughout the Rotorua region. The lakes are steeped in Māori history, and your pilot will share some of these stories with you.

The highlight of the trip comes as your pilot flies you up and over Mount Tarawera – at 1,111 meters in elevation, this majestic volcano dominates the surrounding landscape and serves as the centerpiece to the stunning lakes around its base.

Split down the middle by the dramatic 1886 eruption, this sacred mountain tells a story of destruction and rebirth. From the air, you’ll witness its massive rift, deep craters, rugged peaks, and the vibrant landscape shaped by geothermal forces. Your pilot will fly above the “eruption trail,” a 17 km volcanic rift line which extends along the volcano, through Lake Rotomahana, all the way to the spectacular Waimangu Volcanic Valley.

With the distinct title of “World’s Youngest Geothermal Park” the diversity of geothermal activity will amaze, even from above! Take in the steaming cliffs (all that is left of the 8th Wonder of the World, the Pink & White Terraces), the vibrantly blue Inferno Crater and the world’s largest hot spring: Frying Pan Lake.

Return to Rotorua via Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Rotokākahi (Green Lake) – from the air, you can best appreciate how fitting these names are. You will also fly over the Whakarewarewa Forest and Thermal Reserve. If you are really lucky, you might even catch the Pōhutu Geyser – the largest in the southern hemisphere and among the most active in the aera.

Your trip will conclude by flying over Sulphur Bay (see what 50,000 liters per hour of sulphur pumping into the lake looks like from above!) and Rotorua City, with Mt Ngongotaha as a spectacular backdrop, before landing again on Lake Rotorua.