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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 10, 2023
How long is the drive from Hamilton to Whanganui?
The direct drive from Hamilton to Whanganui is 201 mi (324 km), and should have a drive time of 4 hrs 22 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Hamilton to Whanganui, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Tongariro National Park, as well as top places to visit like Hamilton Lake Domain and Hamilton Gardens, or the ever-popular Hamilton Zoo.
Tongariro National Park is one of the most popular national parks in New Zealand. The park is known for its stunning views, glaciated mountains and emerald lakes. The park also has UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a stunning hike which is a must for anyone visiting the park. It’s fairly challenging but 100% worth the effort. Try to pick a clear day if you can to enjoy the most amazing views, some of the best in NZ.
Nick Whales — Google review
An awesome adventure across an amazing landscape. Make sure you prep and pack correctly. Very quick changes in weather here and there have been some horrible stories. Other than that it's an incredible hike and unforgettable!
John Phelan — Google review
Very beautiful location nice and cold for a family touring. The ha dial ride was amazing just a bit pricy $45 for adult just to travel on top. The cafeteria on top has beautiful views as well food family spot.
udharv deshpande — Google review
This walk is a must when visiting the north island. Beautiful nature and a great exercise. You may download some Lotr mordor music and listen to it while admiring "Mount Doom" ;D It took us 8 hrs - we stopped to take photos and to enjoy some refreshments along the way. We also visited Soda springs and went around the lakes.
Martin Hässler — Google review
Highly recommended to do this hike!
like many of the people who did this, it was the best hike I ever did!
The slopes to the emerald lake was the toughest for me at least.
Hiking pole is strongly recommended.
with magnificent view all throughout the crossings it was an experience of a lifetime.
The descent path was compact and hard and it was not good for our knees.
Irenetan288 Tan — Google review
Taranaki falls walk.
Walked from the Grand Chateau. Was an easy 1.5 hour walk on path the whole way. Magnificent scenery. Well worth the experience.
Rhendy Visser — Google review
Absolutely phenomenal. Once in a lifetime trip and I highly suggest you take the opportunity to do it if you're physically able. I took over 250 pictures so I'll leave that to the true professionals but will gladly say it was worth my while. Check the weather before going, we actually overpacked a little, but be prepared for a full day of walking! It took us just under 8 hours, intermediate fitness, late 30s - early 40s couple.
TRe Blah — Google review
This is the best hiking experience you can find in the North Island, considering Tongariro is one of the worlds oldest national park.
After extensive research, this hike was difficult about 7/10 I would say with my above average fitness level. DOC estimates around 7-8 hours to hike but I managed to complete it in around 6 hours one way with the last couple hours being the easiest walk.
You will also need to arrange a shuttle at the beginning, I highly recommend which is priced around $35 depending on the websites. Overall I highly recommend this hike to anyone, every steps is worth it at the end.
Carronl — Google review
Must do in New Zealand, it’s not a difficult walk, most of parts are flat and the views are so worth especially on sunny days!! One of my favorite places in New Zealand, please be aware of the shuttle must be booked in advance as it has been sold out soon in peak season .
Juanita Huang — Google review
Park with multiple excursion possibilities. We opted for the Northern Circuit and then entered the Alpine Crossing which leads to Blue Lake. It's a very long route, but if you're fit it's worth it. to go and return scheduled 10.12 hours to travel 35km.
Marco Marazzi (Maraziño) — Google review
Wow, one of the most beautiful hikes! The route is incredibly diverse, passing through stunning and varied landscapes. The climb towards the end becomes more physically challenging, but it's totally worth it. Highly recommended to check the weather beforehand, as it's a significant factor.
Mai Srugo — Google review
This place is not to be missed! We walked the Taranaki Falls path, which passes 3 waterfalls, a desert plateau, views of perfectly shaped volcano cones, one used to represent Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings, streams, and a forest. The terrain is amazingly varied and beautiful. It took us 4 hours to make the loop with stops to view and take pics. Don't miss this!
Kathy Burdick — Google review
One of the best hikes I ever did!
Everyone should definitely do this hike once if they are traveling through this region. I highly recommend it because you can witness a stunning landscape that makes you feel as if you are standing on a different planet. It took us around 7 1/2 hours, including multiple breaks, to complete the Tongariro Crossing, but it’s definitely worth it.
Julian Elsner — Google review
Had an amazing time in this park. I went there during new year’s. It was quite hard for me. It was so unforgettable.
Catherine Chen — Google review
An amazing adventure for our little family of 4. We went there to celebrate our son's first birthday. It was my first snow trip as well. I absolutely loved it. The beauty took over the senses and left us mesmerized.
Avikil Nadan — Google review
We did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and it was one of the best day hikes we did so far! Definitely worth it if you are in the area!
A few tips to make your trip better:
* book a shuttle in advance because the car park is limited to 4 hours only and the hike takes between 6 to 9 hours depending on how fast you walk, how many breaks you take for pictures, etc
* there is no shop/restaurant or anything on the track so make sure you have enough water and snacks with you. I would recommend 1.5 - 2 liters.
* good footwear is required! This is a volcanic track so some parts are a bit slippery because of the volcanic terrain. Hiking boots with good ankle support would be best in my opinion
* take a wind jacked with you, gloves and a beanie. A part of the track was particularly windy and it is easy to get cold up there if you are not dressed properly.
* photo tip: take a time-lapse with the volcano❤️ The clouds move very fast and they create an amazing view
Note: check the weather before! You will not be able to see anything if the weather is bad :(
Cristina Meirosu — Google review
Nice drive up to the busy ski centre where we walked up as far as we could, even got to walk on some snow! lovely views, very busy with ski folk (as you would expect!)
Mandy & Antony — Google review
Incredible park. Did the crossing on a great (but windy!!) day. Long hike, but plenty of bathrooms and incredible views. There is a skree section that is a bit sketchy after the red crater that can get a bit spooky so bring good hiking shoes and some water and food. Super worth! We didn’t find any rings though
Erik Wiker — Google review
What a breath taking trek.
Took us 9.5hrs including few short and 1 lunch break. Challenging at some sections but totally worth it. Cannot wait to do it in when the mountains are covered in snow.
If you are thunking of doing this, make sire to book yourself a shuttle service coz its aint a loop track.
Hardika Italia — Google review
Probably one of the best hikes I
I did.
It’s not hard but moderate- about 20k and 700merers ascending.
The views are sooo nice and the trail is really easy for hiking (do bring hiking shoes or boots as it’s still technical at the section of the pools).
Dekel R — Google review
Did the Ohakune Old Coach Trail on a bike (no bike either 😅), starting at the Horopito end. Absolutely crazy downhill sections, the body was definitely feeling it. Well worth it. Cool spot to have lunch across the old viaduct. Lots of little history fact signs along the trail.
Jax Cullen — Google review
Tongariro National Park, located in the North Island of New Zealand, is a breathtaking destination that offers a myriad of natural wonders and outdoor adventures. As one of the oldest national parks in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tongariro boasts stunning landscapes, including active volcanoes, alpine meadows, and turquoise lakes.
The park is renowned for its diverse range of hiking trails, catering to all levels of fitness and experience. The most famous of these is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a challenging but rewarding day hike that takes you through volcanic terrain, past steaming vents, and alongside emerald lakes. The scenery along the way is simply awe-inspiring, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
In addition to hiking, Tongariro National Park offers opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering in the winter months. The park is also rich in Maori cultural significance, with sacred sites and legends adding depth to the visitor experience.
Accommodation options in the park range from campsites to luxury lodges, ensuring that there's something to suit every traveler's preferences and budget. However, it's worth noting that booking accommodation well in advance, especially during the peak season, is advisable.
Overall, Tongariro National Park is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Its stunning beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage make it a truly unforgettable experience.
ajleeblog — Google review
This hike (the Taranaki Fall Track) was easily the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The trails were well maintained but not intrusive with a lot of great care taken to minimize environmental impact while making the area very reasonably accessible. We did not do the full alpine crossing, but it is definitely on my bucket list for any future chance to return. Simply amazing and humbling.
John Westendorf — Google review
Most popular city on this route
22 minutes off the main route, 61% of way to Whanganui
Best stops along Hamilton to Whanganui drive
The top stops along the way from Hamilton to Whanganui (with short detours) are Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and Hamilton Gardens. Other popular stops include Tongariro Alpine Crossing, The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, Waitomo, and Bridal Veil Falls.
Located in Waikato, Hamilton Zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand. The zoo features 600 animals from all over the world, including a walk-through aviary and cafe/picnic areas.
Had a great time with the kids. Not too crowded. The animals were surprisingly interactive, especially the monkeys. I put my hand up to the glass and a baby monkey climbed all the way up and put his little hand on mine. The outdoor aviary is a great way to learn about indigenous plant species and spot NZ birds. I've been to a few zoos and this was the most seamless trip I've had. Make sure to bring a water bottle, hat and sunscreen. Snacks if you don't want to buy. It was a great day:)
Krystal Black — Google review
This is a great little zoo to visit with young kids. It looks small on a map but be warned that there is a lot of undulation so it actually is a decent walk.
It had a surprisingly diverse range of animals, which the kids loved, and our favourite part were the little entertainment areas for the kids along the walking route - this place was definitely built with kids in mind.
The cafe is also definitely worth visiting and very opposite to the usual food you'd expect at a tourist attraction. I'd recommend booking in advance if you plan on coming on a weekend as you can visit the zoo, have lunch, then re enter the zoo and continue your day.
Shane de Mello — Google review
We enjoyed our visit to the Hamilton Zoo! We took our grandchildren for a birthday. They had a great time. All of the animals were out so they were able to see so many. The only thing that would make it better is if everything connected in a circle instead of having to go one way and return to get to another animal. The playground area was great! The food was good but way to expensive.
Elaine Middleton — Google review
Had a great time here. Its a great idea to bring your kids here as there are a lot of play areas where they can have fun. This area is also stroller ready for young babies. There are picnic spots across the facility for families who want to have there home cooked meals here.
There are also cafes at enterence and an icecream shop near the savanna area.
They have a route for bird viewing in the natural enclosed area which was fantastic.
All in all a great place to spend some time with kids
Shreejesh Nair — Google review
Zoo full of animals with a good variety. Very interesting pathways with lots of board walks! Some areas felt somewhat unfinished however it is off season at the moment. To see all the animals the path you ave to take does involve a bit of walking back on self and to areas twice. Very inquisitive and friendly meerkats. Savannah enclosure was nice to see with all the different animals interacting together.
James Thompson — Google review
This zoo is really nice and big. You can see that animals are well taken care of. They have big space for them selves where they can live and move freely. Highly maintained zoo. I feel safe while visiting the zoo. There are toilets and water station from time to time.
Lenva Tyson — Google review
I went on a school trip with my grandson. It has been about 10 years since I've last been, and there have been some awesome renovations done. The entrance has a new cafe which is very modern and they make a great mocca. The carpark is a lot bigger but is very tight to maneuver around. The playground at the entrance has been renovated, and there are much more covered picnic tables to eat at and also more toilets. The toilet facilities around the zoo have also been updated and expanded. As a whole, the new renovations make the zoo a more family-friendly place to visit.
Tangi Marshall — Google review
Fantastic, likely the best zoo experience I have had. Such beautiful scenery, lots of animals and clean amenities. I got a burger and fresh pineapple juice from the cafe afterwards - amazing food, and the juice was actually fresh from a juicer! Highly recommended place to visit with the family.
Brendon Tyree — Google review
We loved this zoo. It is very big so be prepared to make a whole day of it. The animals have large enclosures and are well cared for as an animal lover myself this is very important. So many photos and so many different animals. Highly recommended to visit and support this zoo. We loved it & will visit it again when visiting NZ
Dr GT — Google review
It is one of the best places for the kids in Waikato. Easy to get tickets online. This place closes at 1630 and food won't be available from around 1600. It is best to visit this zoo excluding winter.
Kids absolutely loved it. Very spacious and plenty of parking as well.
Akhila Rangana — Google review
Fabulous day out! Upgrades to facilities are great. So much to see and do for families and very reasonable cost for entry.
Plenty of areas to get out of hot sun and sit to rest.
Highly recommend to all.
Rachel Costar — Google review
Love this Zoo,wide paving is good for mobility people or a little unco like my Mum who is unsteady. All the staff smile easily at the public.Easy to navigate & the carpark is lovely & thought out. Good playground to entertain your own chimps while u eat. Look forward to our next visit.
Neville Thomson — Google review
Fabulous afternoon spent with the children wandering around looking at all the wonderful animals. Love all the tables and chairs dotted all around the zoo as well as multiple activity areas to keep the little ones entertained. End the day at the cafe with a ice-cream, cold drink or a delicious coffee while the children have one last burst of energy in the play ground.
jill lagas — Google review
A much smaller zoo than Auckland zoo but they are very well maintained and the animals are very healthy looking. Most animals are very chubby and fluffy. A sign that they are well taken care of. There are a few play area for the kids in the zoo. Plenty of parking. New amenities. Cafe was amazing too. They had the best fried chicken waffle there. Chicken was cooked to perfection and not dry/overcook. Overall it's worth a weekend drive over to visit Hamilton Zoo.
Vanessa Fork — Google review
Always a great experience at Hamilton zoo!
Friendly and amazing staff and hosts are available to chat with and ask questions.
Easy to find parking, quality prices to visit at your own pace.
Would highly recommend people with mobility difficulties prepare ahead of time as the terrain isn't flat. Would suit individuals with electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters etc.
Great place to book ahead with individual 'encounters' with different animals.
Cameron Christiansen — Google review
Great zoo, the tiger cubs and chimpanzee area were absolute highlights! Worth checking out if you're in Hamilton. It's also a good size to wander through a few times, and try to get to exhibits when they are feeding the animals.
Connor Saunders — Google review
Nice spacious zoo. Give yourselves at least 3 hours for a good sight-seeing walk. We were fortunate the weather is good, so we ended up seeing almost all animals, some sheltering under a shade.
I just wished they made the fences better. Most of the poles and fences are blocking the view, but we like how you can be really close to some animals, so I guess that's alright.
Zoo is clean, you can see the staff are passionate about what they are doing.
Overall, we enjoyed our visit and definitely recommend visiting.
Michael Singh — Google review
Excellent visit to our local zoo with our 3y old. Highlights were no doubt the tiger pups, the aviary and the various playgrounds.
In general the whole park looks great, is well maintained, and it's just the right size for a half day visit.
Felix Hoornaert — Google review
Took my grandkids for the day. It was awesome even had the keepers answer some questions by a 7 yr old who had loads of questions about how different animals needed different care. Very impressive zoo will be going back as the 7yr old has asked that for his birthday he has an animal encounter at feeding time so will be booking that in for August
michele wood — Google review
We (couple) enjoyed our trip to the Zoo and stayed a good four hours looking around and reading all the info. (It’s not just for kids, Adults need to keep learning too!) It’s great you can bring your own food and have a picnic. We also loved having the ice cream truck halfway through our wonder, prices and portion size was value for money (Boxing Day was hot). All facilities are clean and every path, garden and enclosure if well maintained and cared for (thanks to the staff) Note: There are quite a few steep paths to walk however there are quite a few seats along the way for those who will need to have a little break. Great day!
Jazisam 11 — Google review
The Hamilton Zoo provided my family with an exceptionally enjoyable experience. The zoo was meticulously maintained, and the staff demonstrated utmost professionalism and friendliness. The diverse range of animals on display was truly impressive, catering to visitors of all ages and interests. Furthermore, the zoo's accessibility features, such as wheelchair ramps and wide pathways, made it an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities and families with young children. I highly recommend the Hamilton Zoo to anyone seeking an enriching and educational day out.
Joshua — Google review
Hands down, the most amazing zoo ive been to.
Made the trip from Auckland and didnt want to leave. Feels more like a nature walk with "exotic" animals dotted along the way. Beautifully spread out and feels like its designed to blend in with nature. Plenty of shade all throughout and plenty of mini playgrounds, rest stops for snacks. Hydration stations available throughout the zoo with FREE water.
The staff are cheerfully welcoming and the prices are totally family friendly.
Our kids had a great time and made some Wonderful memories
Lawren Matrix — Google review
Great zoo, picturesque with lots to see. Prices of slices at Cafe were exorbitant! And very small portions. Went for hot chips which were very good and reasonably priced.
carolyn marshall — Google review
A great zoo with such friendly keepers. Talks are available and face to face encounters. Enclosures are big enough that it feels like the animals are free to act natural. Recommend allowing 2-3 hours to see it all. More if you want rest and lunch at the cafe.
Luke Willis — Google review
A modern well.laidnoutvzoo for families and all. Plenty to do. Great enclosures and wide variety of animals. Plenty of walking but pathways make it easy. Worth a visit.
Jacqui Alexander — Google review
4.5
(3821)
•
4.5
(858)
183 Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Baverstock 3289, New Zealand
Hamilton Lake Domain, located in the heart of Hamilton City, offers a picturesque 3.8 km hiking trail around Lake Rotorua. The trail is popular among walkers, runners, and hikers and features lush vegetation alongside the lake, picnic areas, a playground, cafe, and a boardwalk section. Visitors can enjoy various water-based activities such as yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and paddle boating. The domain also hosts organized events like fairs and family days.
Wonderful and safe place to hang out during r have a picnic. We loved the sunset colours. Plenty of parking available but can get full during summer. You can feed the ducks and even walk around the lake which can take less than an hour. Becareful of duck poo on the ground.
Ravi Lal — Google review
Plenty of parking away from the playground but not much activities around the lake except to walk. Nicer views as you head up the hill towards the Domain but it’s pretty hidden. Pity it’s not concreted in between the pillars.
Pauline O'Keeffe — Google review
Had a great time here. A good place to bring your kids and have a nice family time. There are a lot of activities for kids to engage in. The most mesmerizing moments are the sunrise and sunset here.
Shreejesh Nair — Google review
Lovely easy walk, great wide paths, fantastic play ground for kids. Cafe made a good iced coffee. Plenty of birds to feed so take plenty of frozen peas & corn, bird seed.
Trudy Wadams — Google review
A great playground! Suit all ages. Beautiful design and new equipment. we could spend the whole afternoon at here, a café just beside the playground, so kids can recharge their energy and have a little rest.
Yuki D — Google review
One of the things I appreciated most about Hamilton Lake Domain was how easy it was to access. The park is located just a few minutes' drive from Hamilton's city center, making it a convenient spot to visit if you're staying in the area.
In addition to the walking and cycling tracks, the park also features a stunning rose garden, which is especially beautiful during the spring and summer months.
If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, there are plenty of options to choose from. There's also a large adventure playground for kids, with slides, swings, and climbing frames.
Overall, I would highly recommend Hamilton Lake Domain to anyone visiting the Hamilton area. The park is a wonderful place to spend a few hours, whether you're looking to get some exercise, relax and soak up the scenery, or enjoy some quality time with family and friends.
Vishnu Balakrishnan — Google review
Lake Rotoroa situated in the heart of Hamilton. A good place to admire the beauty of nature. Plenty of parking away from the playground. The playground is one of the best I've ever seen & the walk around the lake is a lovely experience with various things to see along the way. overall great place to spend time with family and friends...
Navtesh — Google review
It's a lovely area that you can enjoy with the whole family, including your dog (on a leash). There are bbq facilities close to the yacht club, an outdoor gym area, a walking trail around the lake, a kids play area, coffee shop, rose garden and some additional facilities. The Saturday morning parkruns here are also great. It is also kept clean and tidy.
Hayley Dill — Google review
We all had a lovely time here. Lots of activities for kids.great picnic place. I also managed to have a good walk.
Vindya Naidu — Google review
A small oasis in the heart of Hamilton. The lake has a great walking or running track and bikes and scooters are allowed along most of it. There’s an outdoor gym area in Innes Common and on the city side is an amazing kids playground, Veranda cafe (always crazy busy on weekends) and a small ice cream shop.
Awesome sunsets can be enjoyed from the northeast shore of the lake.
Scott Robinson — Google review
Hamilton Lake is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in the heart of the city. I always come here for a quick walk or run around the lake, which is about 3.5km long. The scenery is stunning, with water, trees, birds, and flowers. There is also a boardwalk section, playgrounds, and grassed parklands where you can have a picnic or play games. There is a cafe available near the lake where you can enjoy a coffee or a snack with a view of the water. The lake is also used for water sports such as sailing, canoeing, and dragon boating. Hamilton Lake Domain is one of Hamilton’s premiere parks and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and enjoyable outing. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
MaxDeGiraffe — Google review
Hamilton Lake is our go to. We go there for a walk, to relax, watch the dogs pass by, the ducks and geese. Nice place for a picnic. Playground for kids. The rose garden. Cafes and ice-cream. Beautiful lake. even when you are in the middle of the city, you feel close to nature.
La Vida — Google review
Hamilton Lake in New Zealand is a picturesque destination offering serene surroundings and recreational activities. The scenic beauty of the lake, complemented by walking trails, gardens, and birdlife, provides a tranquil escape. Visitors can enjoy boat rides, picnics, and a playground for families. The lake's well-maintained environment and diverse features make it a delightful spot for both locals and tourists seeking a peaceful retreat.
Thusitha Ratnasekara — Google review
Lake view is a amazing, you can walk in very near the lake, and you get free car parking, there are lots of car parking is available, you can see wonderful sunset, is a quite place there seater in the near water you can sit and feel good, you can spend your time at alone nice place, when ever your guys visit hamilton never ever miss this place
siva vineeth — Google review
Beautiful and quiet place for walking and jogging. A lot of goose and geese. Interesting thing I saw- a group of white gooses lying down and chilling at the lawn near the houses/road in the late evening.
ALEX CHEW — Google review
Ultimate place to go for a stroll in a natural environment surrounded by a busy bustling city. The café is a must visit. With modern architecture and lots of space it's the perfect place to catch up with friends and family over a lovely cuppa and muffin. The ice-cream shop has been the number one spot for the yummiest huge (or small) ice-cream cones ever since I can remember.
