Volcanic Heli Hike

HELICOPTER TOUR

 VOLCANIC HELI HIKE – TARAWERA FALLS

Tour Code: 6D

  • Scenic take off and landing from Lake Rotorua
  • Unparalleled views of Mokoia Island, Sulphur Bay, and Rotorua City
  • Stunning views of 12 distinct Crater Lakes
  • Fly over dormant volcano Mount Tarawera’s 8km rift line and craters
  • Land on the summit of Mount Tarawera for a 15 minute guided walk
  • Reboard your waiting helicopter and fly over the Tarawera River and the Tarawera Falls
  • Land at Tapahoro Bay on Lake Tarawera and disembark for your hike
  • Enjoy a 3-hour hike to Tarawera Falls, with opportunities for swimming and a picnic
  • Conclude with a scenic and informative boat ride across Lake Tarawera & road transfer back to the Volcanic Air office

 

This Heli-Hike experience is incomparable: it combines the thrill of landing on the summit of Mount Tarawera with a half-day hike following the crystal-clear waters of the Tarawera River to the magical Tarawera Falls, plus a boat ride across Lake Tarawera to end the day!

 

Departing from Rotorua, your helicopter takes you across our stunning lakes district to land on the summit of Mount Tarawera. This dormant volcano is the site of the largest eruption in New Zealand’s living memory and offers sweeping views of the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua’s many lakes, surrounding National Parks, and, of course, the volcano’s massive craters. Your pilot will guide you to the very summit on foot, providing their services as a photographer, historian and geologist. After 15 minutes, reboard your helicopter to fly over the Tarawera Falls – so you can see from above where you will be hiking later on! After the falls it is a short flight to land you at Tapahoro Bay on the shores of Lake Tarawera, where your hike begins.

 

This self-guided hike (you are provided with a GPS unit so you can be in communication with our office team as well as having a map!) follows a track along the gin-clear Tarawera River. Walking under imposing bluffs and through native New Zealand forest, the hike continues past a series of increasingly impressive cascades until you arrive at the main fall, which flows out from the middle of a cliff. Stop at the base of the falls to enjoy your picnic lunch and a refreshing swim.

 

Retrace your steps back to Tapahoro Bay where you will meet the Totally Tarawera team for your return boat ride across beautiful Lake Tarawera. As locals who can trace their lineage generations back on this land, they will be able to answer questions and provide amazing insight about the land and water you have traversed. After the boat ride, Totally Tarawera will also provide a road transfer back to the Rotorua Lakefront.

 

The hike is about 8 km total and you are given 3.5 hours – enough for a leisurely hike with time for a picnic.

 

Duration: Allow 6.5 Hours

Location: All tours depart from Lakefront Drive, Rotorua City Lakefront

Requirements: This tour operates with a minimum of 2 fares.

Please bring a backpack, water, warm layers and comfortable shoes for hiking in. A GPS unit will be provided.

Safety: A full safety briefing will be provided at the Volcanic Air Base. All passengers will be required to be weighted in order to ensure proper weight distribution in the aircraft.

 

TOUR INCLUDES

• Helicopter flight to and landing on Mount Tarawera

• Helicopter transfer to Tapahoro (Lake Tarawera)

• Scenic boat transfer from Tapahoro to the landing Lake Tarawera

• Return vehicle transfers to the Rotorua City Lakefront

 

ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL)

• Lunch box including a beverage (non alcoholic) is $60pp

• Gourmet picnic lunch $95pp

• Hiking guide, POA

 

Curious about the helicopter we will fly you in? Learn more here.

Start Booking Now

To make a booking for travel within the next 24 hours, please call our office direct on +64 7 348 9984 or 0800 800 848


To make a booking for travel within the next 24 hours, please call our office direct on +64 7 348 9984 or 0800 800 848.