Enjoy a 4 hour, small group tour (8people max). Departs every day from 1:15 pm return 5:15pm. Discover some of Rotorua's "off the beaten track" mud pools and best thermal areas. Dip your toes or fully immerse yourself in our favourite hot springs. Rainbow Mountain, Crater Lakes - uniquely coloured vegetation and lakes. Waiotapu mud Pool - boiling mud with mini-eruptions guaranteed. Hot lakes a natural thermal experience like no other. Te Manaroa Spring - NZ's largest source of 100% boiling spring water. Finish the day soaking in Waikite Valley Thermal Pools Spring n Spa.
In demand: 8 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 122 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Thermal Path Tour lasts about 4 hours.
Prices start at $86 per person for this Rotorua experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 1:15 PM.
Children aged 3–15 pay from $46, adults from $86.
It can: 8 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 73 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Real Rotorua.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Look no further! This is an excellent tour experience. Stephen, the owner and guide, did an awesome job. Very knowledgeable about the geology and fauna and history of the area. Really helped us appreciate the incredible things we were seeing.
Thanks Rachel, yes the one man band that's me. Nature is amazing and a pleasure to be able to share this amazing place with you and all its little surprises along the way. All the best. Cheers Stephen
Stephen did an awesome job showing us some off the main tourist attraction sites. What was even more impressive was the knowledge he had of the plants and animals and geo thermal facts. We really enjoyed the spa at the end as well.
Great to hear you enjoyed my off the beaten track tour and all the things it had to offer. All the best guys. Cheers Stephen
We thoroughly enjoyed the thermal path tour. Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and informative. I would highly recommend this small group tour for people who want a small group experience and for those who want to gain some local knowledge, history and learn about the geothermal springs in Rotorua. The Real Rotorua lives up to its name as it is run by a very genuine guide
Thanks guys, awesome to receive such a positive review and I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience . All the best for your future adventures. Cheers Stephen
We had an incredible day with Steve from Real Rotorua! From the start, he was kind, patient, and flexible, managing our flight delay, helping with a quick baggage drop at the hotel, even making stops for McDonald’s and water. Everything was done with ease and a smile. Steve’s nature talks and stories during our walks were fascinating. I learned so much and even watched the Whakaari Netflix documentary he recommended. The tour of the mud pots and hot springs was a highlight, capped off with cookies and delicious peach tea. Our family truly enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend Real Rotorua for an unforgettable experience!
Thanks guys, a real pleasure to share my backyard with you all. Great to hear you enjoyed my chats and explanations. All the best for your future adventures together. Cheers Stephen
Our guide, Stephen, was amazing showing us the most amazing places before taking us to the hot springs. We learned so much making is a truly spectacular experience.
Thanks for the kind words. awesome to hear you enjoyed the afternoon with me and all the things we got to see and experience. All the best. Cheers Stephen
Stephen was very informative — pleasant and on time! Lovely afternoon seeing some very remote parts of NZ we would never have seen on our own. So disappointed we were not able to catch his glow worm tour.
Next time Lynn you can join me on the Nocturnal adventure, great to hear you enjoyed the time spent with me on the thermal path tour. all the best. Cheers Stephen
This was a fantastic tour and easily will be the best way to explore Rotorua. Steve, the guide was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating and engaging throughout. He clearly knew all the best places to go, away from the usual tourist crowds. If you really want to understand the area, as well as bathe in some out the outstanding surroundings and water, this is 100% the tour you need!
Thank You for joining me and always a pleasure to show off a little of my back yard. Great to hear you enjoyed it. all the best. cheers Stephen
Visit Rotorua's best thermal sites in 4 hours, without worrying about parking, searching for information, driving, and all that in the comfort of an air-conditioned minibus. An incredible time saver! Steven, our guide, was great. He knows the area well and explained a lot of things to us that we would never have known if we had visited the sites on our own. And the highlight was definitely the hot bath at the end of the tour, at Waikite Valley Hot Pools. A beautiful place that I highly recommend as well.
Yes the best way to finish a day in those silky smooth Geothermal waters. Great to hear you enjoyed it all. Cheers Stephen
Great family experience, convenient and comfortable way to visit several thermal sites, Steven knows the history of all his sites. This is more than just a visit. Alone, we would have seen beautiful landscapes without knowing their history. I recommend 100%
Thank you for recommending my tour. a pleasure to show you some of Rotoruas magic. All the best Cheers Stephen
The Thermal Path Tour is wonderful! Stephen is a very friendly and informative guide. I learned not only about the geothermal activity at 5 different sites but also about the plants and wildlife too. It's a perfect tour for anyone making a short visit to Rotorua as so much ground is covered. Highly recommended!
Thanks for recommending my tour. A pleasure to show off the different parts of Rotorua. Cheers Stephen
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Path Tour | 4 hours | 4.9 (73) | $86 | |
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