The lake boasts the best place for the children to explore and have fun. The play facilities here are safe and very user friendly. Mind you, the kids need to be watched for safety sake. Best of all, it's free. Picnic time in summer at the lake is just great.
We used to take KFC and every takeaway imaginable to dine with. Our families and extended family would regularly visit here in summer.
So. What's keeping you? Let's go to the Hamilton Lake for play, fun and good cheer. If you don't want to drive there, the Comet and Orbiter buses stop right there. When in season the Roses are absolutely stunning.
Karl Gilgen — Google review
Had an awesome walk around Hamilton Lake Domain this morning. Some many people use this asset in the middle of Hamilton City. It’s so nice that most people will call out good morning as they walk past. The domain is great for all ages. There are cafes and plenty of toilets and facilities.
Great place to visit if you need a break while in the city.
Albert Jans — Google review
If you just bought a roasted pork, or pizza, or even kebab, then just somehow you don't want to eat it at the restaurant or home, I recommend you this place could become your place to eat peacefully (:
There're some bench with table at the deeper area of the park, but make sure it close to the tree because at summer it will be very hot
John Andreas Smith (Herr JohnSmith) — Google review
Lovely place to enjoy the Majestic view of the Hamilton lake and enjoy the walk around the circumference.
Free parking at the site. A decent Cafe with lovely options.
Walk around the place is amazing.
Vinay Karanam — Google review
Nice place to visit and hang out at the Cafe. The food at the Cafe is alright. Nice children playground 👏
Joanne Auga — Google review
4.6
(5225)
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4.5
(571)
Ruakiwi Road, Hamilton Lake, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Hamilton Gardens is a large and elaborate botanical garden that features themed gardens from different parts of the world, as well as an impressive sculpture garden. The gardens are spread over 50 hectares southeast of the city centre and include a large park, cafe, restaurant, and extravagant themed enclosed gardens.
Lovely gardens. Well kept and lots of variety. Takes about 2hrs for a good wander around. All the various gardens are surprisingly large. A few grassy bits amongst the enclosed gardens good for a picnic. Entry is Free! You can pick up a map brochure for a couple of dollars.
James Thompson — Google review
One of if not the best garden i have visited worldwide, and I've easily been to over 50 through about 20 countries! Give a whole day to this trip as there us so much to explore and enjoy here. Beautiful differing gardens in a wide variety of themes with excellent info provided on all content.
John Phelan — Google review
A must visit spot for nature lovers. The sections are beautifully designed, and represent different cultures. There are signs posted with description, and i believe there are audio tours as well. Can take up to a good 3-4 hours to cover. Would highly recommend.
Akriti Sakhuja — Google review
A great place to visit mainly in spring and summer with flowers all around. Still good in winter to explore the enclosed gardens and spend quality time appreciating them. A great place to spend on a bright day for a picnic. Kids friendly area. Lot of parking in different parts of the garden. Best part it's free, but you can pay $2 to get a map which goes into the upkeep of the place.
Ankit Bhatnagar — Google review
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring these beautiful and unique gardens. I recommend researching and picking out the top five gardens you want to see. Get started as soon as they open and go to those gardens first. You will have many of them all to yourself, which is well worth it. Our favorites were the Italian, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Egyptian gardens. If you are limited on time, you should at least check those out. If you like taking photos, look for opportunities, and there are many, to use the doorways and other architecture to frame your subject. Have fun!
Christopher Walker — Google review
An awesome garden that is well laid out and maintained. So much to enjoy that you will hardly notice when couple of hours has passed. And you will need a minimum of 2 hours if you want to visit all sections in the garden. You can easily spend at least half a day here.
I didn’t take enough pictures and my pictures do not adequately capture the beauty of this garden.
This is must visit destination if you enjoy parks and gardens. Parking is free. There is no entrance fee. Please visit the gift shop to buy something in way of contribution.
Winnie ThePooh — Google review
Absolutely stunning! Exceeded all my expectations! Within Hamilton Gardens, there are several smaller gardens, each with a different theme. Every one of them were unique, beautiful and well maintained. My favourites were the Indian, Italian Renaissance and the Surrealist themed ones. One of my highlights here was seeing a really pregnant fish. I highly recommend giving this place a visit!
Mandie L. — Google review
If I was able to, I would give this place 20 stars.
There are separate gardens reflecting different parts of the world. It is really cool and so tastefully done. I can't imagine yhe amount of effort that goes into this place. Very well setup, presented and maintained.
Place is absolutely lovely, parking a breeze and well worth the hours you can spend here. You should go! ...... multiple times.
Jason Oneal — Google review
The attention to detail and the level of upkeep here at the gardens just blew me away. Another must see thing to do in the Tron (along with the classics musiem). Look forward to bringing my Mum for a look and the new exhibits will be awesome I'm sure.
Donate and get a map (there are some fixed ones around the place) so you can look at it when needed, you don't want to miss anything!
Aaron Povey (Azzman) — Google review
It's a beautiful place to go to with your friends, family or partner. Considered as the top most attraction of hamilton. It's definitely worth watching all the gardens inside. Thanks to the council, how good they have maintained it and have kept the entry free of charge. Could spend a couple of hours in there. One can lose its track of place as it's a huge garden. It's recommended to have a map with you when you visit.
Karan Joshi — Google review
A must visit in Hamilton. You could easily spend a few hours exploring the gardens.
We only had enough time for some of the enclosed gardens. They were outstanding. Kudos to the designers of these. Each different garden felt so unique and fitting their respective styles. Japanese garden was definitely my favorite. It was so peaceful. Right up until a couple of loads of families with kids showed up!
Jon Adams — Google review
My friend and I went to The Hamilton Garden's on an overcast day, it was the middle of winter and spent an hour looking around the gardens on show ...
..the theme gardens we viewed namely England, Italy, China, Japan, India were damper than usual but still looked picturesque in it's own way depending on the cultural heritage of the different countries, it was interesting to note the shrubbery and plant's on display from different regions...
We didn't have time to finish All the sights but have the intention of coming back to spend longer looking around another day, you really need to have time to spare to browse the different countries and gardens on show!
I would definitely recommend the visit if you want to spend a relaxed day out with a friend or family!
FOOKES RANGITEWIWINI — Google review
Quite a bunch of flowers despite it being the dead of winter!! It was fun walking into the different kinds of gardens 🥰 they were very true to form and theme! Will definitely come back and hopefully by then, all the maintenance and construction will be done :)
Mariel Tanchuling — Google review
Just such a stunning day, love a wee afternoon stroll here, always something new to see. Entry was free on this day, excluding guided tours. Great interactive listening posts, see the visitor center for this service. Excellent upkeep of the gardens, great place for families visitors and locals alike. Great parking at multiple entry points, Cafe, ice cream and coffee, playground.
Marie Swanson — Google review
Impressive variety of themed gardens. Not all in the absolute best shape, but clearly thought has been put into them and the themes are pretty fun, from cultural/historical to "style" to practicality (kitchen and herb gardens).
Was under construction when I went so I missed out on the visitor centre and probably a few other amenities but still a nice place, and if you're on the fence about it but still enjoy a nice stroll in some fun gardens I would recommend it. Check out my pictures for a taste.
Travis Ng — Google review
Such a lovely place to admire beautiful flowers! With ample free parking and a spacious picnic area, it's perfect for families or friends to gather. Unfortunately, we couldn't explore the entire garden due to time constraints. However, revisiting still allowed us to appreciate the garden's hidden beauty. Overall, a delightful experience worth returning for!
Evy Lee — Google review
Visiting Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand is like stepping into a living, breathing storybook of natural wonder and cultural tapestry. As you wander through the meticulously crafted enclosures, you're transported across time and space. The Japanese Garden of Contemplation offers a serene pause, with its minimalist beauty and tranquil water features whispering ancient Eastern philosophies. In contrast, the Italian Renaissance Garden is a bold celebration of symmetry and splendor, its fountains and statues a testament to human creativity.
Each garden is a universe unto itself, a delicate harmony of flora, architecture, and history. The Maori garden educates and inspires with its indigenous plants and art, connecting visitors to the land's original guardians. The Tudor Garden, with its knot garden and heraldic beasts, feels like a scene from a Shakespearean play.
Beyond the gardens, the staff are custodians of magic, their passion and knowledge as enriching as the gardens they tend. Even the humblest flower bed is cared for with a reverence that speaks volumes of their dedication.
Hamilton Gardens isn't just a place to visit; it's an experience to be absorbed, a journey through the very soul of beauty, culture, and nature. Five stars are inadequate for this Eden-like oasis in New Zealand. It's a place where every visit feels like the first, where each turn reveals a new secret, and where the world's beauty is celebrated in every leaf and petal.
Gary Mitchell — Google review
The Hamilton Gardens really are a beautiful and pleasant experience. They offer many different kinds of garden styles and the overall area is huge. Even if it was 5 NZD I’d easily pay the admission - but it actually is free!
Nathan — Google review
Was incredible to visit these gardens! Was surprised that it was free to enter. Car park was so full, but not too many people throughout considering, due to the size! Highly recommend for all ages! Just beautiful!
Karen D — Google review
What a beautiful place. I love it how there are different ares with different themes. Even the way you transition from 1 area to another is honestly something else. The place is huge so you do get a decent walk around while enjoying the landscape. Definitely worth the visit.
Andrew Tai — Google review
Completely unexpected. What a surreal experience.
A series of gardens, inspired from interesting time periods, and cleverly interconnected in such a way that they're hidden until you walk in.
Every new garden is a new WOW, all over again.
It feels criminal not paying an entry fee.
Andres Sepulveda — Google review
Great place, excellent gardens. Took my mum to test out a walker and it was great. The only issue was in the Chinese garden - not suitable for wheeled items past the bridge, as there's uneven cobbles and then stairs up to and back from the pagoda up the hill. Otherwise, fantastic, and we all enjoyed it.
Haldoor Honey — Google review
What an amazing place. Must go back again, hopefully in the Spring so I can see the rhododendrons and other spring flowers. So much to see. Love the separate "rooms" of different types of gardens. Well worth the drive.
Nigel Walmsley — Google review
Beautiful gardens and such a great place to take the family out. Highly recommended.
Saw quite a few families holding their little ones as it was a pretty long walk if your going to all the different sections. Recommend you take a pram or carrier. We had our 1 year old with us and thank goodness we thought to take the pram because it takes over an hour walk to go through all the different gardens.
Family enjoyed it. We were looking forward for the giant door but it was closed. Enjoyed all the other gardens though and kid’s favourite was the Ancient Egyptian Garden.
Nita. — Google review
One of the most beautiful gardens I've been too. Absolutely stunning. Each area is themed perfectly. Couldn't fault it. We spent 2 hours wandering around, could have easily spent more!!!
Roxanne Milne — Google review
With only limited time we decided to concentrate on the Enclosed Gardens. With the help of a mostly accurate $2 map and visitor guide we saw all 18 gardens.
They are in three groups of gardens, paradise, fantasy and productive with the Tropical Garden, in untropical Hamilton, in a group of its own.
My favourites are the Egyptian, Italian and Indian gardens.
The gardens and parking are free, if I were a local I would be visiting regularly to see the various gardens in each of the four seasons.
p b — Google review
Beautiful gardens to look at even if your not 💯 into gardens it's free and something to plod around and look at with friends or family, I went with my family and all the kids really enjoyed it. Free to enter, free parking and takes 1-2hours to look at longer if you really want to spend some time taking it in. You can get food and drinks in the cafe and there are things available to donate if you wish.
D Bakes — Google review
Absolutely beautiful. If you enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of plants and greenery, this is definitely worth a visit. Each area of the garden is unique, calming, and pleasant. I particularly enjoyed the bamboo walkway.
Melvin Chien — Google review
The enclosed gardens are stunning. Definitely worth a few hours of your time, even if plants are not quite your thing. They close at a set time, so be sure to get there early enough. I would recommend 2+ hours, as there is so much to see. It is free to get in, but a $2 map sold at the information center is handy to have.
Lucia Stewart — Google review
More than just gardens, the enclosed gardens are curated scenes of each theme. Incredibly thought out and interesting. Lots of information provided too. Highly recommend
Eleanor Morris — Google review
These gardens are a worthwhile stop as they’re like no other.
Luckily the weather was excellent on the day we went and this helps.
It’s a good walking workout because there’s a lot to see and the whole place is very photogenic.
The cafe at the front is pretty good too.
Blossom Circle — Google review
Beautiful gardens, we loved the new Egyptian gardens exhibit. I would definitely recommend a spring visit, a lot of the flowers were dead as we visited in Autumn but that's only to be expected. Most of the gardens are perennial and absolutely stunning and well maintained.
Ji-Hyun A — Google review
One of my favourite places in the world! Always inspirational. The current construction work makes it less appealing at the moment but I’m sure it will be better than ever when it’s finished. The cafe is great too, good selection, quality food and reasonably priced
karen titulaer — Google review
Brilliant! Popped by with Mum to pass some time before our hotel check in and didn't know what to expect and we both had a great time!
Easy, flat walking, which mum really appreciated... I've never seen her take more photos. World def love to come back in the future when more of the gardens open.
Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours is a sheep farm that offers guided tours of the filming location for the Shire scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies. Visitors can explore a complete set of Hobbiton, which includes different sized hobbit holes and speciality houses such as those for beekeepers, gardeners, and lumberjacks. The attraction also features a gift shop, cafe and inn.
Breathtaking experience with interesting facts along the way. Must do it at least once when you visit NZ!
The tour is guided and each time slot gets on a bus and is driven to the set. Tour guide was friendly, funny, and enthusiastic. Answered all and every question we had. There aren't any actors or anything like that on the set/tour. You walk around the whole set.
You are taken around different hobbit holes and told fun facts about the actors and the set. The set is so detailed with fun props and real veggie gardens. The detail was amazing. It is so green out there! There is also a beautiful large lake.
At the pub/bar you can choose between ginger beer or a couple of different alcoholic drinks.
Adult prices were 89 $ in April 2022. Masks not required while out doors on the set but were required indoors and on the bus.
Tour lasted maybe 45 mins - an hour.
Laura James — Google review
Had a great experience visiting the movie set. Really enjoyed the informative tour which taught me quite a bit about how the movies were filmed. Ample opportunity to take pictures around the set if it is not too crowded. There was also a nice complimentary drink at the end of the tour. Would definitely recommend booking with a day tour as it is quite far from Auckland. Tour guides also seem to have some domain knowledge of how to avoid the crowds etc.
Andrew L — Google review
Unfortunately it was raining, but it must do that a lot cos they had heaps of umbrellas. The guide rattled off lots of facts but it was hard to hear due to rain & distance (umbrellas). There are lots of dwellings and things to look at that make it interesting. Photo opportunities abound. I really wanted to go inside a 'house', but there just aren't any apart from 1, and that is just a photo stop. If it were possible I would do a 1 on 1 with a guide, but you would need a quiet non rainy day, do they exist? The Green dragon tavern ( and mill) was very good, the ale not too bad either. The interior was well fitted out and large enough for tall people, roaring log fires to warm and dry you. Tables and chairs & food I think. I was in a group, one of several doing the rounds, & it was stop (take pictures)and start and listen throughout. No time to stop and look really, there was always another group coming up behind. Some of the doors could do with some TLC. Would I do it again. Oh YES.
A Y — Google review
This was the first thing I booked right after we booked our flights. My husband and I did the evening banquet tour and everything was phenomenal, from the tour, to the drinks, to the food, and the commentary. If you are considering booking a tour, it is an absolute must! If possible, I would definitely recommend the evening banquet tour so you can eat in the green dragon and feel like you’re in the movie! Also, definitely book in advance and space fills up quickly. Overall, it was absolutely wonderful!
Bridgete Clover — Google review
Joel picked us up early morning at our Hotel. He shared so much history of the movie set. He is knowledgeable and funny and made our trip very memorable. For individuals with disabilities in our group, he was considerate of their needs and tried his best to make the visit a great experience. My family loved the props he had at the ready to be used for photos. I definitely recommend this tour, just wish we had booked a longer tour, i really wanted to take more time to enjoy the scenery and would love to walk in the forest.
Fatima B. — Google review
This is a must do attraction. We did the 10:10am Tour + Lunch and enjoyed it. I would love to visit again, and this time much later in the afternoon when the sun is not too high up above, the scenery would look even more fantastically enchanting.
R Edrosolano (Red) — Google review
Amazing experience. Definitely recommend if you are in the area or want make a wee trip from Auckland.
Our tour guide Anna was great. Perfect level of information whilst still letting us have free reign to wander a bit.
The actual Hobbiton village is so beautiful. Such amazing attention to detail throughout. The gardens were absolutely outstanding. It's also so much bigger than we thought!
Going whilst NZ is still quiet was so great. We had the whole village to ourselves, so it was quiet and let us get photos without other people in it.
Will definitely go back one day!
Jon Adams — Google review
We adored our trip to this movie set. I'm a huge Tolkien fan, but my wife is less so and she still loved it for its overall beauty and uniqueness. We spent a good half day exploring on the tour and loved the beverage at the end of the tour in the cozy inn. A must do if you're in the area, fan or not. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
John Phelan — Google review
How could you not love this place! Enough is probably already been said about this, just a place dreams are made off. The guide was very engaging and entertaining, told us lots of behind-the-scenes stories and there’s made watching the movies after our visit all the more interesting. Our afternoon tea in the Dragon Inn was just wonderful it is such a picturesque and cozy place to stay for a bit. The staff was kind enough to give us some nice gluten-free slices, that came from the freezer, just super kind. There is some hobbit clothing in the in for guests to try out and take photos with, aside from that everything is just so beautifully done there are many many stunning photo opportunities.
Mathilde Noordzij — Google review
This was such a lovely experience! The tours are spaced enough that you manage to take pictures without the crowds. We got warned multiple times about an ongoing construction on the site, which was very kind, but it did not really spoil the experience at all. The guide was very fun and the food (we did the tour with lunch) was great. We loved it!
Katerina Merrill — Google review
For fans of "The Lord of the Rings," visiting this location is akin to stepping into the magical world of Middle-earth. Even for those who haven't seen the movie, the experience promises to be enchanting, thanks to the charming props, picturesque green pastures, and meticulously crafted set designs. The tour, lasting 1.5 hours, whisks visitors away on a journey that seems to transcend time.
The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the quaint hobbit homes nestled amidst lush greenery, evoking a sense of wonder and nostalgia. The presence of farm animals adds to the idyllic ambiance, making every moment feel like a dream come true.
Photography enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities to capture adorable pictures amidst the scenic backdrop. However, it's advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the tour involves quite a bit of walking.
Overall, whether you're a die-hard fan of "The Lord of the Rings" or simply seeking a magical escape into a whimsical realm, this experience is sure to leave a lasting impression. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings, soak in the tranquility of the countryside, and prepare to be transported to a world where fantasy meets reality.
Binita Shah — Google review
This was an awesome tour! If you’re a fan of the LOTR and the hobbit, then this is a must see. Our guide went into great detail explaining the art and production of this fantastic creation. We had a great experience, a day to remember 😊
The Necklens — Google review
I had a wonderful time at this place. The guided tour was very informative and engaging. I enjoyed seeing the movie set and learning about the characters and the scenes. I also found out how they chose this location for the film. Even though they were still working on some parts of the set, they gave me a free mug to make up for it. The gift shop was a bit pricey, but I got some amazing photos to remember this experience.
Nikolai Lesak — Google review
Visited from the U.S. with a group of 6. I personally had only viewed one of the movies. But, the guide explained things well such that you don't need to know details of the movies to understand the movie set. Beautiful area. And I really mean beautiful. Very interesting - the incredible details that went into the productions.
M T — Google review
It’s a magical place! We loved our tour guide and loved the whole tour. I’m so happy that I never felt rushed and I was able to explore and enjoy everything. I loved that they opened up a new experience of going inside a hobbits home and we got to fully explore how a hobbit lives. So happy coming here and it’s just such an enjoyable place.
Trinh Nguyen — Google review
A definite must-see. Glad I was able to finally check it off my bucket list. They are very organized, Every tour is set up by times. We had a great guide, too. The tour was about 2 hours long. Loved we were able to go inside one of the homes too. Highly recommend.
80's Girl — Google review
Very fun and well designed tour, everything smooth. Our tour guide Rob had the perfect personality to keep the group entertained, informed, and moving along in harmony. They have a lot of visitors every day but each group is a reasonable size. The tour start area is also well designed with adequate parking, toilets, and staff to field any issue. Follow the info in your reservation e.g. go to check-in and pick up your actual tickets, and get in the well marked line for your tour time. Recommended!
GT Hodge — Google review
Such a great, magical place and very good organized. We came in the afternoon at around 5-6pm and we were just 6 people group. Our guide was so good, local, so a lot of funny stories and moments from the creation of this village. Like we went to fairytale story. We enjoyed our time, weather also was great and drinks were delicious.
Highly recommended.
Maria Mikheeva — Google review
A must to do in New Zealand if you love Lord of the Rings.
Hobbiton is a huge place where you can see some of the original locations used in the movies. Be ready to spend your whole day there.
I did the tour with one of the guides from there called Steven. He was super nice and walked us through all the places explaining the stories and details about the productions. You’ll be able to go inside of the remarkable hobbit house and even have a real beer in the Green Dragon Inn.
They also have a souvenir shop with many items available so bring a lot of money to buy nice things.
Amazing experience.
Jaime Lettich — Google review
This is great. Just a wonderful experience. Like anything Weta, it's all so carefully made and the attention to detail is spectacular. You will love investigating all the intricacies in this magical world. And then, you get to explore inside an actual Hobbit hole, and wow it is really worth it. 10 rooms and corridors, each one as realistic as the movies. A running tap in the bathroom and kitchen! They really let you take your time to get the photos you want.
