Visiting Orakei Korako

Some time ago, I started writing about New Zealand and the places I had the opportunity to visit during my road trip around the country. One of the best-known geothermal sites is the famous Wai-O-Tapu, which I will tell you all about later. In the meantime, here is all the information I can give you about traveling around New Zealand on a budget.

Wai-O-Tapu was an enjoyable visit, but I have to admit that it was very crowded. While we were there, we heard about another site that was less well known, less touristy, and also cheaper. That was enough to convince us to give it a try. The site is called Orakei Korako, and I was really looking forward to visiting it.

In this article, I explain why I think Orakei Korako is worth visiting and share my honest opinion of the experience. As always, you will also find some practical information at the end of the article. Enjoy the walk!

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As usual, I will begin with a brief geographical and geological overview of the area. Orakei Korako is one of the most active geothermal areas in the country and lies north of Taupo. Also known as the Hidden Valley, the site is located on the shores of Lake Ohakuri, an artificial lake on the Waikato River.

The lake was created in 1961 and flooded a large part of the geothermal area, including several well-known geysers. Even so, Orakei Korako still has more active geysers than any other geothermal park in the country, well ahead of Wai-O-Tapu. The site is particularly famous for its truly impressive silica terraces, which were formed during a major earthquake in 131 AD.

We arrived at the site at around 7:45 a.m., before it opened. I would strongly recommend doing the same. Arriving early allows you to avoid most of the visitors and enjoy better light for your photos. The early start was definitely worth it for us, as there were only three cars in the parking lot.

The first thing you need to know is that the geothermal site lies on the opposite side of the lake. You therefore have to take a boat, which is included in the admission price. Crossing the narrow stretch of water by boat first thing in the morning is a nice way to begin the visit. Just a minute later, you reach the other side. The beautiful morning light made the entire landscape glow—it looked wonderful!

As soon as you step ashore, the entrance to the site is quite spectacular. We followed a small wooden path with the large Emerald Terrace on our left. Boiling water flows across the silica terrace before running down toward the lake. Steam rises throughout the area, creating a wonderful atmosphere in the early morning.

As you continue along the trail, you suddenly find yourself facing a huge curtain of steam. Striking colors appear before you, forming what looks like a river of orange and white. It is genuinely beautiful. When you turn around, the view of the terrace flowing down toward the lake is equally impressive.

The trail then led us to the well-known Map of Africa, where the outline of the African continent can be seen among the algae in the boiling water. Steam was rising everywhere, and we had the place entirely to ourselves—it was fantastic! We continued toward Rainbow Terrace, which was raised during a major earthquake. At its base are several small pools, or “swimming pools,” as I like to call them. They are certainly smaller than the ones I later saw in Yellowstone National Park, but for one of my first experiences of this type of landscape, they were already very impressive.

The trail continues along a narrow wooden boardwalk surrounded by beautiful vegetation. At the far end, you reach Ruatapu Cave, one of the site’s best-known features. The water is beautifully clear and almost makes you want to jump in. At 44°C, however, you may want to reconsider that swim.

We continued along the trail toward the mud pools at the end of the circuit. Even though I already had a good idea of what they looked like after seeing similar pools in Iceland, they are always fascinating to watch. Not far away, you come across more beautiful turquoise pools. On the way back down, there is also a magnificent view over the entire geothermal area and the lake.

The visit can take between one and two hours if you take your time, stop to look at everything, and rest along the way. We paused several times to watch the site’s geysers in action. There were a few brief, small eruptions, but nothing particularly large. Never mind—hopefully, we will see a bigger one next time.

It can sometimes be difficult to put into words afterward exactly how you felt at the time. Looking back, I would not say that every part of the site left me dreaming, yet the visit itself was a genuinely beautiful experience. The fact that we were alone, or almost alone, made it even better. Compared with Wai-O-Tapu, which is literally packed with tourists, it was a breath of fresh air.

The site is certainly much smaller, which makes it quieter and more intimate. To sum things up, we personally had a wonderful time there. We ended the walk with a meal on the lawn in front of the visitor center, enjoying the sunshine alongside several other families. It was a lovely moment.

Here are the main things to know before visiting the site. You can find more information and photos on the official website.

As of 2026, admission costs NZ$57 per adult and NZ$24 per child aged 16 or under. A family ticket for two adults and at least two children costs NZ$144, while children under six can enter free of charge. The admission fee includes the boat transfer to and from the geothermal area. As with many attractions in New Zealand, it is not particularly cheap, but the boat crossing is included in the price. Advance booking is not required, although tickets can be booked online.

The site opens at 8 a.m. every day. The last boat to the geothermal area leaves at 4 p.m., and the final return boat departs at 5 p.m. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, I recommend arriving early for the best light and fewer visitors, although the site was never particularly busy during our visit.

The geothermal park is located almost halfway between Taupo and Rotorua. If you are taking a road trip around New Zealand, the easiest option is simply to drive there. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes from Rotorua and 25 minutes from Taupo. Just be careful not to miss the turnoff, although it is signposted.

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The site is located in a fairly remote area, so it is best to stay somewhere nearby. In my opinion, the easiest option is to book accommodation in the surrounding area, visit Orakei Korako early in the morning, and then continue your trip afterward. The nearest major town is the attractive lakeside town of Taupo.

If you take your time, I would allow a few hours for the visit, or even the whole morning if you plan to eat there afterward. You can then go for a walk along the shores of Lake Taupo or explore the town itself, which is quite pleasant. Alternatively, you can head back toward Rotorua for another activity.

That brings us to the end of this short walk around Orakei Korako. I hope you enjoyed it. Personally, I really liked the site and would almost recommend it over Wai-O-Tapu, which is much more touristy, even though it is also worth visiting.

If you are traveling around New Zealand’s North Island, I think it is a must-see for nature lovers. During your trip, are you also planning to visit the famous Cape Reinga, at the northern tip of the North Island?

Enjoy the visit!

Written by Sylvain PONS

Living in French Polynesia at the time, I explored New Zealand from 2017 to 2020 during two road trips of two months each. As a family, we camped and discovered the beauty of these two islands.

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