Lake Tarawera Water Taxi, Eco Tours, Hiking & Glamping
Discover the natural, cultural and historical wonders of Lake Tarawera with our range of guided and unguided experiences.
Take a water taxi to stunning Hot Water Beach, hike the famous Tarawera Trail, take a journey of cultural discovery with our exclusive Ancestral Footprints Tour or spend a few nights at one of our luxury glamping sites.
Lake Tarawera Boat Cruise
Join us for a relaxing cruise to Hot Water Beach.
This is a 2 hour relaxing boat tour on Lake Tarawera that includes a stopover at Hot Water Beach for a geothermal swim.
- 360 degree viewing upstairs
- Comfortable interior table seating.
- 60 person capacity.
- Time for a swim at Hot Water Beach.
This trips are by arrangement ONLY and a minimum of 10 people.
Group rates available.
Booking is essential
Boat Cruises for Groups
Offering unforgettable corporate, wedding or private group options. Let us tailor make something your guests, colleagues or clients will love.
For something outside of the ordinary, our charter cruises offer a unique experience tailored exactly to your needs. Whether you want to take friends and family to Hot Water Beach for a swim, or fancy a floating picnic for a work event, Totally Tarawera offer complete flexibility to make your day unforgettable.
Some highlights include
- Relax and enjoy the stunning scenery
- 1, 2 or 3 hour tour on lake.
- Share historical & cultural Story
- Hot Water Beach stopover
- Cruise + walk to Tarawera Falls.
- Tea & coffee provided
- Capacity 60 people
Perfect for:
- Private functions
- Corporate
- Educational Groups
- Schools
Journey deep into the history, culture and natural wonders of the Tarawera region with an unforgettable guided tour. Your guide will enthrall, educate and amuse you with tales of Tarawera’s history and legends, and you’ll enjoy a unique combination of Maori culture, geothermal and ecological elements throughout. Our Culture & Eco tours offer the opportunity to savour a superb blend of beauty, history and culture in a real and authentic way.
Lake Tarawera Trails & Walks
The Tarawera Trail at Lake Tarawera, Rotorua is becoming known as one of New Zealand’s most stunning day walks. This 15 km walk takes you through beautiful lake edge forest, crossing natural flowing springs with access along the way to sandy swimming beaches. The real highlight being the rewarding geothermal lake swim at the end of your walk. Book the water taxi return so you can enjoy the full range of stunning lake views.
Equally the Tarawera Falls walk is an undiscovered secret that will take your breath away or book a combined walk and cultural tour experience.
HOT WATER BEACH – Te Rata Bay
Te Rata is a very special place. It’s right in the very heart of the thermal Rotorua district. Steam rises sleepily from the lake edge – the result of a hot thermal spring trickling into the lake water. The sand on part of Hot Water Beach heats up to 86 degrees – hot enough to cook a meal ‘hangi-style’ beneath the surface. Be aware that during the busy season, there will be campers at the DOC campsite and you will share hot water beach itself, with those campers.
TARAWERA TRAIL
4.5hrs (average) one way
Walk to Hot Water Beach (HWB) or walk back. Trail car park is south of the Buried Village. Shuttle available. Walk easy to moderate.
Water Taxi to HWB 9am 12pm 2.30pm
Returning from HWB 9.30am 12.30pm 3.00pm
Group rates available.
Pre-booking is essential.
HOT WATER BEACH
Stay a few hours or all day. Take a picnic, stay the night. Dropoff and pickups at our standard times.
Water Taxi to HWB 9am 12pm 2.30pm
Returning from HWB 9.30am 12.30pm 3.00pm
Group rates and other times available for groups.
Pre-booking is essential.
GLAMPING HOT WATER BEACH
Stay the night. Campsite bookings are essential. If you have not pre-booked, you WILL NOT be allowed to camp at Hot Water Beach.
We can take you and your camping gear or just your camping gear, if you are walking in to HWB.
Taxi to HWB 9am 12pm 3pm
Returning from HWB 9.30am 12.30pm 3.30pm
CAMP GEAR TRANSPORT
- Packs
- Separate tent
- Unaccompanied camping gear will incur a handling fee.
Pre-booking is essential and conditions apply.