And finally, to top it off with a drink and snack at the green dragon. The pub is so fabulous. Great atmosphere with the roaring fire and authentic feeling.
A must do indeed.
Gareth Willmore — Google review
incredible experience!
Our guides were fantastic and made the day fun and even more memorable. Learning about the behind the scenes knowledge and little details made the experience even more memorable! The tour ends at the green dragon where they serve a complimentary beer of choice that is specifically brewed for hobbiton
I cannot recommend this experience enough!
Raymond K — Google review
Awesome tour. Did the lunch one and it was fantastic. Plenty of free car parks, check in is fast and the tour guides are lovely and informative. The set is amazing and you can now go inside one of two hobbit homes which are incredibly detailed. Buffet lunch was tasty and we got plenty of time to relax and eat.
Recommend a hat or one of the complimentary umbrellas if it is a hot day.
Dean 01 — Google review
This place is awesome and provided more than I expected. The tour of the Shire was well worth the money. You got to go inside a few of the houses and learn a lot of behind the scenes info. The staff is all really nice and knowledgeable which makes it even more fun. I definitely recommend taking the time to make the drive out here.
Brett Gottfried — Google review
I did this tour 2 years ago and had a wonderful time. This time around I took some visiting family members and everyone had the best time. We did the lunch + tour which I highly recommend. Food and drink is wonderful! The newly renovated hobbit holes you can enter are mind blowing.
Huge shout out to our guide Ben! He is the best tour guide I have ever had and I used to give tours in my previous line of work. He loves what he does and it shows.
Spacious, picturesque beach known for black sand & powerful waves ideal for surfing.
Absolutely love this beach. Never crowded, friendly walkers and dogs. Always beautiful no matter the weather.
Tracy M — Google review
Stunning views. Hard to find parking in busy days. Heaps of people. Had a wonderful experience. Only negative is there is no good cafe or shops nearby.
Madan Senthil — Google review
Beautiful view , have some good parking area and special for surfing but if you need some shade or picnic I wouldn’t recommend. Although I loved the statues and field for some photos
sepideh Delavari — Google review
Beautiful black sand. Can get very crowded but the sea and the scenery is beautiful. Car park is available but can get very full quickly. We were lucky to find a park. Toilet and shower facilities available.
Ravi Lal — Google review
Such an amazing beach!
Waves are good for Surfers and there are decent space o just relax and unwind around the beach.
Although it can get really busy during peak hours on weekends.
Rafael del Rosario — Google review
Beautiful beach, perfect place to learn to surf! (Highly recommend Green Wave Surf School, they are so passionate, patient and experienced!)
Daisy Lin — Google review
Wonderful beach.. beautiful view ..less crowded..loved it.
Anamika Santhu — Google review
My girlfriend and I both really enjoy this place. We believe it is the closest beach to Hamilton. It is clean and beautiful, and we love looking down from the shore. It is truly stunning, and when the weather is good, it is an absolute delight. We definitely plan on visiting again.
师秋瑞 — Google review
Amazing beach, nice shallow beach for kids near the shore but also a bit deeper for the adults as you go in deeper. Down the Left side of the beach is a walking trial through that leads to a lookout point. Beach has fine sand so be careful (a bit tiring to walk on and can be VERY hot on some days). There are bathrooms and showers for after the beach. Just be carefull the path leading to the beach is VERY steep and can be tiring for older or younger people however for a half fit to fit person you will make 😂
Dreyer Kirsten — Google review
Lovely beach to stroll along and enjoy a good swim, has nice facilities like showers and changing rooms. If you want to go surfing there are surf board rentals available at the carpark.
Martin Allen — Google review
Absolutely stunning place! The view from the top has to be one of the best scenic landscapes for any beach in NZ IMO. There are multiple carparks here and the walk to the beach goes down via a tarmac rd so the walk back can be a little tiring if one is not used to climbing gradients. There were plenty of surfers here and from what I saw no swimmers, you would have to be skilled to swim safely at this time of year.
Jude B — Google review
A slice of paradise, but not for those with mobility issues. Access is via steps and a steep pathway from the carpark above. The beach is gorgeous, with long breaking waves that are like crack for surfers. I’m a confident swimmer but I sent up a grateful prayer to Surf Lifesaving NZ for patrolling the beach so diligently (and of course, swam between the flags).
This 55-m. plunge waterfall in the Wairēinga Scenic Reserve offers 4 lookout platforms.
Worth it ! It’s about 8mins to the top of the falls from the car park, two other lookout points before hitting the bottom. Another 10min down the stairs to the bottom. Would recommend going down first, then slowly make your way back up on the stairs to the other lookout points as a breather. Tracks are well paved and maintained.
Dana Young — Google review
Stunning place. Well worth the drive and the walk. The initial walk to the top of the falls is around 10 minutes. If you want to get to the bottom (where the best views are), you have to desend around 250 steps. Keep in mind you have to get back up the stairs too. But for my family with mild fitness we managed fine. Great day trip, including a visit to Raglan.
Gemma Scott — Google review
Great large spaces to capture the view. Wear non slip shoes on rainy days. The wood and clay get slippery. 20 min round walk. Easy to navigate with good walkways. Stunning views. Such a nice bush walk as well. Plenty of signs.
Joy Jackson — Google review
For years I would visit Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite, but this is the first time I visited Bridal Veil Falls in New Zealand. It is absolutely spectacular! What I love the most was the four viewing locations along the short but steep trail. These viewing points allows many angles to be captured by my camera and my mind. Highly recommend this stop on your journey.
Cree Putney — Google review
Visiting these falls is a trip definitely worth taking. Parking is free and there is good route access. It was without a doubt the finest. Secure for children, with great viewing platforms at the top, middle, and bottom. Stunning waterfalls that exceeded my wildest dreams. Observe rainbows at their most spectacular in the late afternoon. Going down is a breeze, but coming back is a bit of a challenge. There are, however, benches where you can sit down and relax if you're getting weary.
gaurav parekh — Google review
Simple car park about a ten minute walk to the falls then 5 mins down the steps to the bottom. Quite a pretty and grand falls with the little creek rolling off the cliff. A fair amount of signage talking about the history and the conservation of the area. Which can be seen as just outside the boundary it is straight back to farm land.
James Thompson — Google review
Absolutely stunning and well worth the drive and short walk to the lookouts. Multiple look outs so if you can't make it all the way down to view the waterfall you can view it from a few vantage points up top. Spectacular scenery all around!
Darren Masters — Google review
Easy walk to the top of the falls.
Lovely stone path running beside a stream & meandering through bush.
If you choose to continue to the bottom, it starts as a gentle slope before you get to the 261 stairs - there'd been rain the previous day & was large puddles on most steps needing to be avoided, be careful the wooden step surround is very slippery and the bush side muddy!
The view improved at every viewing platform and made us continue downward to the best view at the bottom. Unfortunately each seat was wet due to lack of sunlight on them & I felt the return trip up the stairs for 3-4 days afterwards!
Note: I'm not very fit - obviously.!!
Fiona — Google review
There are approximately 10 parking spots here, which tend to be mostly occupied. The entrance is easy to find. As you walk in from the entrance, you'll encounter shade from trees, pathways, and a river, but there's no need to worry; everything is straightforward. After a 5-minute walk, you'll reach a sign indicating the way to the viewing platforms. There are four viewing platforms, ascending from the highest to the lowest, and the round trip takes only 20 minutes. Each platform offers a different perspective of the waterfall, showcasing unique beauty. The shaded pathways and stairs make for a comfortable walk, and the air is refreshing. Sitting on the chairs and listening to the sound of the waterfall is incredibly relaxing; you might find it hard to leave. It's truly a great place for a leisurely walk during your vacation – the journey is easy, yet incredibly soothing!
Tiffany Wu — Google review
The 10 min to the falls across the rainforest is amazing 🤩
The fall itself is stunning: there's 260 steps down to the bottom of the fall but it is pretty easy.
This place is pretty popular, so don't expect to be all by yourself
Maud Cappelle — Google review
Love this place. Lovely walk by the stream through native bush to the top of the falls, then 261? Steps to the bottom. We'll worth the effort.
Sylvia McKenzie — Google review
This is free of cost. Majestic view of a wonderful waterfall. Small walking track leading to this view. No steps to climb or get down to view the waterfalls.
If you like to view it from the bottom, you need to climb down the stairs which is about 350.
Plenty of parking on the road.
Vinay Karanam — Google review
It’s a beautiful place to go. Very quiet, clean and scenic. The trek is not very difficult. There was no ticket required to enter this place.
radhika Khandelwal — Google review
What a little gem! A very unassuming roadside sign leads to this beautiful scene. Just a short walk to the top and a not-that-hard jaunt to the bottom for spectacular views that test the limits of your limited iPhone photography skills (see attached)
Geoff Burnhill — Google review
Nice 35 mins drive from Hamilton, and beautiful little forest walk..
hard to believe that the tiny little stream that you see when you start your walk, turns into such a majestic waterfall.. easy access, but the stairs might get slippery when wet..
Rajiv Rajusha — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous place to visit. Need to make sure you wear appropriate footwear. About 270 steps from top to bottom. Need to be relatively fit
Steven Newport — Google review
Beautiful! An easy walk upto the top view point. Around 300 odd steps down with mid and lower level to rest up if needed. The waterfall is beautiful. Great stop when in Raglan.
Smridhi Marwah — Google review
Nice place for walk and exploring bushes and tree areas. It's cold soothing environment. Fall is so nice . The view of nature is spectacular
Bhumi patel — Google review
Beautiful place to go for bush walk and enjoy the peace and quiet in the 🌳 🌲 🌴. There are 4 different levels to view the falls. There are well-built steps from top to the very bottom of the falls. Different stunning views at leavels, and it is really worth to go to the very bottom. Highly recommended 👌
Lily Liu — Google review
Beautifulllllll. Can be quite busy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get beautiful photos!
You can’t swim as it’s disrespectful to the Maori culture. Just a place to feel serene.
Four viewpoints: one right next to and above the fall, one above but a bit further, one midway down and the final at the bottom. It’s doable for the steepness, just a lot of stairs :)
Definitely a spot to experience if you love waterfalls!
Kayla Ortiz — Google review
Beautiful waterfalls, the walk is nice, many steps going back up, but manageable. My 7 and 9 years old walked back up without needing to stop 😅 Would love to visit again at different time of the day. It will surely give you all beautiful colors ❤️
Vivian Huang — Google review
Great location, lovely walk & impressive falls. Lots of steps to climb down to mid & bottom viewpoint, then of course up - only average fitness required. No steps to walk to 2 upper viewpoints. Only 1 negative - very busy with loud groups on a public holiday.
Marg Baird — Google review
Visiting the colossal waterfall was a sensory journey that unfolded in three breathtaking perspectives. From the top, the panorama was awe-inspiring as the cascading water seamlessly merged with the lush landscape, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
The mid-view offered a unique vantage point, allowing me to witness the sheer force of the waterfall and appreciate the intricate details of its descent. The deafening roar and the mist that enveloped the surroundings added a thrilling dimension to the experience.
Finally, the bottom view provided an up-close encounter with the raw power of nature as torrents of water thundered down, creating a symphony of sound and a refreshing mist that invigorated the senses. Each viewpoint unveiled a different facet of the waterfall’s grandeur, making it an unforgettable journey through nature’s majestic wonders.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
We arrived late in the day so there was essentially no one else around. The viewing platforms are well placed to give a good look of the falls even if you choose not to walk all the way down the steps.
Conservation area with 3 enclosures containing wetlands, old-growth forests & native birdlife.
Such an amazing place, it’s an easy walk for families, although didn’t spot all the native birds listed, it feels magical walking in the bush listening to their singing knowing that they are out there. I didn’t know it’s such fun trying to locate the birds with their voices and sometimes they fly right next to you which is a welcomed surprise. Strongly recommend this place, the staff are friendly and I reckon the work they do here is awesome
Eric NZ — Google review
Really impressive walk through the bush. Liz, our volunteer tour guide was very knowledgeable.
It was a bit like jurassic park with the fence around the perimeter. The Flora and Fauna was just amazing. To sit and listen to all the, strange to me bird song was amazing. Highly recommend taking the accompanied tour. An excellent experience.
Eddie Barclay — Google review
This is a really well-done project, doing so much for NZ's birdlife. What an amazing accomplishment to produce such a long predator-free fence! We did not leave enough time to warrant the entrance fee, but will certainly back to hear more amazing birdsong!
Mark Windsor — Google review
We spent close to a day walking around. Heard lots of birds snd saw z few too. The north island robin was a delight, always along the path, seeing if we would kick up anything interesting to eat. Wonderful watching kaka at feeding stations. Saw gecko and weta, Bellbirds, tomtits and fantails. Heard wood pigeons. A lovely day out if you enjoy walking and looking in the nz bush.
Jaqui Smith — Google review
We arrived at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in the afternoon. We could see predator deterrent fences along the bushline when parking in the car park. First impressions were "Wow, look at the massive nature reserve". The lady on duty this afternoon was awesume and very informative.
We watched the video on how to use the double doors etc and loved the Huia in the foyer. We took our swipe cards and set off to enter the Southern End Enclosure. We went thru the shoe cleaning apparatus and quietly entered. We were in Sanctuary Mountain from just after 3pm til dusk just after 6pm. We managed to do the Rata, Rimu, Nika and Ponga Tracks, but not the Wairere Track. We heard lots of bird song but not alot of birds. We saw fantail/piwakawaka, the saddle back/tieke, a few weta's in the veiwing boxes attached to some trees, also some koura in the creek.
We would loved to have had a visit from a Kākā up the Tower that gives you a birds eye perspective, but as you are not allowed to feed the Kākā's we had nothing to entice a photo opportunity. So we didn't see any of these beautiful parrots.
Annie Hackett — Google review
What a place of paradise, no joggers, no gym workouts or crowds. We were greeted by staff who wanted us to be there. This is a heavenly place set apart for the welfare of our native flying friends. At times the birds come to you so you can take photos, there are plenty of loop tracks and attractions such as a tower to climb and averies.
I will definetely be going again to do the mountain trek.
Jared Pickles — Google review
A really great sanctuary, with some incredible birdlife. If you’re slow and quiet enough you may get a little show from the Piwakawaka.
Jack Howe — Google review
You think you are wandering over a huge area and then you look at the map and learn that the kilometers you walked are a tiny fraction of the sanctuary. Amazing. Watch out for the kakas. As usual they are not joking around and will walk right up to you for a handout. Don't be tempted by their friendly ways!
Karen Toast Conger — Google review
Fantastic and helpful staff.
It was raining when I went ..so truly a rainforest experience! $27 for an adult. Lots of birdsong and amazing native forest!
Jo Dancing — Google review
Go on, drive out there and have a wander around. It's a nice walk through the bush and you are doing something for conservation
Philip Smith — Google review
Beautiful place, so peaceful and with various paths depending on your fitness level and motivation. I did Te Tonga to Pukeatua Saddle, then back via the Wairere traverse - a bit of clambering, but totally worth it for the company of birds and trees.
Phoebe Grigor — Google review
Excellent experience. One of the world's largest pest free enclosures with 47km of maintained pest proof fencing. The walks are amazing - listen to the bird life as it was 100 years ago, amongst beautiful established native bush. There's a walk for everyone regardless of fitness level. You may even get a glimpse of the snowy mountains in the distance, from the car park. Bring warm clothing if visiting in winter!
Royce Pedersen — Google review
Inspirational experience of the magical ancient untouched natural world inside the world’s largest secure inland predator free sanctuary. 100% Pure Kiwi Magic
Don Scarlet — Google review
Wow wow wow ... I am ashamed to say this was my first visit here. Our company held a 'Bush Boardroom' Strategic Planning day with Nature and Nosh's lovely Kylie hosting us.
The walk in transcended any expectation I may have held. The forestry was close to prehistoric and is completely untouched. The birdlife was a delightful window into rare species not usually seen or heard. Our day was serenaded by the Saddlebacks laughing like kookaburras and the delightful North Island Robins bouncing around our feet. The observation tower that took us into the tree canopy was magic. You truly have to be here to appreciate the 'feel' and it is on Hamiltons doorstep!.
Nature and Nosh was sincerely a 'completely exceeding any expectation' experience - Kylie's setup, catering and hosting was second to none. Every one of our group enjoyed every minute of this day and she was so right! - the bush invigorates and refreshes - what a wonderful equation to make such an important day the absolute best it could be!
Nikki Close — Google review
Great walks and reserve in what is now pristine North Island forest. Jake's 90- minute guided tour of the Southern Enclosure was fantastic. A must for every tourist and NZ folk to see Kaka and Tieke in the wild.
Peter Symington — Google review
Really well laid out trails with good info on the flora. We were lucky enough to see quite a few of the native birds and even get some pictures.
Lisa Harris — Google review
Very friendly guides, full of knowledge and passionate about what they do. We were lucky enough to see different types of native birds, including a very inquisitive Kaka (but they are wild, so keep that in mind when you visit. The guides can't make them appear on demand!)
Very cool. Loved the live feed monitors and videos. Interactive for adults and kids. Brought a Star Disk, showing southern hemisphere. This guides a person what stars are showing in the nights sky relative to the day/current date. There is also info/guidance on which binoculars or telescope is best for viewing the night sky. Owner very knowledgeable. I will be back to try the virtual reality experience :) Thanks
Vicky Finlayson — Google review
A must-visit for curious minds. Dave has done an incredible job setting up this centre which caters for all ages. I was left spellbound by the experience, felt very welcomed by incredibly knowledgeable Dave. The centre is very intellegently developed by making it very interactive (kids will love it) and by paying attention to the minutest of details. It is amazing how much knowledge the place offers in a deceivingly small place. We (2 adults) ended up spending 4 hours there and eventually left because we were too hungry, but I could spend days there reading and learning about space history and science.
Soham Jajal — Google review
What an awesome place for adults and kids alike. Interactive and very informative. My grandchildren loved it, what a gem, we spent 3hours there and they did not want to leave. Best part for me was the 'space trip' seeing earth from out of space, and all the other planets was incredible. The experience was so real! Highly recommended. We will be back!
Rene Lind-Steyn — Google review
This has to be one of the best museums in New Zealand. So interactive and good for a range of ages of kids and adults alike. It doesn't have a fancy big budget building but the thought and content is fantastic. Dave, the space guy knows a lot too. The VR experience (included in the entry cost) was cool and the kids liked earning a badge by completing challenges. Such a great stop on a road trip.
Karyn Mcdonald — Google review
Absolutely incredible. My two boys loved it. We were there for 2 hours and would have stayed for longer if we weren't due elsewhere. So interactive and informative with fun games and quizzes. Can't recommend it enough!!!
Tracey Logan — Google review
A really informative place and spent way longer in there than expected!
Developed and run by a huge space enthusiast would recommend to anyone whether interested in space or not as you’ll not be disappointed with everything you see and learn! Really enjoyed the Lego too!
Vicky Brewin — Google review
Took my little brothers and the 3 of us had the best time! They loved all the computer games and working towards getting their astronaut wings. The Lego exhibit was amazing and there is so much information packed into such a small space. Dave was so sweet and even took us out to use sun viewers and set up the VR for us
CJ B — Google review
We expected to spend, possibly 45 minutes at the Space Centre, but in the end we must’ve been two hours there.
Lots and lots of interactive displays 3-D VR set up and the most amazing collection of space related Artefacts.
Dave, the curator, A wealth of knowledge which He is very happy to share.
Great Place to spend time for both kids and adults
Cameron Gay — Google review
Stopped here with the kids to break up the trip to Taupo. Was really impressed with the whole setup, everything is super interactive so we spent about an hour and a half working our way through. Was cool to see 80's space Lego from when I was young, battle my son on the space landing to see who could use the least fuel. The VR experience was really awesome too. The kids never got bored and liked watching some of the videos from the space station on how they shave, brush their teeth and get a hair in space. There is a fair balance of info on all countries that have been to space, incl India, China and of course the Russian cosmonauts. Some cool and unique items from space travel trips incl a USSR sleeping bag. Dave is friendly and helpful, its really worth stopping and checking it out.
Phil Pottinger — Google review
Lovely place to go visit. Talked with the owner. Lovely guy. Will be bringing the kids through. Kiwi schools need to get in contact with him. Kids would love it. Call him to book a visit. (078701966) It's well worth a visit.
Damian — Google review
This place is so interesting. The kids (aged 7-12) were totally absorbed for 4hrs. We adults learnt a great deal too. Highly recommend a visit. We will be back again.
Heather De Groen — Google review
The Te Awamutu Space Centre is amazing - informative, interactive and loads of fun. It looks unassuming on the outside, but there is so much packed into it that you can spend hours there and always have more to do and explore. It is very well put together and an absolute treat for all ages - well worth a visit! We spent 2 hours there and could easily have stayed for longer.
Hugh Lashbrooke — Google review
A great place to learn about space. So many awesome interactive activities for all ages. Such a passionate guy who runs the place, the kids loved completing activities to get their cadets badges. What an awesome place would 100% recommend
Kelsey Duvenage — Google review
Dave at the Te Awamutu Space Centre has created a SPACE that has lots of informative and stimulating things to do for all ages.
He shares his passion and knowledge well. I particularly liked the quiz inside and looking at The Sun through the telescope.
We also left a hat behind, and he went above and beyond to return it to us. Dave is an asset to Te Awamutu and Kihikihi.
Tovah O'Neill — Google review
A true hidden gem. I'd put it in the top 3 small museums of NZ, as it's easy to spend a couple hours here despite the small size and even dedicated space nerds will come out having learned something new.
The owner is very friendly and informative; it's easy to see that this place is a labor of love.
