EXPERIENCE A BEAUTIFUL OTHERWORLDLY WONDERLAND RIGHT HERE ON EARTH

WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL WONDERLAND

This beautiful real life wonderland looks like it’s on another planet! But it’s actually a fascinating place to visit right here on Earth!

The Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland is an amazing active geothermal area in New Zealand’s Taupo Volcanic Zone. Witness the Earth turning itself inside out at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, just north of the Reporoa caldera. It’s a spectacular sight!

Named as "One of the 20 Most Surreal Places in the World," this place is full of wonders. You can access many of them on foot.

Watch as magical mist rolls out of volcanic craters and superheated water shoots out of the ground. The Lady Knox Geyser shoots up massive jets of water that can reach up to 20 meters, with eruptions often lasting over an hour!

Take a walk on neon orange sand and gaze at bubbling rainbow-colored thermal pools! The Champagne Pool bubbles like a fizzy glass of Veuve Clicquot.

And check out the Artist’s Palette, a gorgeous hot spring, with swirling shades of green and yellow, as if Van Gogh were mixing in.

This wonderland has been sacred ground to indigenous Māori for thousands of years. Waiotapu means “sacred waters” in Māori. The Ngati Whaoa tribe called it home. The tourist concession is now owned by Te Arawa, a local Maori tribal business.

This gorgeous wonderland spans over 18 square kilometres of protected New Zealand thermal landscape. It’s a wonderful addition to your wonder-filled your travel bucket list. You can book your visit to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland here and plan your route with this map.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Trevor Klatko. “Waiotapu Orange.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
2. Image: by Aurel. “Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
3. Image: by Dave Smith. “The Artist's Palette. Wai-O-Tapu - Thermal Wonderland - Rotorua.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
4. Image: by tjabeljan. “RotoruaWai-O-Tapu029.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
5. Image: by Darren Puttock. “Champagne Pool.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
6. Image: by Dave Smith. “Wai-O-Tapu. Thermal Wonderland - Rotorua.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
7. Image: by Juan Salmoral. “Green.” Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand.
8. Image: by Jacob Surland. “Wai-O-tapu - Champagne pool.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
9. Image: by Dave Smith. “Wai-O-Tapu. Thermal Wonderland - Rotorua.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
10. Image: by Eli Duke. “New Zealand: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.
11. Image: by BN App - Download now!
12. Image: by Florian Bugiel. “Wai-O-Tapu.” Waiotapu, New Zealand.