Things to do at Orakei Korako

Orakei Korako sits roughly halfway between Rotorua and Taupo, about a 45-minute drive from either, on an arm of Lake Ohakuri. The site is reached only by a short boat crossing included in the entry ticket, which runs at around 40 NZD per adult.

5 to 2 hours covers the largest area of active silica terraces left in the country, along with steaming pools and the Ruatapu Cave, a natural cavern with an underground pool reached down a flight of steps. Allow half a day from Rotorua including driving time.

Sturdy shoes matter, since the boardwalks cross uneven, occasionally slippery ground, and the geothermal smell of hydrogen sulphide is constant throughout the walk.