Sabine McGregor — Google review
A great experience visiting the space center with kids, there's lots of good information and little games and facts about the mystery space. There is always something new to learn. With such a small entry fee to support the museum, it is easy to spend 1.5 to 2 hours there.
Marius Tsui — Google review
Our visit comprised 3 generations, and we all found plenty to keep us engrossed. Space toys to entertain the littlest visitors, loads of interesting and informative displays, plenty of interactive quizzes etc and the VR display is also worth a mention - even visitors less interested in space would enjoy the experience. Highly recommendable!
A Broatch — Google review
This place is AMAZING.. you'd be fogiven for driving right past it and not noticing as it looks like a small village hall but this is like a TARDIS when you head inside. Space Dave is just the most passionate person about space and space exploration you are ever likely to meet in NZ, there are so many things to see and do once inside that time just seems to race by. First trip you might wonder about the cost but don't, this is the stuff of dreams and imagination.. Whether it's putting on a VR headset and traveling quite literally out of this world, a ride in a space shuttle toy, landing a lunar module or genuinely learning about some of the men and women who have adventures into space, there is something here for everyone. For the kids there is rewarded learning, they can do quizzes and coloring, word searches and join the dots to earn points towards a space cadet badge, which have pride of place at home for my kids. Try on a space suit, see the view from the ISS, watch things blow up, learn the Maori names for the planets and stars, or get excitedly taken outside to look safely at the sun as the clouds have parted.. NZ still has to have their first person in space, but I'm willing to bet when we do they will have been here as a kid and just dreamed big. All Kids big and small should go here, but be warned one visit will not be enough. And thank you Dave for all the time and effort you've put in here to make this such an awesome experience, you are already a national treasure as far as my kids are concerned, and. if you'll forgive the awful pun... For those about to rockET, we salute you. 🫡
Chris Rose — Google review
Don't misjudge this centre by outside appearances. This is a "must see" attraction. Live video feeds from NASA and the space station, virtual reality trip into our solar system and hours and hours of fascinating info and displays relating to the history and current exploration of space. Did you know that when you're looking at the sunset you are not really seeing it? Find out why at the Space Centre.
Waitomo Adventures Ltd offers a wide range of thrilling activities for those seeking an authentic New Zealand adventure. With six different tour options, visitors can explore the underground wonders of Waitomo through activities such as abseiling, ziplining, tubing, climbing and more. The caves are adorned with stunning stalactites and illuminated by clusters of glowworms.
Did the Lost World half day tour with my young son. Best thing we ever did. Our guide, Joel was fantastic and made our day absolutely amazing. Patient, kind and armed with expert knowledge to satisfy my 10 year old's many questions.
We felt like welcome and honored guests. Despite my lackluster fitness level, I never felt rushed or like I was taking too long when I needed to take a break.
This was an incredible, out of this world experience that will never be forgotten.
If you do nothing else in the area, go see Nick at Waitomo Adventures and have him recommend an activity for you!
Kylee Ayotte — Google review
As all reviews already say, this is an incredible once in a lifetime experience. The 100 meter drop to start, the cave walks, the 30 metre ladder climb, the scenery and the information given are all top class. A definite need to do if you are in the area. And I only did the 4 hour dry tour so guess the 7 hour with cave swimming would be even more fun.
Cheers guys for such a great day 👍
Ross Fleming — Google review
Amazing! Truly feels like you’re in another world. The abseil down is awesome and right at the start! There was some glow worms during part of the adventure, and the rest was just beautiful cave scenery. Joel was really patient and knowledgeable and it was all a great time! Thanks so much. Definitely felt safe at all times 🙏
Kayla Ortiz — Google review
We did the 7 hours tour. We had 2 amazing guides that make the all experience even better. The best part was after a few hours of walking we had break and we got hot drink. Exactly what we needed.
Martina Balasova — Google review
We did the 1/2 day Lost World tour and it was one of the greatest experience I’ve done!! Joel was our guide and was very helpful and informative.. It was our first time doing something like this and he was there to help us every step of the way.. What a great way to start our journey thru New Zealand!!
Richard A — Google review
We did half day lost world! This is a once in a lifetime adventure, can not recommend highly enough, one of those places you can’t describe how breathtakingly beautiful and magnificent it is. Very professional guides
Jason Adams (Jase) — Google review
Been wanting to do this for a while and got the experience - Blackwater rafting- as a gift for my partner. Wetsuits, helmets and boots all provided plus amazing guides Joel and Craig who were friendly and helpful! Worthy every cent as the caves were beautiful, and this will bring out the adventurer in you. 4 hours pass by quickly!
BL Faundo — Google review
Awesome experience and awesome staff and guides. Did the 4 hour tour and well worth it. Maybe slightly on the expensive side of we're being honest. But.. the photos were epic!! The crew had awesome phones and well skilled in that area. The pictures turned out wicked.
Dan McQuoid — Google review
Absolutely magical must do experience. Nick the manager is very funny friendly and accomodating with a great spirit of adventure. We did the half day tour - the abseil is 100% safe and a 100m abseil into a magical world - amazing rock formations and to come out to a gorgeous magical forest with a heart. For all you romantics out there, make your proposal to future partner here !
life — Google review
Did the Lost World Tour -4 hrs
It was Awesome. It's definitely amongst one of my lifetime experiences..
Weather was perfect.
A very warm welcome at reception.And special praise for our Tour guide Joel who was excellent.He is an asset to the company.
What I saw down there with my naked eyes was just amazing.Pictures cannot reflect all that beautiful scenery and moments...
Highly recommend..
Arif Khan — Google review
LOST WORLD 4HR TOUR - I did this trip with my parents (mid 50s) and my boyfriend. This would be low/mid to intermediate level of fitness in my opinion.
Fantastic Adventure from start to finish. We abseiled down 100m with natural lighting, greenery, rock hopped alongside the waters edge within the cave... Glow-worms were another highlight of our trip before the accent up the ladder and around the rocks.
Thanks to Nick, Joel, Harrison for the awesome caving adventure!
Chelsea Jayne — Google review
Absolute BLAST! Felt like in Avatar. Well worth every cent. The tour is great, full of adventure and beauty. The food was nice, just right; the guides did an excellent job, they were friendly, full of knowledge, fun. We felt safe and listenen to. The pics were perfect. Our group was great, just a perfect exiting and exhilarating day!!!
Dominique Le Sellin — Google review
Did the 7 hour lost world tour for the husband's 50th bday. Got lucky being only the two of us taken out. Guides Joel and Amy were just the best. Really such an awesome day and experience, cannot say thank you enough. From the start, amazing abseil, lunch and hot drinks while caving and a BBQ at the end. An epic unforgettable adventure, thanks team!
Cindy Van Zyl — Google review
Stunning and beyond what the imagination could recognize. The decent down 100m, which is not only a thrill in itself, but so fascinating to take in the views of the natural beauty that the cave has to offer from above. You can not believe what your seeing when you reach the bottom, just an entire new world to explore. The landscape, the texture of the cave, to the carving the running water does to the rock, the plant life and sounds of the water, it is an experience like no other. From the entry at the start of the tour at the office (I did the half day tour, wish I did the full now) the staff is beyond friendly and excited to share details and answer any questions you may have. I had the honor of having Joel as my guide. Clearly safety is of utmost importance to him, and at no point did I feel I was in any sort of danger. He was patient, kind and gracious to answer any questions. He clarified any confusion, and moves only at a pace that you are comfortable with. His knowledge base, and passion for his job can felt through his explanation of the many aspects the cave has to offer. He not only answered all my questions, which was quite impressive, but created a warming environment that just added to an unimaginably fascinating experience. He was awesome. Highly recommend this tour (and the full day even though I did not do it) I can only imagine what added pleasures of trekking through the rest of the cave which is an entire different world. Amazing!
Ryan LeBlanc — Google review
I did the Lost world full day with a couple of friends, it was an amazing experience. I plan to go back and do Haggas Honking Holes as I heard great things about this also. NZ owned company too so was good to support local
Tina Horsham — Google review
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!
Could not recommend the 4 hour Lost World Half Day Adventure more. As a couple who aren't particularly great at heights this was an incredible opportunity to do something outside of our comfort zone, and was both adventurous and extremely rewarding.
Joel was our guide in a small group of 4, his knowledge of the area, the cave systems and all things adventure was next to none. We felt completely at ease knowing we were in his very competent hands (quite literally!) on the abseil!
The abseil itself was stunning. You're able to control your own speed, as a group, down to the cave floor so are able to soak in all the cave features and breathe in the adventure- makes you feel so small in the vastness!! A true sense of accomplishment when you get to the bottom.
The caving itself was well paced, a truly special experience feeling as if you have the whole cave to yourself to explore!
We hadn't seen glowworms yet in NZ and didn't expect to see any going into this tour, but there are incredible displays which your guide will point out and allow time to sit and lose yourself beneath them.
Save some energy for the ladder climb at the end!
We're still on the adrenaline high the next day writing this review-will definitely be recommending.
Josh McCarthy — Google review
We did the half day lost world adventure (4hrs). Was great fun and the cave was absolutely beautiful. No experience required - my parents (aged 65 & 50) both did it with no issues. My mom is absolutely terrified of heights and Joel was so encouraging and patient the whole time. Highly recommend this experience. Joel and Amy are fantastic guides. Cheers guys!
Birria Bi — Google review
Rappeling down 100 meters where insane.
Don’t do the mistake that we did and book the 4 hour one.
It really feels like you just go down the hole and up again.
Do book the 7 hour one.
Amy was a 10/10 guide.
The rope can hold two ton of weight. So don’t stress about it and go do it! 😁
Leif-Erik Kristiansen — Google review
Had a fantastic experience today! This tour is done extremely well. Very professional, personalised and fun, even if you are scared of heights. Our guide Craig was exceptional - his patience is to be commended, he had the tour group set the pace for the trip to ensure everyone was comfortable and enjoying the tour.
Highly recommend the 1/2 day, Lost World 100m Abseil & Caving
Antonija Opacak — Google review
We jumped onto the Black Water Rafting experience and had an unforgettable time underground. Jake and Amy took care of us, making sure everyone on the tour was kept in the loop on the route, we understood expectations and that we were safe the whole time. There were some tight spots that we crawled through but it wasn’t anything dangerous. Everyone was in good spirits and lots of epic glow worms to see. Thanks for everything team!
Mike Cristello — Google review
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1227 Waitomo Valley Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
The Glowworm Cave is a natural tourist attraction in New Zealand that houses a colony of magical creatures, known as glow worms. At the cave's guided tour, visitors experience impressive stalactites and stalagmites before descending into a large cavern known as the Cathedral. The highlight of the tour comes at the end when guests board a boat and swing off onto the river accompanied by glowing worms.
It was a wonderful experience especially for kids. Well guided tour with a sense of humour which is a bonus.
It well be better if you gonna book at the center instead of calling them on their customer hotline number.
Recommendable for family with kids. You can clearly see the glow worms inside the cave while riding the boat. Quite fascinating.
No videos or camera allowed inside the cave.
Jeddah B — Google review
Wonderful experience, Guides to tell about the cave and give instructions. Good service. Restaurant available with in the permises.Boat ride was exciting with pitch black surrounding😬 and glow worms😍. Shops inside with collections. But too costly.
Vinesh Kondoor — Google review
An excellent place to visit and admire nature and what all it can do. The cave formations are incredible to look at. The guides are exceedingly knowledgeable about the glow worms themselves as well as the caves. The history of the discovery and control of the caves was also interesting to learn about.
Mark Johnson — Google review
Great experience! These folks are excellent when it comes to meeting the needs of their patrons. We accidentally purchased tickets on the wrong day, so we tried our luck and drove to the ticket office and they were able to transfer our 3 tickets on the spot and the tour started in just a few minutes after that. While we truly appreciated that, the amazing experience didn’t stop there- our guide, Charlie, was knowledgeable and have an interesting tour of the caves. She sang a Māori waiata for us in the cathedral area of the caves and it gave me goosebumps! Thanks Charlie!
Silvana Oderisi — Google review
I hadn't seen glowworms in over 50 years since I did a class field trip from Orewa up to a private farm near Puhoi, so this was a special blast from the past for me. More fantastic for my companion as he had never seen glowworms. I especially like the pupae cave where the larvae had their food catchers dangling. Shame that pictures cant be taken, but I totally understand how that would be a massive problem. Well worth doing to see something you may have never seen before. Our guide also sang to us in the echo cave and she was very good.
Graham Tranter — Google review
Visited Waitomo caves as a group of 8 today (Sunday)- 1pm tour. Our guide Justin was fantastic!! Very knowledgeable, fun, interesting and had the most amazing voice!! Beautiful local song sung by Justin at the cathedral part of the cave, we thoroughly enjoyed it the sound effects.
He was also very kind and attentive to our elderly mum who had difficulty walking esp in the dark parts of the cave.
Beautiful cave system and fascinating glow worms.
Highly recommend visiting these caves if in the area.
Carol Pereira — Google review
Unforgettable place. Amazing tour of cave and glowworms. Booked online but found not so busy. Fortunately toured with a samll group and a nice guide. Easy to find and plenty of parking...
Leon Lu — Google review
Fun-filled filled experience! Family and friends had a very enjoyable time here. Very informative - the tour guide was well rounded and knew his job so well. Safety is always a priority. He even rendered a song for us - cool dude. Initially my grandchildren were hesitant and scared due to darkness however they totally forgot about it and enjoyed the adventure
Arlene Barraca — Google review
Beautiful park and tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and had a beautiful singing voice. We took the short tour, which was great, but now I wish we'd taken the longer one
heath bates — Google review
The caves themselves are not overly impressive if you visited some before. What makes it different it’s glowworms- luminescent insects living there. Tiny lights covering the ceiling of the caves make it really magic, especially during the boat trip. The overall tour is around 40 minutes and boat trip roughly 5-10 minutes. It’s pity that you cannot take pictures inside
darius savolskis — Google review
Loved every moment. It was great to learn the history and how the caves were used in the past by Māori but also how it was cared for. Loved the scientific history as well and how the caves were formed but more so looking at the beautiful glow worms, it was truly an experience. Last but not least our tour guide Christian was awesome! The kids loved everything about our trip to the caves.
Rachel Schmidt — Google review
Arrived at 1pm with no booking during school holidays-we were hoping to get to all 3 caves but they managed to fit us into 2. All the staff were super friendly-cafe food was yummy and quick, considering there was a large group ahead of us.
There was a minor mix up with our first cave booking but they fit us onto the next tour and we still made our second tour with plenty of time. Brooke and Blake in particular were lovely.
And let me tell you, I’ve been to many caves in the US, France, and Australia and these are AMAZING. Definitely coming back for the 3rd cave next time we are in NZ :)
Yes it’s a bit pricy but I hope the employees are paid well; it’s well organised and clean and they explain their measures to maintain the caves responsibly.
Diane Damaskin — Google review
The caves are just majestic and the local Maori guides do provide lots of information about the caves and their traditional values! Really worth a visit. Feels like staring at a night sky full of stars.
Malav Patel — Google review
We had an excellent guide T a young male (hiatus name Chris). Our group that we were with however weren’t so good, with the disturbances and doing the opposite to what they were told. Would definitely go back however would be looking at a more private tour.
Damian Lai — Google review
A unique experience. Our guide was wonderful. My highlight was our guides singing and the glow worms, of course.
Betty Damianidis — Google review
One of the most famous caves in nz and normally will pop up if you search for glowworms caves . It was a great experience and i will recommend to most of the people but few things before you get there .
1- The ticket price is 75 dollars and the tour supposed to be for an hour but we were done in 30 mins . This included a boat ride which will be the best part for most but it’s only like 5 mins .
2- They are very strict with the photos and videos so you can’t click anything . Only towards the end you will be allowed at the exit .
3) the cafe is nice and if you doing other caves , get your food here because others don’t have much option.
4) I found the gift shop ridiculously expensive but they do have lots of things in there .
5) Now most important part specifically for tourist and people visiting from far . I would highly recommend to take the combo package with ruakuri caves because the other tour is 90 minutes and has way more value for money . You are also allowed to use your camera there. Combo price (158 dollars )
From Auckland it will take you 2-230 hours to reach and the drive is split between highway and scenic route between little farms .
Devesh sharma — Google review
The Waitomo Caves attraction is interesting and well worth a visit. While the caves are beautiful, the star attraction is the glowworms, you will learn about the history of the caves and about the geology of the region as well. Be prepared for low light and some steps as you wind your way through the caverns. The boat ride itself is about 20 minutes, but Glow worms can be seen throughout the cave.
There is also a cafe and gift shop.
Ann Baity — Google review
The caves were amazing, not what you would expect at all! They were huge, with massive caverns that have ceilings that glow like the stars! The grand finally- hop on a small boat INSIDE the caves, and traverse on the underground river through a "portal" back to the land of light!
Ron Hoseman — Google review
It was a very good experience. There is a tour guide to explain everything before stepping onto the boat. The cave is very dark and quiet, where you can feel the peace.
I visited during winter, and it was cold. You'll see all these glowing worms forming some sort of starry sky in the "ceiling" of the cave.
Please note that if you have booked a specific time slot, ensure you arrive here punctually.
Coby Khor — Google review
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39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co offers a unique underground adventure in the Waitomo Caves. Instead of traditional white water rafting, participants float down river in the dark using an inflated rubber inner tube. This form of black water rafting includes tubing, ziplining and climbing waterfalls within the Ruakuri Cave. Tourists are dressed in wet suits and fitted with inflated inner tubes for safety as they go down rapids and over waterfalls.
Love Waitomo caves and what a beautiful way to enjoy the glow worms. You definitely get your monies worth with this tour. Such a unique experience with awesome staff. We had lots of laughs! We came on Easter weekend so got to experience the bunny head 😅 loved it!
Jenna O'Donnell — Google review
Checked out these caves and this tour without the rafting portion. Not because I didn’t want to, but my wife was pregnant. The caves were still quite cool. Lots of information to learn, lots of cool caves to explore. Photography was allowed which was good, because there was some cool stuff to see. I will share some pics. No advice for you really, but I recommend the tour. It was fun, it was interesting, it was worth the price.
Parker Heuser — Google review
Worth the thrill, but not if you're CLAUSTROPHOBIC and GERMOPHOBE. A wetsuit will be provided at the place, yes they smell but your nose will get used to it and you won't smell it once you're in the water.
It's a cave, so if you're CLAUSTROPHOBIC and don't like dark spaces, then this is not for you. The cave itself is pretty spectacular, especially seeing the glow worms, but you might have to go into tight spaces so keep that in mind. They do have different tours that don't involve you getting wet or into tight spots. You can just walk tour.
Ericka Lorenzo — Google review
My partner and I did the black abyss tour last month and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! There was a perfect balance of relaxing enjoyment of the glow worms and adrenaline filled fun. The guides were wonderful, I couldn't fault them. Even though it was cold, the equipment was appropriate and they kept the warm drinks and small snacks coming to warm us up when needed. We luckily had a small group on the day so it was easy for the guides to cater to each of us and our wants which was lucky for us. I'd really recommend this. And if you are hesitant about the expense as I initially was, I say it's totally worth it! ✨
Chantelle N? Chr?in?n — Google review
We did the Labyrinth Tour because we didn't have enough time for the Abyss but I'm so happy we did it because it was SO MUCH FUN!! The labyrinth is a 3 hour affair that involves a fairly exhausting wetsuit initiation, followed by a quick demonstration of working with the tube rafts and jumping into the water on them, and then finally the actual cave. You walk, raft and jump off waterfalls inside the cave under the expert supervision of your guides. Everywhere you look (walls and ceiling), you see the glowworms. We loved seeing the glowworms. But, we loved the adventure of rafting through the cave even more. At the end, you just float in the dark trying to find your way back out, which is insanely cool! The guides are extremely fun and professional. They make everything look easy and doable and there is really no room for fear at all. It is nice to walk into a cave to see glowworms but a whole other experience to raft through the same cave while watching glowworms and I know exactly which one I prefer. An absolute must-do in Waitomo!
P.S. the soup afterwards is the best tomato soup I've had in a while. The photos only cost $26!!
Pranjali Sharma — Google review
I’ve been traveling for several months globally and the 5 hour Abyss adventure may have been the single coolest experience I’ve had. My guides, Matt and Ollie, were extremely fun and professional, and kept us entertained / safe throughout. We started with abseiling, then ziplining, then tubing (where we had a wonderful view of glowworms), and a short climb up a waterfall. I was lucky to have a great group, who hung out afterwards as they provided us snacks. Amazing pictures as well!
I’ve heard Tom Cruise has done this experience multiple times, if that’s any indication of how great this is!
Steven Wang — Google review
We did the labyrinth experience on Tuesday.
Fantastic experience with Alister, Luke and Jesse. Very professional tour, fun, funny and just an all round good time. It’s clear the guides care about the caves and ensured that the impact of our trip would be as minimal as possible. Health and safety was top notch and I felt in very safe hands with the team.
The experience itself was very enjoyable, the water was cold but the wetsuits looked after that. Glow worms were about as bright as you’d hope, and we got to experience an unencumbered view of the natural beauty that the cave had to offer.
Would highly recommend this tour to friends and family. Thanks guys for the safe, fun and memorable adventure.
Trentyz — Google review
This tour was way better than we expected!! We did this on our honeymoon + birthdays. Pippin was the best tour guide (and singer!). Matt was awesome too — really personable. Felt totally relaxed and had a blast tubing through the caves. I’d 100% recommend over just a walking or boat tour if you are active. I’m so glad we decided to explore the caves this way. There’s fun, mystery and a little adrenaline in it for you. You can really tell the guides enjoy what they do. Also, the water may be a bit cold but don’t let that deter you!! You won’t be uncomfortable. Biggest tip is bring shampoo/conditioner/body soap with you for the post-tour shower.
