Wairakei

Wairakei combines geothermal landscapes with unusual experiences: a walk passes carvings connected to the Māori world, while elsewhere a crater-shaped valley, prawn farming and a jet boat ride await. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Wairakei, you can start by asking yourself what kind of outing you’d like to shape your stay—nature and exercise, cultural impressions or an active experience on the water.

Geothermal attractions and cultural connections

Wairakei Terraces is a holistic wellness experience in the geothermal valley of Wairakei. It includes a self-guided walk along Te Kiri o Hinekai Stream. The carvings along the path connect with te ao Māori, the Māori world, and the local iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa. This walk brings exercise and a specific cultural connection together. For your holiday planning, it offers a different kind of outing from a motorboat tour or a visit centred on prawn farming.

The Craters of the Moon geothermal area also offers a walk: the loop around a crater-shaped valley takes 45 minutes. The path is gravel, with sections of boardwalk. This makes it easy to distinguish this nature experience from activities where a guided tour or a ride determines the itinerary. Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley has further natural geothermal features: mud pools, silica formations and the “Champagne Cauldron”. The valley is also home to rare and endangered plant species.

Prawns, the river and unique rides

Huka Prawn Park is located in Wairakei Tourist Park. It is the world’s only geothermal-heated prawn farm of its kind. A guided tour takes you through the rearing facility and hatchery, where you can hand-feed young prawns. Prawn fishing is available on the banks of the Waikato River. Huka Prawn Park’s restaurant is also on the riverbank and serves large freshwater prawns. A visit therefore offers insights into prawn farming as well as experiences and food centred on prawns.

If you prefer an action-packed ride, consider the 30-minute jet boat ride with Hukafalls Jet. It includes 360-degree spins before the boat reaches Huka Falls. This outing is quite different from the self-guided walk at Wairakei Terraces or the loop through the crater valley. Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary adds golf to the mix: it is New Zealand’s first predator-free golf course.

Which experiences suit your stay?

The options range from geothermal landscapes and walking trails to a guided tour, prawn fishing, a restaurant visit, golf and a jet boat ride. When looking for a holiday rental in Wairakei, this variety can be a useful starting point: think about which experiences interest you most and how much time you’d like to devote to them during your stay. If you’re mainly interested in geothermal features, Craters of the Moon and Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley offer different impressions. If you’re interested in combining a walk with cultural connections, Wairakei Terraces offer a focus of their own. The best way to choose a holiday rental as a base for your stay is to match it to the experiences you’d like to enjoy in Wairakei.

Discover more places

If you’d also like to discover other destinations in this selection: Mangakino, Waihaha, Tokaanu, Oruanui, Kuratau, Turangi, Kinloch and Mokai.

For the main travel overview: Taupo District.