Kimberly Dohner — Google review
Visiting NZ from Utah, USA. Did the 5 hour excursion with Black Water. This was the absolute highlight of my trip. Matt and Alisha were friendly, funny, super upbeat and most of all kept us safe. They took their time making sure that everyone was comfortable and trained on the activities that we were doing which included; hiking, climbing, repelling (abseiling), floating and zip lining. They both made the experience way more than I imagined and expected. I haven't left NZ yet and I've already recommended the tour to people I've met in restaurants and bars. I would go back in a heartbeat. Thank you for the amazing time.
James Schmidt — Google review
Amazing!! Did the Black Abyss tour and worth every penny. Our guides were awesome and so helpful (Alistar and Patty, sorry not sure how to spell) and made me feel safe on every step! Worth doing to push yourself outside your comfort zone and go on such an adventure!
Natasha Ouellette (Deirdre) — Google review
If you are looking for an adrenaline-pumping, awe-inspiring, and unforgettable adventure, look no further than the Waitomo Black Water Rafting tour. This tour combines caving, abseiling, ziplining, tubing, and glowworm spotting in one epic package. You will explore the stunning underground world of the Waitomo Caves, with its limestone formations, crystal clear water, and dazzling glowworms. You will experience the thrill of descending into the darkness, flying through the air, floating down the rapids, and jumping off the waterfalls. You will also learn about the history and culture of the caves from your friendly and professional guides, who will ensure your safety and enjoyment throughout the tour. The Waitomo Black Water Rafting tour is not for the faint-hearted, but it is definitely worth it. It is the best way to experience the beauty and mystery of the Waitomo Caves, and one of the most amazing things you can do in New Zealand. It is a pricey experience but don't miss this opportunity to challenge yourself and have the time of your life
Doctors Dates — Google review
Amazing experience!! The crew are professional, super friendly and helpful and did everything they could to make sure we had a good time. Our Guides Cory and Ollie were brilliant. We've done the Waitomo Trilogy tours a couple of times over the years which are also great but to go 70m below ground level and tube in the water was another level of fun. Try it... you won't be disappointed and they give you loads of free photos of you throughout the trip which is very unusual from a tour operator!!!
P Simpson — Google review
What a blast as our first experience after a long flight. We went on the 3 hour black water rafting tour. It was a ton of fun as well as a learning experience. I highly recommend you try out this great adventure. You definitely won’t regret your decision to float down the caves. It’s a great tour with great tour guides. I definitely want to do this tour again and hope you try it as well.
Cori Mill — Google review
i did the blackwater rafting but it sounded more promising than it was. the "rafting" part was mostly walking through ancle-deep water, a couple of jumps off some ledge into the water with your ring, and sometimes a bit of (slow) floating. however, you do see thousands of glowworms. also, the staff are really nice and cheerful and take pictures along the way (no private cameras allowed). back at the base, these are then sold at 25NZD (for downloading digital copies!) and the snacks are two/three tiny frozen samosas per person heated up, hardly felt like "we are happily heating back up together" (but you can buy yourself more food from cafe in which you are seated...). also, i came down with severe influenza the next day, imho i was too cold and too wet for too long whilst on that experience. i've now realized i dont need to be wet and cold to be looking at glowworms...
AJ — Google review
We did the Black Abyss tour and could not recommend it more! Our guides Tim and Max were absolutely phenomenal. Max was incredibly knowledgeable about the caves and had both interesting/fun facts as well as humor. He also took some pretty stellar photos. Both Max and Tim made us feel comfortable and safe throughout. The soup at the end hit the spot.
Ailise Delaney — Google review
10/10 just absolutely wonderful. I did the Black Labyrinth and I loved absolutely everything. Was really nervous but the guides were awesome and helped me every step of the way (literally). Thank you so much to the American girl from Minnesota (sorry I’ve forgotten your name but not where you’re from) and Hannah you both made me feel so comfortable during the activity and helped me get over my fears. I will be recommending this tour to every person I see! Thank you guys, yous rock 🤙🏻
Rebecca McAvoy — Google review
Absolutely fantastic, magical experience floating through what felt like space! The guides are very fun, and led us safely through. The water is quite cold, but you mostly get used to it after the first couple plunges. We did the labyrinth tour and we were fairly chilly by the end of it, but I’d 10/10 do it again. The journey starts narrow, more closed in around you, then opens up to virtually a slot canyon with tons of glow worms above! I was worried it’d be a small amount of glow worm viewing but oh boy was I wrong, there are tons throughout most of the tour. Beware you want to be comfortable jumping backwards off of 3-5ft waterfalls into deep pools. It takes courage to jump but was pretty painless upon landing. My ONLY critique is most times, even with a guide near you, it was virtually impossible to hear them and understand instructions, but I didn’t find that truly hindered safety. I would recommend the company introduce hand signals for things like “stop”, “forward”, etc. All in all I highly recommend this tour, as after it was my second time in New Zealand, this was my favorite tour we did!
Jesse Fisher — Google review
I have never had more FUN with a rubber ring in my life ! We donned the damp wetsuits ( which helped us keep warm) helmets and gum boots and down we went into a 35m cave, clambering over, and squeezing through the laundry chute and drifting on a rubber ring down the river with amazing rock formations above & glow worms. Lydia's X rated narration about the glow worms, was a real hoot. ( it's the way she tells it).
life — Google review
Fantastic experience and one I will remember forever. Nothing can compare to repelling down into a cave, ziplining under a sky of glow worms, and then leaping into the dark waters below for a rafting adventure! The staff were super friendly and provided accommodations for my every need. If there was a wall that was too tricky for me to scale they helped me find a way around it all while taking once in a lifetime photos. 10/10 only wish I could do it again. (Clarification: I did the 5 hour tour, while initially it may appear expensive this experience made me feel like I got my absolute money's worth)
M Martin — Google review
Fantastic!!! I will recommend this to anyone and everyone! We had the best tour Guides, Matt and Alicia. If it was not for these two amazing people I would not have been able to have such a great experience. If you are one limb short as I am, make sure you are in good physical condition as it really takes it out of you. I will definitely be doing it again when I am in better shape!
Vian Van Niekerk — Google review
A million times YES! My absolutely favorite experience on the North Island during our two week road trip honeymoon. I can not say enough about the Black Abyss tour! We repelled into the cave (took me about 3-4 minutes to get down!), zip lined, had a snack, jumped into the freezing water and so stunning we got to lay on our backs and float through the cave and look at the glorious glow worms. At the end we climbed through two waterfalls to get out of the cave. AMAZING TOUR! I want to go back again!
Holly Siebert — Google review
The Black Abyss was one of our favorite experiences during our trip to NZ. We were well taken care of by our guides (shout out to Callie and Ollie!) and their enthusiasm and joy was contagious throughout our day. Having the full 5 hours in the cave meant we got to have fun splashing about in the river and also had quite a bit of time to just relax and enjoy the absolutely stunning(!!!) glow worms. Highly recommend!
Hannah — Google review
4.8
(1717)
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4.5
(2067)
585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
The Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tour offers both private and group raft tours through limestone caves that house an abundance of glowworms. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a scenic back-country farm, marvel at thousands of glowworms while gently gliding downstream in an inflatable raft, and take easy walks through stunning landscapes. The tour includes visits to two beautiful caves with unique geological formations. This experience is highly recommended for anyone looking for an informative and interesting adventure in the Waitomo area.
What a wonderful experience it was. I was the only one who booked the tour that day but Pete did the tour just for me. It was very interesting and informative. I loved that I could see the glowworms so up close. Had coffee after the first cave. The second cave had geological formations which were pretty cool. Had a good old chat with Pete and learnt about the caves as well as the Waitomo area. Highly recommended!
Umaya E. — Google review
Absolutely awesome tour! My wife and I were amazed at the amount of glowworms inside the cave! Kieran (our guide) was very knowledgeable too and was so happy to explain anything we were curious about. We had a truly great time - I'd highly recommend others to do it too! We were able to take photos of our own but it's just a shame my phone camera isn't better!!
Joe S — Google review
This was such an amazing experience. Ross was out tour guide on the day, he was kind, funny and knowledgeable, he seemed to actually enjoy his job which made the experience so much better. We started the tour looking at some farm area and being told information on the area, we then went into the glow worm caves and on to the boat. We got some fantastic photos, Ross even taking some for us which was an added bonus. We then stopped for a hot drink and biscuit (hot choc, coffee, tea). Then to the dry cave where we walked around learning many facts along the way. This was genuinely one of the best experiences and something everyone has to do at least once. 10/10
Jaimee Newby — Google review
Mark, our guide was fantastic.
We were a last minute tour group of only 3 and you still went out of your way to make the tour so memorable.
I reccomend giving the spellbound tour a whirl it is unmissable!
Moana and Whanau
Springfield, NZ
MoanaAnnMarie Billington — Google review
If you are on the North Island and want to really experience a cave and the glowworms then forget the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and come here instead.
You get an awesome guide who wants everyone to have a great time. You are visiting two caves and in between there might be a surprise on top! ;)
He even provided tripods in the cave to shoot great pictures!
Don't forget to tip this guy, the trip is way too cheap for what he offers!
Mattia Agus — Google review
Spellbound's cave tour was phenomenal! The guide was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and the scenery was absolutely stunning. The small group setting made it so everyone could really enjoy the caves and we never felt rushed. It was sooo cool to see the glowworms up close and to hear all about their lifecycle. Seeing so many from the boat was magical. The guide also took pictures for us in the caves at multiple spots and made sure everyone's came out nicely - if one didn't have a phone with a quality night setting, he used his own phone and sent the pictures once out of the cave. I highly recommend this company and tour to anyone traveling in the Waitomo region!
Melanie Keyes — Google review
Pictures don’t do it justice. Unbelievable thousands of glowworms in these private caves with intimate small group tours and allowed to take photos in parts of the cave. Only downside is no photography allowed on the boat ride but was understandably to preserve the magical experience of the boat ride in the most densely populated portion of the cave. Definitely worth the 2 hour drive each way from cruise ship in Tauranga
Christopher Kling — Google review
Wonderful experience with our guide Ross. The two cave experience was above expectations. Small tour made it much more enjoyable than the more famous place elsewhere. Not only photography is allowed, it was encouraged! Ross took some wonderful shots of us that he shared selflessly. Very awesome experience and very well-priced too.
Joe A — Google review
This tour is a hidden treasue for sure, this was one of the most magical experiences i have ever experienced! Hohepa was an absolute legend, his commentary & knowledge of the caves was brilliant, definitely made the trip that much more special.
The 1st cave was amazing & the boat trip in the cave was out of this world !!! I couldn't fault it, it was spectacular !!
The 2nd cave is under rated, not as many glow worms but the cave itself is the show here, they have built pathways & lighting to make it a nice safe trip through the cave.
You even get supplied a lil afternoon tea with hot drinks & bikkis between the 2 caves which was awesome as.
Big thank you to the Spellbound team, we will definitely not forget this tour in a hurry !
Kelly Matijevich — Google review
The whole tour was amazing and we never felt rushed. Our boat was the only one in the cave and we only had 6 people on our tour so it definitely didn't feel crowded. Hop was also one of the best tour guides I've ever had. I would recommend this tour to my friends and family
Ebony Tarry — Google review
Great tour visiting two caves with different features. Our guide Sean is very knowledgeable and humorous and the ending part with our little boy leading everyone through the dark cave will leave an impression for my boy for a long time 😃😃 and you got to take pictures under the guide supervision
Hyva Runuha — Google review
The most amazing experience ever. The tour guide was amazing, really went into the detail about the history of the caves and the glow worms and was super knowledgeable. The caves were magnificent and the glow worms extraordinary. The tour came highly recommended from friends that had been and I will now be signing their praises far and wide. If I could make any recommendation, it is to go and do this!
Carla Morris — Google review
Highlight of epic trip to NZ. Our Māori guide Hop created the most memorable experience. We are beyond grateful for his kindness and willingness to go above and beyond. Our hotel owner recommended this tour over the popular one I had planned to do in town. I can’t express how right on she was, as this tour proved to be much more intimate and unique than the larger one in town. It was definitely out of the way to get to, windy mountain road made the journey that much more special.
We learned a lot and would highly recommend this tour - especially when led by Hop.
SiriDev Tara — Google review
Really knowledgeable and great to get along with the guide. A relaxed pace to allow you to awe at the glowworm cave and marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites. Two great cave experiences in one trip, we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sarah Taylor — Google review
Best of the best. My son, wife and me, we are from Shanghai. This tour absolutely amazing. The tour guide will share a lot of knowledge about glowworm and caves, and will be happy to answer tourists' questions. We are 100% satisfied. I think if my English is good enough to fully understand the tour guide's introduction and chat with the tour guide, it will be 120 points😄
You need to drive to the meeting point by yourself. If your legs and feet are inconvenient and you have problems with your knees, you may need to consult a tour guide because of the ups and downs. Reservations must be made. Since the cave is affected by rain, usually the store will confirm the itinerary by email the day before.
jin jeremy — Google review
Such an incredible and awe-inspiring experience. I don’t have the words to do justice to this tour, I recommend just experiencing it for yourself, you won’t regret it! Big shout out to Scuba for being such a great guide - his passion and reverence for the caves was evident throughout. He was so knowledgeable and treated everyone with kindness and curiosity. The entire trip was great, and I’ll never forget slowly floating through a dark cave with a blanket of glow worms above me!!
Jamie Fargo — Google review
What an incredible experience at Spellbound Glowworms Cave! Opted for the early morning slot, and it was truly magical – witnessing countless glowworms lighting up the cave. Our guide, Pop, was not only captivating but also delivered perfect explanations throughout the tour.
Post the mesmerizing glowworm display, Pop treated us to a delightful breakfast. The adventure continued as we explored another cave. A big thank you for creating such a memorable moment. Highly recommended!
Michel Bivrot — Google review
It was a breathtaking tour with a fabulous guide. We started with a short van ride through beautiful landscape followed by a brushwork to the first cave. We got lots of interesting information about the area, the glowworms and the caves. The boat ride through the Glowworm Cave was surreal and beautiful. A non touristy out of the world experience I can highly recommend.
Raina — Google review
Our first stop on our New Zealand trip, and it was amazing.
We were informed in the morning that due to the rain it could be that the trip might get cancelled, but we were lucky and were able to go.
Travis was an amazing guide. We first visited the glowworm cave and it really is as stunning as the pictures on the internet. They spend a long time in the cave, so your eyes can adjust to the darkness quite well. We got a bit more wet than usual, but we were prepared for bad weather.
Afterwards we went into the spirit cave and it was also extremely interesting. I am glad we went for the long tour.
Apart from the two trips, the bus ride to the caves itself has an awesome view.
Overall, we enjoyed the trip a lot and would definitely recommend it! Also shout-out to the group size, with a maximum of 12 people it doesn't feel too busy.
Florian Mussner — Google review
An absolute highlight of our North Island New Zealand holiday.
Ross was an excellent guide - giving us ample opportunity to explore, providing explanations of what we were seeing, and also answering all our questions.
I loved the smaller intimate nature of the tour, where it didn't feel like a production line (like some of our other NZ experiences). It was awe inspiring floating down the river, and seeing thousands of glowworms surrounding us. I also loved that we got to tour a second cave, seeing the stalagmites and stalactites.
I loved having the opportunity to take photos of our experiences, the short hikes past the steams (and getting to meet the resident eel), tea break and the Maori welcome, farewell and blessings. Thank you for an amazing adventure!
Ruth Ellison — Google review
The best guided glow worm tour. I have done the other bigger tour and this beats that one hands down. Small groups, knowledgeable guide, informal Kiwi style (with coffee, tea, hot chocolate break with combo tour). Kiran (not sure about his name) is one of the best guides - typical Kiwi bloke. Stops and makes sure all questions are answered. Fantastic photos too on my own phone. The brightest glow worm cave indeed. Well done, Spellbound!
Alejandro Sim — Google review
10/10! Love the low key-familiy vibe to it! Humble and knowledgeable team. Very lovely guide called Peter. Everything on time, amazing and beautiful experience, doesn't feel rushed or like you gotta go cause other group is coming after. And we even got a pretty good pic for free! I would recommended 200%.
Lucía Medina — Google review
Lovely tour. Our guide was informative, and had a great sense of humor. The caves were amazing, and the glow worm portion of the tour was very unique. I really appreciated how the guide had everyone stash their phones at one point to encourage everyone to just enjoy the moment.
High recommend! Our tour guide Simon, was truly brilliant. Generally, afraid of heights and felt this tour was designed to make you feel comfortable. Abseiling and viewing the cave on the way down is incredible. Glow warms and rafting was amazing. Grateful!
Nikhil Ramthol — Google review
We loved this tour! Our guide Tim was so fun and helpful and made us feel safe. Floating under the glow worms was incredible, like looking at the milky way but in a cave! We liked going with a smaller tour company and avoiding the tourist herds elsewhere. There were only six people on our tour including us so there wasn't a lot of waiting around.
Abseil away, abseil away, abseil away with me
Jesse Broder Van Dyke — Google review
Really awesome experience. More gentle then I was expecting - contrasting to white water rafting experiences. The abseiling and rock climbing aspects were pleasant surprises, but be aware if heights aren't your thing.
Catherine Barnett — Google review
Just a seriously incredible tour with Will. The light beams streaming through the canopy into the canyon, the glow worms reflecting off the cavern waters, the black water rafting through the caves - all were truly magical. We cannot recommend Kiwi Cave Rafting enough!
Xander Wroblewski — Google review
I went on this experience on the 11th April and absolutely loved it! I got out of my comfort zone and faced my fear of heights through completing some abseiling and climbing.
Our guide Kat was amazing and so knowledgeable about lots of history aspects of the cave and about the glowworms. She made me feel at ease and less afraid to complete each task while always having a smile on her face! I would 100% recommend anybody to do this, doesn’t matter how fit you are!
Becky Becsie — Google review
Tim was a fantastic guide- he was informative, encouraging and really good fun. His knowledge of the caves and the wildlife was really impressive and we had a blast on the excursion. Tom was also fantastic and the two of them made a great duo. The hot drink and chocolate under the glow worms was a highlight after tubing. Worth every penny, it’s a once in a life time experience and one we won’t forget!
Alastair — Google review
We had a great day with these guys, our guide Emrys was really nice, knowledgeable, ensured safety but also allowed us freedom and fun.
We did the 4 hour trip, abseiling, black water rafting, caving and rock climbing. We were a group of just 6 (which I believe is the largest group they allow) and this was great as much smaller than the big tour company groups which meant a more personal experience and more time in the caves with the Glowworms as not having to wait around for loads of people to complete the abseil etc.
before doing the trip I was worried that we weren’t going into the more famous cave but this was unnecessary worry as we had so much time in the caves with the glowworms and the caves were covered in them!
Back in 2008 when I was lay in NZ I did this trip with one of the ‘big’ companies, and I loved it, but this experience was better and this is hugely down to the smaller group size.
Would definitely recommend.
Jessica Cawood — Google review
The view at the cave entrance on a good day is absolutely stunning. It's a pity the water level was a bit low on our trip, hence couldn't do much tubing. The exit was also a great adrenalin rush.
Joe D — Google review
Best experience ever! Had Will as our guide. One 21 YO and 2 late forties. Nearly brought my 70 YO dad, pleased I didn't. It was perfect for us. Truly magical.
Nicole Masters — Google review
An amazing experience, loved every second. Such a fun adventure, abseiling, caving and climbing! Our guide was great, good fun and made us feel very safe throughout. A real added bonus that they include photos in the price of the experience. So so worth the money, will be recommending Kiwi Cave Rafting to all my friends!
lily clemence — Google review
We had an amazing tour with Tim in the morning. He did a great job explaining us all about the geology of the caves, the animals which live inside and of course the adventures we came across. We loved the moment the glowworms start to shine. He made us feel safe at every moment but at the same time like little cave-explorers. Well worth the money!!
Anne Schlenther — Google review
Tim is a phenomenal adventure leader! Methodical and knowledgeable, while still super fun. I lucked out with a great group of folk. And while you think you'll be cold, don't worry - you'll be having such an amazing experience that after climbing back out of the cave you'll feel incredibly comfortable and content. Pro tip: wear wool socks!
Laura Caplan — Google review
Excellent, Tim was an amazing guide and very nonweldable about the Area, geography and the caves.
What stands out about this outfit is how intimate you get with your surroundings. Also been on some of the others black water rafting operations which seemed a bit more commercial, this was not.
Would HIGHLY recommend for anyone that really wants to see a glow worm cave properly
Vanh Anothai — Google review
I absolutely enjoyed my tour with Kiwi Cave Rafting. We experienced a lot of different things that day. Amongst abseiling, Caving, Climbing and Floating in the dark with the glowworms this was a 4 in 1 Tour. I also loved the small group size of maximum 6 so it doesn't get too crowded.
Meike Krauss — Google review
A really amazing adventure experience with a great guide, Liz.
It starts with some very clear instructions and practice on how to abseil. Then it was abseiling into the cave, 30 meters down. It's a little scary at first but completely fine once you know your weight is supported and you're not going to fall!
Then tube upstream through the cave to see the glow worms which were amazing.
Tube back downstream for more thrills.
Rock climb back out of the cave.
We were given a snack to eat down in the cave which was a nice treat to warm up!
Plus squeezing through two rock formations which was fun!
The price was excellent for all the activities.
We were deciding on whether to go and see any of the other caves around this area - having had such a cool and awesome cave and glow worm experience here. If you want the beauty of a limestone cave then you definitely must see Ruakuri cave as well as doing this adventure!
Lots of photos were taken by our guide which was included in the tour price, so that was a pretty cool bonus for the memories.
Overall: Highly recommended!!
Daniel — Google review
Had a fantastic time with the rafting experience today. Our guide Tom was very knowledgeable and myself and my group all felt very safe thought all the different aspects of the morning. He was also great to have a laugh and good time with and would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to see some amazing glowworm displays while rafting through the caves.
This was the first official Lord of the Rings Hobbit site we've been to in New Zealand in August of 2016. The following day we got married in hobbiton. And this tour what's a great start to all. Our tour guide was amazing and new quite a lot of information about the movies and the area and cool stories.
We had an absolute awesome time on this tour the scenery was unbelievable just the idea of stepping on the area and being where the actress stood was amazing alone. Absolutely highly recommend this tour anyone.
Brant Parsons — Google review
Honestly one of the coolest movie set tours for any Tolkien fan around. Had such an amazing experience and loved every single second of this amazing morning! Worth the money big time, the scenery is just breathtaking. What makes it really special are the personal stories of the owners, Warrick and Suzie.
maikel van der Lingen — Google review
This tour was a major highlight of our trip to New Zealand! Suzie was an amazing guide! You know she’s given this tour a million times, but she treats it like the first time. She was so enthusiastic and engaging. She had great stories about the filming process and such fun behind the scenes insider knowledge. She even took the time to take individual photos of everyone in our group reenacting many of the scenes from The Hobbit. The attention to detail in the tour was incredible. Suzie had printouts of the various scenes from the films and even had props hidden around the grounds for photo ops. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you must do this tour! And even if you’re not a fan, it’s worth it just to see the amazing landscapes. Highly, highly recommend!
Hannah Joyce — Google review
The best tour guide I've ever been... Suzie is amazing person, so cheerful, happy to help, share stories from filming or even from chatting with the cast. The farm is like from another world... You are in middle of farm, surrounded by mountains and few steps in different direction and you're in middle of the fantasy forest, few steps from there and you're on the grass field... When someone says New Zealand, this place is what I imagine. It looks beautiful, it looks abandoned and still occupied. The place is peaceful and it just whispers to your soul. I wish I could stay here longer and just walk here for hours... Ohh and did I mention wild goats?
It definitely is worth it, even if you're not fan of Hobbit, the scenery is just breathtaking, like Keanu would say.
EliskaMM — Google review
This was the best tour we did while in NZ for 4 weeks, which was largely due to Suzie. She was animated and enthusiastic, and really knew the Hobbit, LOTR, and Rings of Power. She often used a storytelling manner to tell the group about what led up to the scenes filmed there, which made it a lot of fun and engaging. She also had fun stories about the farm, which was very scenic. There were replica swords to use for pics and a catapult from the Xena set, and you have to do the tour to find out more.
There was no availability during our time nearby, but Suzie responded really quickly to email and was able to schedule a tour for us; we booked about 3 months in advance.
Sylvia Ross — Google review
Suzie was so friendly and knew so much about the hobbit film. The land is still a working farm and you can tell that Suzie still wants to keep the land clean and beautiful. Groups are 5 maximum which means a very personal experience. We got to mimic the shots filmed in the same location and the farm land is just breathtaking. One of my favorite experiebces of my North Island trip
Chantelle Louise — Google review
Well, I honestly can’t say enough positive things about these guys!
What I think is important to stress about this place is, although I’d personally consider the tour an absolute bucket list experience for fans of Middle-earth, especially Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, the Denize Bluffs is a must-see destination in itself. The scenery is spectacular, the history of the farm is fascinating, and the natural wonders are boundless. Anyone and everyone can enjoy Hairy Feet Waitomo, whether they’ve seen any of the many productions that have utilised the landscape, have an interest in the unique rock formations and surrounding flora and fauna, or simply curious about the operation of a working farm. Some of my favourite sections of the tour involved actually just listening to our host explain about some of the amazing nature in the area.
To begin with, the lovely Suzie was extremely flexible and accommodating when, as suggested on the website, I reached out to enquire about a date we were hoping to visit on that was seemingly not one when they were planning on running a tour. She very kindly agreed to open it up for us on a Saturday morning when we were going to be in the area celebrating a special birthday, and we were even joined by her cousin who was also really friendly! All together there were only five of us guests which was a comfortable number and ideal as opposed to some of the large scale Rings-related tours on offer elsewhere. In fact, it’s my understanding that they only run visits in smaller groups.
I won’t spoil any of the surprises of the tour itself (yes, there were some) as they are best discovered first hand, but Suzie shared some exciting recent developments that took place at the location, which as an enormous Tolkien nut, had me loosing my mind. And yes, these guys are huge fans themselves, with an impressive knowledge not only of the behind the scenes of the first Hobbit film that shot there, An Unexpected Journey, that they were present for, but the rest of that wonderful world. We were supplied with several fun props, etc. to assist us in effectively recreating iconic moments from the story, which Suzie orchestrated fantastically. She even had some handy high resolution images from the film to use as reference and help guide you when viewing each destination along the way.
Suzie’s husband Warwick was busy throwing together some brand new toilet facilities on site at some point on the route, so that’ll be a great addition to the site for future visitors. Of course anticipate a little bit of light activity when walking around the farm and reaching certain spots, but nothing strenuous and you are driven around sections in a spacious and sturdy van. Worth mentioning that the main office has an extensive array of marvellous pieces of memorabilia and merchandise from the early 2000s when the original movies were coming out that I was obsessed with seeing again.
All in all, these guys rock and are the real deal, genuine Kiwi pride on display and a rich passion for what they do. Keep it up, I can’t wait to visit again in the future. A perfect conclusion to a fabulous hobbity birthday weekend!
Thanks again, guys.
Nick & Holly (UK)
December 2022
Nicholas Storey — Google review
This is an absolutely stunning property and a fantastic tour. Suzie is so happy to share all of her experiences, from the scouts approaching them when looking for film sites to her interactions with the cast and crew. She has all the screen shots ready to show at the different locations, and you can get your photo taken with 'Sting' in the exact location that Gandalf gave it to Bilbo. There are also places you can sit where actors sat, stand where they stood, or touch props that were accidentally left behind on site! Suzie also took us to a couple of places where the new Rings of Power tv show was filmed.
Hairy Feet Tours used to run two tours a day, seven days a week before covid, but right now it's by booking only. I'd love for the word to get back out there about what a great tour this is for LOTR/Hobbit fans. We travelled NZ for six weeks doing LOTR locations and this was probably our favourite guided tour.
They also have a great gift shop with really well priced LOTR souvenirs. Highly recommend!
S F — Google review
This tour was one of my favourite experiences whilst travelling in New Zealand. Massive thank you to Suzie for accommodating our schedule and taking photos along the Hobbit trail 🥰 Would highly recommend going on this adventure!
Vick — Google review
Of all the lotr/hobbit tours and locations, this is by far my favourite one. Suzie is an exceptional host and one of the best people i met on my travels.
Her passion for the hobbit and lotr sets her apart. She's not just a landowner, shes also a fan, in addition to really knowing the ecosystem of the land and the surrounding area. She knows how special this place is and wants to share this joy with others.
In my opinion, anyone and everyone can enjoy this tour, regardless of whether you've watched the movies. The tour is not overly commercialized unlike most others, it is conducted at a leisurely pace and with a smaller group. You have to see it to believe it, it is truly special.
I hope to be back some day :)
Nachiket Lele — Google review
This tour is absolutely fantastic! It was truly a highlight of my trip to New Zealand! It is so much more than just a trip around Hobbit locations - I felt really invited to visit their home, their farm, which was used for filming the movie but at some point it wasn't the most important thing for me. I loved the stories about the farm, their family and business :)
For Hobbit fans it will be a great experience because you can see that Suzie is real fan of the LOTR and Hobbit movies! :) I loved every behind the scenes story she told us and the entire walk was the highlight of my NZ experience.
Most importantly, Suzie and her husband (sorry, I forgot the name :/ ) are truly wonderful people and I recommend to anyone to come and witness that :)
Marcin Ziółkowski — Google review
This place is an absolute hidden gem for any Hobbit/LOTR fans (also an absolutely beautiful place to see even if you're not)
The passion that Suzie and Warrick have for this place is everything, Suzie showed my group round explaining all of the spots which were used for the Hobbit and the Rings of Power series, sharing stories and their experiences with us made it so much more personal of a tour, coulj===j=dn't ask for more
They have a little shop with some lovely little bits too which is great
Cannot reccomend highly enough, thank you very much
JAMES Barton — Google review
This tour was a major highlight on our trip to New Zealand! One of my favourite things to do on vacation is find places from my favourite movies and recreate scenes/shots so I love love loved Suzie's tour! It was so cool how she had all these screenshots from key scenes, and was able to show you exactly where they were taken. Not only that, but she had great stories from the filming and just such a great energy about her! :) We had so much fun, and just also really enjoyed the beautiful day out in nature. Now that we are back home, we are watching the Rings of Power series with a keen eye to see all the places on screen that Suzie showed us in real life; how cool! Thanks a bunch for the amazing day; we cannot recommend this experience enough!
Meaghan M. — Google review
Fantastic tour, Suzie is an absolute gem. Full of knowledge, good humor, and hospitality. The ranch is literally one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Sage Wheeler — Google review
This is an absolute MUST visit for anyone and everyone. The tour guides were amazing and quite literally the nicest people I came across on my trip in NZ. If I could rate this experience more than 5 stars, I would in a heart beat. Thank you for such an amazing time!
Timber Trail is an 85-kilometer mountain bike ride through the Pureora Forest Park in New Zealand's central North Island. The trail offers a unique experience, taking riders deep into ancestral Maori lands and showcasing the region's natural beauty with moss-covered trees, clear rivers, and diverse birdlife. The route follows old logging roads and features thrilling suspension bridges. There are various overnight options available for those looking to extend their adventure. Additionally, shuttle services are provided for convenience.
Awesome experience, track is well looked after and beautiful scenery! Did it over two days on MTB. It's at a decent level that basically most with a bit of experience can give it a go, even the 'not so frequent anymore cyclists' like me 😅 Pretty cool 😎
R Marx — Google review
Great experience although I think you need to be clearer on the bike hire options. When I hired a 'Suspension Bike' it wasn't made clear that is just front suspension. I see now you reference the full suspension bike as 'FS'. For a first time user that needs to be clearer and I suffered on the bike ride because of it.
Howard Ross — Google review
This was a fun chilled out ride. First day was great with some single track and native forest, Second day was alright , just a little bit more dull than the first day as it was 4wd sort of road. The bike ride is worth it for the scenery and native bush.
Felicia J Bishop — Google review
Another breathtaking part of New Zealand. Absolutely brilliant trail for running and cycling.
Vix Ano — Google review
Wicked journey. So much to take in and enjoy. We had sunshine and rain and enjoyed both. The lodge in the middle is a welcome and restful place to enjoy time with others also. Shuttle drivers were awesome as well. Kia Ora to all involved.
Claire Turner — Google review
A definite must do for all riding enthusiasts. Was our second time completing the trip over 2 days, and our party included first time riders. They loved it.
With the ride being predominantly downhill it's possible for most fitness levels and beginner skills.
Craig Hoskin — Google review
We started off with a shuttle service from Camp Epic (apologies we were late who would of thought we would get fogged in, held up by road works heading into Ongarue, then on the final 1 way bridge we gave way to a huge truck with forestry machinery - then Paul rang to check on us) we met a great bunch of adventure seekers, stayed at Camp Epic which was fantastic, we also got to chat with Bill Holloway (No.1 track extraordinaire track maker) on his Kubota tractor on the 2nd day. This would have to be New Zealand's top mountain bike trail ride that caters to all fitness levels (we did it on ebikes - thankfully) the scenery is breath taking, the constant chatter of bird life was exceptional, the trails are maintained up to a high level and in top condition. To learn about the timber pioneers, their families & machinery through to the tramways that bought the timber out, the suspension bridges are a marvel to behold especially when you look down and see the remnants of the timber bridges that held trams with logs what clever clever people. The work that has gone into these trails is exceptional with a story to be told all through the ride which gives a deep appreciation of the hard yakka of the timber workers, what a tough life! We came away in awe of those that have created a visionary story that we could enjoy - a simple 'thankyou' does not seem to suffice but THANKYOU!
Edwina O'Brien — Google review
Great ride. New Zealand history. Achievable in 1 day
Bruce Galloway — Google review
You couldn't ask for a better Kiwi experience. The mountain biking was at a good level that anyone with some experience could do it at their own pace. We used our E Bikes which made the up hills alot more fun. The first day was a little more technical but just take your time if unsure and the second day was easier riding with great long downhills and beautiful scenery. There is so much bird life we saw Kaka, Wood Pidgeon in big numbers. There are glow worms aplenty if you go exploring at night time in the Bush. The bridges are awe inspiring and there is even a small tunnel on the spiral. Prepare for all weather. Take a first aid kit just incase. But mostly it's just pure fun. Thanks to all the volunteers that keep the trails safe, if you could please fill in the Big dips on the second day haha almost had me over the handle bars and the blackberry on the last 4km needs cutting back. Xox
Joanne McAlpine — Google review
A must-do for trail enthusiasts. I'm definitely doing this one again! Beautiful sights, great trails.
I did the trail over 2 days with mates, camping overnight. Highly recommend the experience.
Walter von Dincklage — Google review
One of the most scenic cycle trails in the North Island. We done the first 20 km from Pureora.
Taju Ullrich — Google review
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5.0
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Pureora Forest Park / Timber Trail, Manawatū-Whanganui 3987, New Zealand
Absolutely a must do, the guides, the knowledge, the historic district, stories of coal mining, tunnel building, timber and farming. The river and railway bring the history alive. A huge thank you to Tina, Kahil, Oce, Krystle, Ross and the team who made our day so memorable..
Pene Frost — Google review
This is the ultimate kiwi adventure, Transfer to and from the starting point plus your food breaks are all included in this well organized tour. I rate our Guide Ray, 10 out 10 for his local knowledge, enthusiasm and his humor.
People of all ages can enjoy the Rail Trail and learn the history of the railway construction and the local farming community..
TheUncleGrant — Google review
We did the Tokirimu Taster (half day, 10 tunnels). Loved it! Had all weathers - very thankful for the blankets in the carts. The talks at the stops were very interesting, and I appreciated that I could hear the guide well (I am a little hard of hearing).
Attention to safety was excellent.
Food provided was fresh and delicious. Ample quantity - our own food was not needed on this excursion.
The shop staff were extremely helpful and recommended places to stop on our car drive home through Forgotten Highway. The views are beautiful.
We will definitely do this again!
Andie Sands — Google review
Very well run and organised without losing the friendly and personal approach. We had a wonderful day which exceeded our expectations. Can't say enough about the knowledgeable staff (Tina and Oriwia were great.) Tasty morning and afternoon tea and a filling lunch were provided as part of the package.
Suitable for young and old and everyone in between.
We did the rail cart ride to Whangamomona, stayed overnight and had the Hotel's dinner, bed and breakfast package, then returned to Taumarunui on the shuttle bus. We considered it all very good value for our money.
Jilliene Beale — Google review
What a great trip we had to the Lavender Farm and on the Railcarts.
The commentary from our guides gave us insights into parts of the country we’d never experience otherwise.
Staying in the Forgotten Highway Motel was so convenient and everyone we met in Taumarunui couldn’t have been more pleasant and helpful.
Just loved the whole adventure. Thank you.
Anne Perkinson — Google review
Four of us travelled together and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day as we carted our way to Whangamomona. Loved the frequent stops for food and commentary. A fantastic experience!!!!!!!
Ian Smith — Google review
Our family took my mum on this trip for her 80th birthday. This had always been on her bucket list. We did the republic tour. What an amazing day out and we were so looked after. lots of stops with great baking (my daughter has already made the slice), the lunch was so so fresh and tasty. Country views and tunnels galore, learning about the history and present times of the land and track we were travelling was so interesting. Our guides were absolutely brilliant, as were the support staff at check in! It is such a well run tourist business. Thank you very much to your team for helping to make mums weekend that extra bit special.
Maria — Google review
Very enjoyable activity!
We stayed the night at the Forgotten World Hotel and ordered the breakfast for the next morning before the trip. The hotel staff was great. The room was spacious and clean, although there was no ac we did have a fan and once the temperature dropped during the evening, we opened the windows to cool down the room. The beds were comfortable.
The expedition itself was excellent. There’s something about the sound of the rails beneath you while the beautiful scenery passes you by that both relaxes and enthralls you, and the sights truly were beautiful! The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and all the history behind each stop along the way was interesting and educational at the same time. We enjoyed the meals provided, and the amount of time allotted to them. We were also grateful for the toilet breaks.
If we have the opportunity to visit NZ again, or if anyone we know decides to visit, we would definitely recommend the tour.
Ale Aldridge — Google review
The amazing array of tour options means you have so many opportunities to seek some unique Kiwi travel experiences from their base in Taumaranui.
Based around the Whanganui River and Forgotten World Highway it is very special to see first hand the amazing scenery and learn about the history of this area.
The team, led by Kara are super efficient and friendly.
Definitely add one of the Forgotten World Adventures to your list
We just completed the new Rhine of the Pacific Tour. This exclusive tour, with some added luxuries, shows you along the navigable length of the awa from Whanganui to Taumaranui, following the original colonial highway of the early 1900s.
A very special experience.
Bette Cosgrove — Google review
We shared in a great weekend with friends from our Wolseley Car Club - doing the 10 tunnel Rail Cart run to Tokorima. The weather was beautiful and it really was an awesome experience. It was a nice touch to enjoy home baking for our Morning Tea and again with our lunch. It was interesting listening to the history of the area too. Well done to the Team.
Val and Ken Thompson — Google review
My 89 year old mother and I had an enjoyable and memorably day with Forgotten World Adventures at Easter 2023 on the "Republic 20" from Okahukura to Whangamomona.
We were blessed with good weather, but were were well prepared for the cold in the tunnel thanks to the good pre departure advice.
The FWA staff were all very knowledgeable, professional and ensured we had a great time, learned all about the history of the area and stayed safe.
The food FWA provided was both delicious and generous. I particularly enjoyed the lunch with build your own sandwiches with very very fresh bread and a wide range of fillings.
We had our car transferred to Whangamomona where we stayed overnight at the Hotel in the extremely comfortable new motel style units.
I highly recommend this to friends and family.
You won't be disappointed.
Karen Pullar — Google review
Thanks so much FWA team, we had a fantastic day! Exceeded our expectations and worth every cent. A great way to see this special area and learn about the history. All our needs catered for, friendly and efficient.
rebecca vane — Google review
Stunning New Zealand scenery that you’d otherwise not see … with fun guides. A great day out doing something unique. Lunch is only a sandwich so if that’s not enough for you take something extra. And when they say dress in layers believe them … the tunnels are frigid and depending on time of year, the morning can be too! And if you are prone to motion sickness take some sealegs for the bus ride back which is very windy but again incredible views - keep your camera out!
J A F — Google review
A highlight of my New Zealand trip. Forgotten World Adventures are supported by wonderful informed tourist guides, as well as all the helpers at their motel. It is a simple accommodation, but very clean with a very comfortable bed. Part of the trip included a visit to a lovely Cafe in the midst of lavender fields.
I felt very welcome the whole time of my 3 days visit. Especially as an older single tourist! I wish the whole team success!
Elsie Dorner — Google review
if you’re even considering this, don’t think too much… just DO IT! Had the most amazing time doing the full day. The guides were so knowledgeable and it was so interesting to hear about the histories of these forgotten small towns. It was so much fun and there was just great scenery. And you get fed very well! I would do it all over again!
Jess Fu — Google review
Excellent hosts. Great experience. This tour give you a unique vantage- explore the area from train tracks. Cross many bridges, go through many tunnels.
A really good way to spend the day. Good catering too.
L P — Google review
An absolutely amazing experience. The Forgotten World Adventures team were so friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. The scenery is stunning along with the history. The whole weekend we felt magically disconnected from everything outside of the journey and would highly recommend it. Thanks for making it an incredible weekend. We will be back!
James Terry — Google review
What a truly unique adventure. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our rail cart trip. Everyone who helped at all stages of the trip were so helpful and friendly. The scenery is spectacular and we love to hear the early stories of the area. We thoroughly enjoyed the home baking and found that there was ample food for us at the lunch time - appreciated the touch with the flowers. We became competent rail cart drivers in a very short time. We love that the experience is like no other we've ever done. Something that will stay with us for a long time. Thanks so much for sharing this part of the country with us.
raewyn birss — Google review
A very colonist focussed tour through beautiful farmland. No mention of the iwi whose land we were on, nor anything about the ecological damage done by the railroad building. An interesting couple of days, with delightful staff from around the world, fabulous food. Not really suitable for anyone with mobility issues as there are no platforms or solid steps for allowing dismounting at the various stops. Whangamōmona needs to be visited - what a stunning spot. And the hotel is great - comfortable beds, great food, awesome service. If you are interested in colonial history, railroad building in challenging terrain and tunnels, then karawhiua!
Catherine Olsen — Google review
We had a fabulous day. Was perfect for our wee family kids 4 & 6 years. Lots stops to get on and off. Beautiful views. Both kids did sleep near end of the day as it's a big day. We did full day tour.
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We did the 5-day canoeing down the river. What a great trip with the support from Taumarunui Canoe Hire. We both never canoed before but we were confident after the briefing and practice they provided. Instructions to get through rapids were clearly marked in the maps they provided in the waterproof bag. They are professional and efficient and friendly all at the same time.
Ginny X — Google review
The best experience ever! The Taumranui canoe team are amazing at providing a safe and unique experience and working to suit each groups needs. We had an amazing time and I would %100 recommend to anyone
Angelina Stowers — Google review
Lovely family with kids and dogs really homey atmosphere. During the canoe debrief they made us coffees and homemade bread. We were very impressed! The canoe and all the equipment were in great condition and they picked us up right on time at the end of the trip to bring us back to our campervan. Thanks for the great experience guys, our arms are still sore from all that paddling! 🤣
Emer Kelly — Google review
Amazing experience with Taumarunui canoe hire. The team/staff is extremely friendly, the service is impeccable and we really appreciated their hospitality. The little muffin at the end are just delicious and nothing better than that after many days on a canoe, camping and eating dry food.
Thank you so much, I definitely recommend and would come back if I were to do it again with some friend and/or family.
fanny murian — Google review
Highly recommend! We were a group of 12 that canoed the Whanganui River, and the team made us feel very well prepared. The fresh baking at the start and end of the trip was really tasty, and it was handy to be able to stay in the on-site cabins the night before we started (although a few lights to help figure out where we were going in the dark would have been helpful). I’ll definitely recommend you to friends and family :)
Emily Mulvey — Google review
Well organised canoe hire and transport company. Staff were knowledgeable and clearly had plenty of experience running the hire co plus knowledge of the river and weather forecast. Answered many a question I had leading up to the trip.
All equipment in good nick and had everything we needed. On time and safety conscious, thorough briefing which helped us on the river!
Error on my part, but they resolved a late notice accom date change easily and took the time to ensure all dates were correct.
We stayed at theirs the night before we started the river trip. The top accom block has a king bed pvt room and 8 bunks, with 1 bthrm. I'd recommend this if it's still available. There's a larger toilet block near there which most of us didn't find until the next morning so hunt it out so there's no queueing for a toilet while someone is showering.
The lower bunk rooms have power and sleep 8 in a room.
Hopefully in time an additional shower block could be set up, we would've appreciated this for our size group even if we had to pay a bit more to stay to cover the cost. Portaloo down at the lower shed where you can pack and unpack your barrels are probably the worst smelling toilets I've come across in a long time. Didn't see staff to tell once I'd used it at the end of the trip, but could do with a clean and regular service!
Otherwise, a great experience.
Hayden Chisnall — Google review
Absolutely awesome experience, thank you Taumarunui canoe hire for going above the expectations! Outstanding service, free onsite camping, free barista coffee during the morning brief, drop off and pick up was very pleasant and quick. Sorry we could not paddle fast enought and where 40 mins late battling the head wind.
Evgeny K — Google review
Epic adventure. Team that sorted us out made sure we had all the info ahead of time, gave us some good training and gear and boats were super reliable. Home for a few days lol. As for the journey itself, the whole thing was just unreal, not what you ever really get to see. Alot of it was just flat paddling as the river was pretty low apparently. Some good rapids along the way that had some stress going for a minute but my partner and I managed to make it down without coming out of the boat once 😉 Highly reccomend.
Ben Malcolm — Google review
Could not have ask for a better experience! They are organized and flexible. They make you coffee and bread in the morning for the safety briefing. The best intro to paddling demo! Everyone was very kind and good spirited. I would give more stars if I could.
B C — Google review
Absolutely amazing people. So grateful to them. Kindness and flexibility. Great canoes, excellent briefing, lovely coffee, delicous fresh bread...and kindness. Made our journey so much better. Bravo...10 stars...all the stars xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jo Gardner — Google review
I have canoed Whanganui twice with this company and the family that runs it are the most wonderful people. They go so far above and beyond to make your experience perfect and serve tea, coffee, and fresh bread for free!! It makes me so angry to see tourists take advantage of their kindness and abuse them for no reason because they are truly angels. The Whanganui canoe trip of one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had in New Zealand and if I did it a third time I would come back to this company.
Caity Kane — Google review
These guys are great! Friendly service and they were even kind enough to invite our group for Christmas dinner when we arrived. Coffee was served on the day before we hit the water and chocolate muffins were waiting for us when we finished our journey! It’s the small things that count! I definitely recommend them!
Carolina Couto — Google review
What a super hospitable, friendly family run company. You can see they actually live their jobs and want people to have a great time.
They were very timely, equipment was in good condition and the briefing/maps were well detailed on our trips.
Would highly recommend and use them again.
Samantha Viljoen — Google review
We had booked a 5-day canoe trip. Due to the weather and high water level, it was not possible to start the trip as planned.
Karen provided excellent support and made the cancellation process smooth and stress free.
We will definitely recommend this canoe hire company for their excellent customer service.
Thanks a lot. :)
Lena Wasauchimmer — Google review
Five billion trillion gazillion stars to the TCH team. Karen was amazing and we really appreciated Jonathan’s canoe lesson. Well done my friends!
Drew Marlar — Google review
Excellent organisation, highly recommend them. We did the 3 day canoe trip! Loved it.
Matt Sheaff — Google review
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5.0
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292A Hikumutu Road Hikumutu, Taumarunui 3992, New Zealand
Public hotspot Tokaanu Thermal Pools offer natural mineral pools at various temperatures, making it a popular stop for hikers and adventurers in the Tongariro National Park.
Pools and facilities are basic, but the water was lovely and we initially had the public pool to ourselves. There’s also a nice geothermal walk right there and trout hanging out in the river. At $8 an adult it’s definitely good value!
Brya Matthews — Google review
Stopped in for a dip in the hot pool . Price very reasonable, senior citizens $10 private pool. But i only gave it a 3 Star because not very clean , the entrance and the hallway and spar rooms were very boring. Nothing jumped out at me and said come on in .
Terry Klenner — Google review
These hot pools are fantastic value. We go for the private pool as the water isn’t treated, but there is a public pool ideal for kids.
The walk around the geothermal activity is free and has a huge variety of pool types.
We come every time we travel to or from Taupo. It’s unspoilt by commercialisation, just like New Zealand used to be.
Margo Lawrence — Google review
Well worth visiting. Short thermal walk around the hotsprings was free to enter. Keep to the paths. Then a visit to the thermal pools. $14 each for the private mineral pool and then out to the public pool.
Suzanne Leng — Google review
We were alone on the free hike. A good place to see the hot water action.
Mathias Molina — Google review
A busy wee spot but had a lovely soak in the public pools. We were keen for a private pool which was well priced but the wait was a touch too long for us. It was awesome seeing the trout over the bridge as we came in too and we really enjoyed the thermal walk despite the pouring rain. Will happily come back again
Sarah P — Google review
Awesome scenery, interesting sight, without the bad egg smell.
Nick Vann — Google review
After a complete refurbishment, only reopened 7months ago, clean, great staff, and the pools are an experience not to be missed!
Mike Bell — Google review
Spartan, clean, and pleasant. We had a private bath as well as using the public pool. There were only a handful of other parties and the atmosphere was relaxed. The water was wonderfully warm. The prices amazingly low. Staff helpful and friendly.
Roger Driver-Burgess — Google review
Absolutely the best experience, the quite walk will have you gasping at every corner with thermal magic, then a perfect relax in the private pools followed with a swim in thermal pools, the whole experience 10/10.
Andrew Janmaat — Google review
Stay on the thermal walk track if you're going to do a walk around the public areas, even the free thermal pools area for bathing and cooking can be dangerous, the supposed safe areas can spray boiling water at random which happened near me on the 14th of July causing a minor injury when I backed away (not burnt so its ok). It was totally unexpected, possibly there is major underlying volcanic activity authority's are not disclosing for this area. This will save you needing to do an ACC claim.
Nice area but probably very unstable even though the geo site says it was caused by wind interference with activity recording instruments. Do pay for the hot pools use it will be worth your while and a lot safer.
Andrew Rus — Google review
Great local gem!! Nothing fancy but definitely worth a visit. It was quite busy when we came but there was still plenty of space to sit & relax in the warm waters. Our kids loved it. The ladies at the desk were lovely as well.
Rachel Liava'a — Google review
Clean, warm public thermal pools. Small geysers in the grounds which blow every 45mins or so (when we were there). Fun with small kids.
Dan and Eileen Cocker — Google review
Excellent location to just relax. Ladies gave us more than the 30mins and it was fantastic. The water was beautifully warm and really friendly staff. Well done on a great place to just relax. Pricing was also excellent 👌
Chicory Cherry (Chicory Cherry Designs) — Google review
The free walk is quite nice. Installations are quite basic but it's nice and reasonably priced. They missed the opportunity of having mountain views on the private spa, which would add value.
Felipe — Google review
Went there with girlfriends! Really enjoyed it! Very clean! Private pool has an open air at the top! Very good idea! Grear staff! Lovely walk !
lara kim — Google review
Just had the most amazing soak after crossing the tongariro! Molly and Evan were so fun to chat with and great hosts at the resort. Definitely recommend the private soaks before the main pool. It's nice to have such an authentic atmosphere to relax in.
bradley post — Google review
Cool and free, what else you need? Nice to see the local geothermal activity in action. But if you dare, there is a private bath at the walking track that is reasonably priced.
The Tongariro National Trout Centre is a tourist attraction located approximately 4km south of Turangi. Managed by the Department of Conservation, this center is dedicated to trout and water ecology. It features a hatchery, museum with educational displays, freshwater aquariums showcasing river life, and a kids’ fishing pond. The center also operates a creche for the endangered whio (blue duck) during summer months.
Me and my partner really enjoyed this place. The staff were really friendly today and its good to see the money you spend (cheap tickets) go towards such a great cause. Respect trout and don't overfish in general. Our children have the right to enjoy the land, sky, rivers and lakes as our ancestors did.
James Harris — Google review
If you are into fishing you will enjoy this place.
They also run great holiday program showing children how to catch Trout and when they have caught one it is then smoked for to eat, great value totally recommend, i ve taken my granddaughters there twice, they love it...
Barry — Google review
The National Trout Centre in Turangi is an awesome experience for the whole family. Entry fee applies for adults but kids are free. There's also Kid's trout fishing at an extra cost, but unfortunately my son is not old enough yet (5 year's old minimum). We will be back another time. This is also a Toyota Kiwi Guardian site.
William Lin — Google review
Kids fishing looks boring, but when my kids catch a fish, we are all happy. They were smoked and we ate on site.
Yuan Zhang — Google review
The trout are numerous (like thousands!!). It's fun watching the kids fish and actually catch them with the instructors, natural setting, and BUY the fish food on entry. $5 per bag but what happens when you feed the wild trout is a lot of fun. We should have bought at least 3 bags (1 each). For fantastic photography and video, have one person feed the trout from the platform whilst another watches through underwater viewing area. They are HUGE and go crazy .... brilliant!!
Bruce Jeffery — Google review
Very sad to call in today to take grandchildren fishing. Sign was out and well before closing time but told had to book on line. Information on page said no booking required. Very sad as children looking forward to doing this activity as for once had time and opportunity to do this. I had taken my children here when they were young. Please update information on page and even on signage you put out.
Joyce Wenmoth — Google review
We purchased 2 kids fishing packages as well as 2 adult admission.
The kids thoroughly enjoyed their fishing experience and even better it was smoked for us and we got to enjoy it on some ciabatta bread and it was divine.
Taiana Metuamate — Google review
Would not recommend - at least not this month or for that price. Very disappointed in tanks - few fish and don’t seem cared for. Nothing really seemed to be “running” at this time, yet it is still $20 NZD/person.
Kimberly Porter — Google review
Pretty expensive for what you see. Loads of good history and information inside if your right into trout fishing.
The walk outside took about 20mins including the kids catching a fish. The only pond we could see was the kids fishing one, the others were closed.
$20 adult entry, $50 to catch a fish which is ontop of general entry.
Tim Haasnoot — Google review
Great place to bring the kids for a bit of education in aquatic life. It's not very big but you could easily spend an hour or so here. Highly recommend getting some fish feed - the trouts seem to love them.
The aquarium section is small but filled with native fish which is nice to see.
Definitely pay it a visit if you're around the area.
Qi Hong Wong — Google review
The staff were friendly and beautiful grounds. I really liked the museum that talked about the history of trout in New Zealand and also water conservation. The kids fishing seems like a lot of money, $60 (including admission), then you have to pay for the adult admission price. But I would still do it again. Granted I thought the guide would show our daughter how to fly fish and then let her do it, but the guide holds on to the rod most of the time, our daughter is independent and would have like to do all of it on her own - but she has never been fly fishing. I loved that they filet the fish and then give you the option of smoking it in Manuka honey. It is awesome and you can eat it there straight after fishing. They give you a certificate with the weight and length of fish. It was a classic memory.
Heather C — Google review
The Tongaroro National Trout Centre has wild rainbow trout in a creek near the center. It is very educational for children and fishermen. The trout were introduced from California. The trout have become self sustaining. This hatchery doesn't release trout to the wild, but puts the hatched trout into a pond for children to enjoy catching fish.
Walter Hughes — Google review
Great place to visit lovely surrounds good information on New Zealand trout and the area as a whole. Kids are free and adults are $15. A must see if your into fishing or just want to know more about the Central North island.
A must-see attraction when exploring New Zealand's North Island is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a renowned day hike that showcases breathtaking scenery amongst three active volcanoes: Ngauruhoe (also known as Mount Doom), Tongariro, and Ruapehu. For those seeking more adventure, Taupo offers a stunning 17 km trek to the crossing. While not personally experienced, fellow travelers have praised this hike for its beauty and allure.
Adrift is a highly professional and experienced tour operator who organizes amazing mountain adventures with like-minded individuals. The company specializes in tight-knit group climbing trips and offers an unforgettable experience for all visitors. Sliding down the mountain after completing the challenging hike is also guaranteed to be a lot of fun!
Internet friends!
I'd love to share with you that we had an excellent climb Mt Ruapehu as a tight-knit group of friends with Stew Barclay, one of the instructors. It was just a super relaxed and feel-good time. Gorgeous views the whole way.
We'd like to thank the team at Adrift for their professionalism, good quality chats and story-telling as we all ascended and descended the mountain in the snow. Sliding down was pretty awesome too. I'm definitely coming up here with my brother and sister.
Enjoy our photos!
Andrew Strugnell (strugs) — Google review
Amazing winter hike up to Tongariro Crossing yesterday. Adrift is Highly commended.
We enjoyed the whole process. The customer service over the phone are friendly, helpful and informative. The guides Zee and Caroline are experienced, fun and are also our dedicated photographers! They explained what to expect next at each stop along the whole walk. The morning check-in was efficient and we started the walk punctually as planned even with a big group of 20.
We enjoyed very much this great walk with the stunning views.
Thanks Adrift and mother nature, and the weather god for such a calm and sunny winter day!
Sharon Ren — Google review
Martin was our guide and he was more than fantastic and very supportive when I start freaking out about the wind on the way to the summit. Once we made it the westher cleared up and turned out to be a beautiful experience with abit if adventure.
I will remember this journey for a life time.
Will recommend this company to everyone. Staff and your guide was friendly supportive and will do they best to give you an adventure
Samantha Bentley — Google review
I had such an awesome experience with Adrift and our guide Hiro last week doing the crossing - great weather and Hiro was super knowledgable about the area and the track. Will totally do again - keen on tackling the winter crossing next - thanks so much for a great day hiking!
Hady Freer — Google review
My sister and I had an incredible time hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Adrift. Our tour guide Stu was knowledgeable and competent. He made sure we had all the gear we need and that we were comfortable every step of the way. Adrift also made sure to communicate with us in advance regarding any weather changes and they were willing to pivot plans last minute for us when the weather changed. We loved our experience!
mina marsow — Google review
Absolutely amazing experience with Dave as our guide! We hiked the Tongariro Crossing and had a fantastic time. The lunch provided was awesome and had plenty of snacks. Dave was so nice, funny, and told us many stories related to Maori mythology. We learned so much about the land, the culture, and the region we hiked through. We highly recommend Adrift Tongariro!
Lisa Brown — Google review
My friend and I just completed the guided Tongariro Crossing during this winter season. I must say it was a spectacular experience with Adrift Tongariro! We had a small group of 3 hikers and were very lucky to be guided with Hiro AKA our 'hero.' His professionalism and passion as our guide was incredible (5000/100); he was knowledgeable, patient and friendly.
The crossing was definitely not easy to hike, especially being winter, but we felt supported and Hiro did a great job with adjusting the hike to our fitness ability and paced it out. At one point my friend and I were struggling, Hiro went above and beyond the call of duty, so we could climb up the steep hill.
We were also very lucky to have stunning weather and see breathtaking views. We'd definitely come back again with Adrift, a safe and memorable experience - will request for the awesome guide Hiro again! Thank you!
Teresa — Google review
Completed the Tongariro Crossing with Wayne yesterday. He was a great guide. Chilled but also gave us great insight on the different elements of the route and the history. The walk was amazing and we were so lucky with the weather enabling some amazing views!
Gregg Carnaffan — Google review
Did the Alpine Crossing yesterday with the family, and it was a truly unique experience. Stew and Phil were great guides, funny and engaging, and helping to encourage us through the tough parts.
Despite the gnarly weather that meant we couldn't quite make it over the top, we felt safe the whole way.
Adrift provided great gear for the snowy conditions, highly recommend them if you're thinking of doing this amazing hike.
Paul Foss — Google review
Our guide-Julie offered us a great experience, the best as she could, as we took a private tour for 2 persons and unfortunately had a very bad weather… not being able to finish the track, the weather conditions were really bad altough in the morning the sky appeared to be opening, the day was really bad, not only cloudy, but very windy and rainy.
Julie did the best and we safely made half of the hike, we did't saw the great sights considering the clouds and had to return half way. Julie is really a professional guide and Adrift a top professional company, we definitely recommand them for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
P.S.
You don’t have to bother about your lunch, they provide us a lunch with snaks and everything😁
Roxana Mosniagu — Google review
Had an amazing time on the hike. Friendly group of people and our guide was just amazing. Lovely company with great employees made me feel so comfortable and safe from start to finish. One of the best experiences of my life for sure :) Highly recommend for anyone who loves nature and is up for a bit of a challenge.
Kosta Kakagiannis — Google review
Today, I did the Tongariro Crossing with Adrift Tongariro. What a trip of a lifetime, the weather was perfect, lots of hukarere. The group I was with was absolutely awesome, a ka pai mixture of people and ability.
Stew & Robby were amazing hosts, ably assisted by Oliva & Elizah, who all did an amazing job, ensuring everyone was safe, explaining all the equipment and how to use them, explaining at different stages the walk and how to navigate you way, and making sure we all got the most of the total experience. The gear provided was perfect and in ka pai condition.
I ordered lunch and it was perfect, everything was thoughtfully there for a purpose and that wrap was 1st Class, Ngā mihi Robby.
I Highly Recommend Adrift Tongariro to people. They are an awesome bunch of people. Still buzzing about the day, it was the best. Many, many thanks.
Pete Armstrong — Google review
Initially booked for the 3 day northern circuit but we weren't able to proceed due to weather forecast. Thankful for Stew and his team for being so adaptive, their experience and knowledge really showed. We were able to complete 3 full day hikes instead, covering almost the same grounds as we would have in the northern circuit and more (50km/3day instead of the planned 35km). The guides, Stew and Phil, are such warm and genuine people. We had such an amazing time on the mountains and hope to come back again one day. Would 100% recommend Adrift if you're looking for a peace of mind while on these mountains with unpredictable weather!
Elisa Lai — Google review
This is a really nice experience, even if you’re capable of doing the hike yourself. We had good conditions but apparently they can turn bad pretty quickly so it was nice to go with someone who knows their stuff. Dedicated drop off and pick up was really nice too.
Brendan Brady — Google review
We had an absolutely incredible time on our hike with Adrift! We did the winter Tongariro crossing, which was a little daunting for us as we had never done a hike in these conditions before. Our guide Stu was great! He led us over Tongariro, provided lots of guidance on using the crampons and ice axes and was very friendly. I'd highly recommend the experience, we had a brilliant time :)
Chris Lamb — Google review
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4.5
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53 Carroll Street, National Park 3948, New Zealand
Mount Ruapehu is a 3 peak volcano located in the North Island of New Zealand, and features two ski fields. It is one of New Zealand's highest peaks outside of the South Island's Southern Alps, making it a challenging adventure for even the most experienced hikers.
Stunning views on a sunny or even partly cloudy (in our case) day from the area where Sky Waka takes you to! Even if you don't ski, it's well worth visiting and spending some time on top. Amazing expert trails visible from there! Just was wondering how crazy and experienced those skiers should be...:-)
Alexey Volkov — Google review
Visited long back- when was not even active in Google reviews. Found pics on a old harddrive- so here it is.
had the opportunity to hike to the summit of Mount Ruapehu. The hike was challenging, but the views from the top were absolutely worth it. I could see for miles in all directions, and the scenery was simply breathtaking.
also had the chance to go skiing at Mount Ruapehu. The ski fields are top-notch, and there is something for everyone, from beginners to experts. The views from the ski slopes are just as amazing as the views from the summit.
Here are some additional tips for visiting Mount Ruapehu:
Be sure to check the weather conditions before you go.
Dress warmly.
Bring plenty of food and water.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Respect the natural environment.
Life In — Google review
Excellent place in North Island to see snow. I like the cable car which gives aerial view of the whole ski. I visited there twice once in winter (July) and then same year in October both has it's own flavors but knowing that I was with infant, I enjoyed in October most.
Abdul Raees — Google review
Really good skiing place and very friendly staff and good cafe
Maxi Taxi — Google review
Had a perfect day up the ski field. Simply stunning!
Ann Wong — Google review
Lovely snowing weather. Excellent customer service. Plenty equipment to hire at reasonable price.
aashni prasad — Google review
Enjoyed the drive up the mountain although the peak was socked in.
Trypp Adams — Google review
The drive to Mt Ruapehu was absolutely stunning with beautiful scenery to admire I was in ore of how gorgeous my drive up to Mt Ruapehu was. Such an amazing tourist attraction sight that brings in tourists from all over the globe it's still better to go during winter season as the mountains are fully covered in snow right to the ends of the road. However, I was not prepared (that being my first time) driving there. But as you can probably imagine through my piks it was a beautiful day but still very cold and windy once we arrived at the top, although it was finally the end of winter and now in the 1st or 2nd week of spring the snowy mountain had already started melting away. I fully understood why my friends in Australia had visited here every year just to go skiing and snowboarding!! Cause it was absolutely beautiful and breath taking. I loved the drive and the views that much I'm looking forward to going back with my family next year. By then I'll be well prepared.
Gorgeous Martian — Google review
Didnt get up close unfortunately due to weather but was magnificent from the distance.
Jordan Ollington — Google review
One of the best views in SH1, especially in winter, full of snow covered the whole mountain, of course there are some skiing place in the mountain.
Jackie Shang — Google review
Worth the trip up to Whakapapa ski field for the views alone, some great walks along the way. Halfway between the village and ski field there is a large vehicle pull over area you ca get some great pics.
Jason Adams (Jase) — Google review
Even out of season it is worth going up the mountain for the views. I was in luck in that there had been an early snow storm the previous week, so even though it is May, and everything is shut up the mountain (Sky-Waka Gondola was shut on 26th April, to re-open Kings Birthday - maintenance etc - would have loved to of gone up), there was fresh snow up at the base, so my daughter who had not been to snow for 13 years could enjoy the experience.
In season parking can be hard to find (have been up other times), and if conditions are bad it is 4x4 or with chains - or of course it can even be closed. Road conditions are posted on-line on the websites, and on Met Service - weather, when clicking on mountains, and Whakapapa Ski Field - it shows mountain conditions, road conditions etc. Useful to check, as the road had been closed just days before I went up.
In season there is skiing of course, food and other services. Enjoy.
Darryl Scowen — Google review
Drove past it on the way south, beautiful sight. Bit of trivia: also used in the Hobbit as the Lonely Mountain.
Vincent Beurskens — Google review
Wonderful but very difficult ascent all the way through loose rocks, scree and ice. Don't forget your gas mask to survive sulphurous acidic gases evaporating from the surface of crater lake.
CoronaViking. com — Google review
Although we were unable to witness its majestic beauty due to thick fog and heavy rain, we appreciated the unique atmosphere and the sense of adventure that the mountain offered. We look forward to returning in the future when the weather is clearer, allowing us to fully admire the stunning vistas and engage in exciting winter activities.
Turoa Ski Resort is located on the North Island's highest mountain, Mount Ruapehu, offering ski slopes suitable for all abilities. The Turoa Yurt Village provides a unique experience inspired by traditional nomadic shelters from central Asia, creating an impressive ski chalet village in Ohakune. It offers stunning sight-seeing opportunities of Mt Taranaki and Tongariro National Park compared to Whakapapa Skifield.
This side of Mt Ruapehu or Tongariro National Park offers a much better sight-seeing experience than Whakapapa Skifield. As you can see from the photos that in a fine day Mt Taranaki can be seen. The drive uphill or downhill will require snow chains, as it’s more steep & narrow when compared to the Whakapapa
Ernest Wong — Google review
I enjoy Turoa, wider ski trails, less queues ' both travelling up to ski area from Ohakune and while waiting for lifts '. Also having only chair lifts instead of t-bars is a plus for novice/beginner ski/boarders and allows more of a rest between runs for those ' less fit ' folk. Also main car park virtually level and close to ski area, ( no trudging uphill in ski boots and gear. ) Turoa also tends to stay firm packed for longer in spring, ( not as slushy ) due to position of ski field in relation to when the sun begins to thaw etc.
Mike Brechelt — Google review
So disorganized. How is it possible on a bluebird day to have only one of many lifts open. Huge queues made worse by not managing the queue into groups of 3 for a 3 seater chair. Half the chairs have only two people on them. Three lift operators standing round chatting instead of queue managing. This one chair only opened at 10:30 am (2 hours cut out of the ski day we pay for and get up at the crack of dawn for), lift opening delay was due to de-icing. Every other mountain has this done by 8am on most lifts! Where is management? RAL = Runs after Lunch.
David Rouse — Google review
Visited on 5th Feb 2023, loved the barren views. Volcanic rocks around with small streams of water coming down from above.
This one is quite contrast to its winter looks. Not the best but surely worth a visit
Varun Sharma — Google review
We were lucky to have two days of perfect blue sky weather. Sat was manic with visitors and some of the runs were a demolition derby but Sun was quiet. The condition of the slopes was great due to the good snow base and it was just beautiful. Convenient cafes at each level helped, the only downside is that non-skiers in the family couldn't get higher up the mountain. Much better than Whakapapa, especially with Ohakune nearby.
Jean-Paul Lassale — Google review
In my back yard...needed alot more snow....was surprised how much snow was there....not enough...was people 🎿 further up the mountain....good snow dump would make it more fun.....it will come
Jon Nightingale — Google review
What a ski field! Blessed with best snow is a while during a tumultuous time re the mountain's economic future. Staff up there (reduced numbers) have done an amazing job. Great work
Nik Krause — Google review
Title: Amazing Skiing Experience at Turoa Ski Fields
Review:
My recent visit to Turoa Ski Fields in New Zealand was nothing short of incredible. As a skiing enthusiast, I have explored many ski resorts around the world, and Turoa definitely stands out as one of the top destinations for skiing.
First and foremost, the skiing conditions at Turoa are exceptional. The snow quality was superb, with fresh powder and great coverage on the slopes. The ski fields offer a wide variety of terrain, suitable for all skill levels. From gentle beginner slopes to challenging black runs, there is something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed the long, exhilarating runs that provided an incredible sense of freedom and adrenaline.
The resort facilities at Turoa Ski Fields are top-notch. The lifts were efficient and well-maintained, ensuring minimal waiting time and maximum enjoyment on the slopes. The park crew did an amazing job shaping the terrain park, providing an incredible playground for freestyle enthusiasts. The rental shop had a great selection of equipment, and the staff was friendly and helpful.
The breathtaking scenery surrounding Turoa Ski Fields is another highlight. The panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and the rugged terrain are simply awe-inspiring. The ski fields are located on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano, adding a unique touch to the overall experience.
The staff and instructors at Turoa Ski Fields deserve special mention for their professionalism and friendliness. Whether it was getting assistance at the rental shop, taking a lesson, or simply asking for directions, everyone was always ready to help with a smile. Their passion for skiing and dedication to ensuring a great experience for visitors is truly commendable.
In addition to the superb skiing, Turoa Ski Fields offer a range of other activities and amenities. The on-mountain café and restaurant served delicious food and provided a cozy place to relax after a day on the slopes. The mountain village has a variety of accommodation options, making it convenient for longer stays.
Overall, I highly recommend Turoa Ski Fields to anyone seeking an amazing skiing getaway. The combination of exceptional skiing conditions, outstanding facilities, breathtaking scenery, and friendly staff make it a ski destination not to be missed. I cannot wait to return and create more unforgettable memories on the slopes of Turoa.
Gary Mitchell — Google review
September might be too late for visit! There are many chair lifts, that’s nice, but at this time of the year most of the mountain has melted down and there are only one main track (Snowbird advanced riders) open, in better days some intermediate tracks are open too. Must be really good when all the tracks are open but unfortunately we didn’t get that this year. There are also less parking spaces than in Whakapapa’s ski field.
Kristiāna Korsaka - Mille — Google review
Wonderful experience, can’t express in words. However I have suggestion from my experience. Reach before 9:30 to access the parking otherwise will end up with the opportunity when people are returning and you are going up.
Or book shuttle which will expensive enough.
Wonderful slides and loads of fun around - highly recommended
Oz Y — Google review
It is a Nice place, food and good ☕😋..
It was a shame the weather when I visited it, but anyway I enjoyed a lot my experience on the snow 🌨️❄️..
Recommended to visit 😌😎 and without any doubt I will come back.
Miguel TimPalace — Google review
There’s plenty of parking any time of the day. The snow area is huge and kids will enjoy the snow without paying any cent. It is a bit far but worth it :)
Han Gi — Google review
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Ohakune Mountain Road, Mt Ruapehu 4691, New Zealand
Historic concrete footbridge in a picturesque national park with lush foliage.
Spectacular views along the 33 km trail to get to the bridge. First 6 odd k is uphill. After that flat or downhill. Some incredible views of valleys, and mountains along the way. And you get a 30 minute jet boat ride at the finish. Recommended
Grant Phillips — Google review
We had a fantastic time at both the lodge and doing the 2 day walk and canoe package. It was great having a shorter canoe trip option down the river and being able to stay at the lodge which was comfortable and tidy. Everyone was very helpful and the option to bring your own food was great. Highly recommended
Ruby Marshall — Google review
What an amazing view this place has, we camped but the operator let us use a cabin as it was available. Amazing location for a chill out and great for a base to see the bridge to nowhere.
J P — Google review
Great trip. Fun jet boat ride through beautiful scenery with a easy walk at the end to the bridge. Tea, coffee & biscuits provided by host and you are welcome to take a picnic. All in all a great day out for all ages!
Azeen Design — Google review
Fantastic time on the jet boat and canoeing. Joe was very knowledgable on the history of both the Bridge to Nowhere and the river itself. We really enjoyed the canoe ride. We were able to be independent and go at our own pace. Their dog, Buck, was also one of my personal favorite parts.
Jon Bessette — Google review
Historic landmark that is is located in the middle of... nowhere! :D The walk from the river is a short 40min one way not too steep with several toilets on the way. The history behind it is pretty captivating. Worth also the stop to feed eels down the river under the bridge. There are two ways to see the bridge: the main one where you walk on it and the second is a lookout view (drone/aerial viewpoint)!
Gilliane Jean Marie — Google review
Great lodge after a day paddling.
We we're fortunate to have the place to ourselves (group of 18) so could spread out across a lot of rooms.
Staff assisted with driving stuff up from the river, provided a bar thru the evening and a massive spread for dinner and continental breakfast in the morning.
The lodge features great views, a range of bedroom options, fully catered, pigs chooks ducks dogs and a cat (Blackie) to enjoy watching.
The place was clean, comfortable, hot showers and flushing toilets, great views, an epic hearty meal and friendly staff. I'd recommend staying a day and chilling there if you can, we didn't have enough time to fully appreciate it.
Hayden Chisnall — Google review
This is an engineering marvel, look into the history of it and the surrounding area before you go and you'll be gobsmacked at just how good a job they did.
In immaculate condition, if you ever get the chance, go and have a look it's a wonderful spot.
Matt McNelis — Google review
Really beautiful place for a drink after a hard day canoeing on the river. Staff and the pets are lovely and very welcoming.
Mitchell Cleland — Google review
Great place feels super luxurious after battling the river. Board games by the fire. Staff were super friendly and accommodating.
Jess Ridge — Google review
We arrived late via canoe with a large group. We stayed in beautiful cabins with the most comfortable mattresses ever! The self catering kitchen at the camp site had everything we needed and the showers were awesome. A really beautiful location, waking to birdsong and view over the river is something I won't forget in a hurry. Thank you so much for having us.
Anna Follett — Google review
Our family 2 adults and 2 boys 11 and 13, stayed at the lodge after 2 days paddling Wanganui River Journey . It was an absolute highlight of our trip, friendly hosts, stunning view, comfortable beds in spacious rooms and awesome showers. Dinner was delicious, it was like coming home to stay. Kids loved playing with the ducklings, piglet and board games and we loved the cold wine and beer!
We enjoyed chatting to other guests who had come up on the jet boat to walk the bridge stay and canoe back the next day, they were in thier 70s so it caters for all. There was loads of room so we also could have chosen to keep to ourselves too.
Would absolutely recommend staying here, a real gem.
Rachael Epsom — Google review
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13001 Whanganui River, Whanganui National Park, Parinui 4392, New Zealand
Great Museum and well worth the visit - will be going back again as there was so much to see and take in. Really liked the way it was laid out, lots going on in each of the exhibits. Could explore the history of the Army and how it was formed, some great exhibits too.
Cafe and Gift shop are worth it, good prices and plenty to choose from. Food and drink nice too.
Jonathan Bones — Google review
Haven't been inside recently but a couple of time when I was young, it's a must if not been before. Great place for a break on your road trip. The tanks are fun for the kids to play on outside they there are picnic tables for lunch or a tasty hot beverage.
Vaun Harper — Google review
What a great place. It's hard to imagine how much inventory they have regarding military items. The history that is shared in their displays is wonderful. Would highly recommend a visit.
Ronald Deraas — Google review
Absolutely amazing and well laid out👏 Explains all wars in detail and picture's. Entry price really good and well worth it...a must must see and a great place to take the kids and learn the history 👍
Gigi — Google review
It is really worth to stop here on your way heading south. Admin fee charged if you go inside the display area. The outside tanks and the sculptures are free to visit and take photos. There is plenty of parking in front or at the back. Toilets inside the building are well maintained.
Lily Liu — Google review
Very educational, displays put together very well, great array of products in the gift shop. Disappointed that there was no mention of the 21st Battalion, as my father served with it, but guess that is because of the display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
susan Hopkinson — Google review
This was a great place to visit. It had a bit of something for all the family. The kids enjoyed the activities that were available and particularly enjoyed dressing up in the Kids HQ. We even saw some adult having a got too. It bought to life all that our Soliders and service animals past and present do. This place has a strong Mana about it. We highly recommend stopping at The Mess cafe on your way out with good food and friendly staff.
Rosie White — Google review
Must a visit, very educational. The museum is very well organised, super clean, and big. We went there as it is my son's birthday wish to see the National Army Museum. He really enjoyed his time there. ♥️
E A Jose — Google review
Small museum but worth an hour. NZ has a proud military history that's well represented here. Nice cafe and gift shop. Very well maintained, some of the exhibits have been here since I was a kid 45 years ago, and they are still in good condition.
R Daysh — Google review
Long way to travel for is, and we expected about an hour or so in the museum. We actually spent 4 hours in the museum and paid the extra $4 / person for a guide who took us round. Whilst there isn't loads of big kit, there's some Bofors, three or 4 tanks, and my favourites, a universal carrier and 6lb anti-tank gun, and a 25lb artillery and quad from WWII. A relatively small bit well thought out and presented museum with a decent cafe too.
Jason Keen — Google review
A definite must visit museum this part of New Zealand.
Give yourself at least 2 hours to enjoy the exhibition and to take in what these brave, ordinary men who did extraordinary things did for you and me.
Very well thought of and executed display with the timeline as it should be.
Definitely worth a return visit.
Chris Kreuz — Google review
Worth visit with kids. So much to learn about past. Reasonable pricing and have a cafe and souvenir store in side the building.
Madawa Atthudawe — Google review
Well spent money. Really nicely made museum with interesting facts. The kids playing area was a bonus and we had so much fun there.
Family pass cost $35 which we feel was pretty cheap compared to other museums.
You can't sit or jump in any placed vehicles but it was cool to watch. We will definitely come again.
Barbora Hammer (Barb) — Google review
Beautifully commemorated NZ army involvement in WWI, WWII, Vietnam and Iraq. Lots of exhibits to see. Good place to show the young generation.
Michael Antonios — Google review
4.6
(3114)
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4.5
(235)
State Highway One &, Hassett Drive, Waiouru 4861, New Zealand
Whanganui River Adventures & Pipiriki Campinground
Tour operator
Tours
Bike wash
Cafe
Canoeing area
Tea store
Had an amazing day with this great company! Really professional and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our guide Thomas was really knowledgeable and made the whole experience extra special. Would highly recommend the full day out with the jet boat to the bridge to nowhere and canoe trip part of the way back. A day to remember!
L Solomon — Google review
Our family did the One Dayer trip. Thomas was a great tour guide, entertaining and informative. The jet boat trip, the hike, and the canoe portion were just perfect for our kids ages 7-12 (I am grateful that they gave each parent a kayak paddle, since our kids weren't the most helpful with their canoe paddling). The kids loved feeding the leftover biscuits to the eels. I'd highly recommend this trip to anyone - adults on their own or ones traveling with kids.
TC and Christi Cardillo — Google review
Ken's local knowledge is the secret ingredient to his jetboat guided tours on the awa, with plenty of history and stories thrown in . We really enjoyed our walk up to the Bridge to Nowhere. What a super special place to visit.
Would love to return and use the little campground at Pipiriki as a base for further exploration.
Seeing the awa valley from Ken's jet boat was a truly magical part of our Forgotten World Adventures 'Rhine of the Pacific' Tour.
Bette Cosgrove — Google review
We did the overnighter-tour! Such a great adventure. Thomas was an amazing guide telling us about the history of the Wanganui river. Jet-boating was fun and paddling with the canoe back was so peaceful. Great company, easy communication and reliable service! Highly recommend!
Laura Locher — Google review
Ken was a great guide! He has lived in the area his whole life so we got a great insight into the river and surrounding areas. Such great value for money as we got a long ride in the jet boat as well as a nice walk and explanation of the bridge to no where. Everyone is lovely and it is great to support a Maori business. Would recommend! Thanks very much
Jameel Hussein — Google review
Awesome campground and great friendly staff. Had a great 2 night stay... wish it was longer. Relaxing and peaceful place to stay. I will be coming back! You have to do the Bridge to Nowhere with them too... bloody fantastic day!
Jo Rees — Google review
A wonderful place to relax and stay prior the jet boat trip to the Bridge to Nowhere and paddle back. Interesting and informative guide Thomas, welcoming family atmosphere at the old school. Perfect.
Wendy Butcher — Google review
Great operators offering fantastic experience to their customers. They are passionate with lifetime history on the river. Bridge To Nowhere tour the most memorable day
Carol Digby — Google review
This was the best day ever🩵! Have an opportunity to take a trip with all our other Islanders and get the chance to experienced Whanganui River Advanture. To be honest it was a blast day. Climbbing to the bridge of Nowhere.... fantastic moment. We were waiting for our bus more like hours but worth of waiting tho... thank you for the best moment in my life tho......Continue doing great work..💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Loleini SaTiNi — Google review
We had a wonderful experience with Whanganui River Adventures on our overnight trip. Well, it was supposed to be an overnight trip, but the 2nd day was forecast to be a washout, so Ken made sure we were able to get as much of the 2-day experience as possible in a single day. We were very grateful for the consideration and professionalism. What a beautiful and special place! We also very much appreciated the assistance and thoughtfulness when a member of our party had a car accident while leaving the facility. The entire staff could not have been kinder while we awaited a replacement rental car. I highly recommend WRA! You won’t be disappointed!
gwen dawson — Google review
After canoeing I stayed in this perfect oasis of calm and friendliness. One of the best campgrounds I had so far - clean amenities and with kitchen and communal area, fantastic surroundings and super friendly hosts
Conny Martin — Google review
This is a fantastic trip, and we'll worth the money - in fact I think it's a bargain! Five of us did this on Boxing Day and despite the weather being iffy, the tour went ahead and we had the best time. Light showers on the boat ride up, and a spell of heavy showers at the start of walk and ride back down river, however the sun was out full blast at the bridge for some yarns and lunch. Ken our guide was brilliant, we did some spins on the way back down. Tea, coffee, & biscuits were provided at the bridge as well. What we as a group loved is how the owners of the company have a personal special connection to the river & land we were on. Ken grew up in a house way up river and was able to point that out and talk a little about how it was growing up there - very different to most of us. If you want a unique & authentic adventure, this is the place to look!
Mitchell Sherman — Google review
A great experience on the Whanganui River up to The Bridge to No Where. Our jet boat pilot and guide,Thomas, made the day trip memorable for all the right reasons.
Weaving both personal, family as well as tribal histories with the new comers who made a life on the Whanganui River both before the arrival of the settlers and on into modern history of New Zealand.
The added bonus was the provision of tea and coffee along with biscuits after a 40 minute walk through regeneration native bush along with bird life,wild pig and goats were seen.
A real grand day out thanks Thomas.
David McClelland — Google review
4.9
(216)
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5.0
(148)
2522 Pipiriki Raetihi Road R.D.6 Pipiriki, Whanganui River Road, Wanganui 4576, New Zealand
Very fond memories from my childhood of this park... and I was not disappointed some 50 years later. Still plenty of ducks and a couple of large swans. A fun encounter as they came out of the lake wanting food.
The Winter Garden was beautiful... and loved the Christmas theming.
Cathryn Seaver — Google review
Lovely, very well maintained small size lake. Popular with walkers and joggers. Nice vegetation with lots of paths, all around.
You could say, it's romantic too.
Peter Kurdulija — Google review
Beautiful area with walkway around entire lake. Has picnic areas and is a great place to stop relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Linda Cutche — Google review
What a magical place for walks picnic with family etc etc. Beautiful walk around the lake well maintained clean tidy. Just love going for walks around here. Lovely winter garden and bird sanctuary. Must visit when you are in whanganui.
Ayesha Singh — Google review
Good selection of different tracks. A full lap is just under 2km. Family friendly
alice02 — Google review
Virginia Lake is an excellent place to wind down, whether that be a walk around the lake, or a stop at the nearby coffee shop further up the bank. There are numerous wildlife living in and by the lake, many of which will come up to you. The greenery is well-kept, and it is a pleasure to see as you walk around the outskirts of the lake.
Bridget Maw — Google review
A really delightful place for either a short or longer walk around the lake. Beautifully peaceful
Geoff Zuy — Google review
Great place for a stroll and feeding the birds.
Samitha Abeysinghe — Google review
Well kept walking paths, good seating in park-like grounds. We didn't go to the winter gardens, but comments from others were positive. The lake is gorgeous
A hitherto unknown gem in Whanganui, this is the only public elevator built inside a hill in the world. 24 or so stories down to the bottom. Then there's the 200m+ long tunnel that leads to the rivers edge. Opened for the first time in 1919, both the elevator and tunnel are beautifully preserved and maintained.
It's well worth a look!
Gary Pearce — Google review
Nice little experience. At the top you can climb up the tower and get some great views of Whanganui. Kids enjoyed venturing through the tunnel and pressing the bell.
Amy Handley — Google review
Sadly out of action for repairs when we visited but the view from the top of the building is spectacular . The spiral staircase is a little unnerving but well worth the trip to the top.
Robert Side — Google review
Loved the experience. It lovely to think we still have history like this. What amazing engineering. Will definitely recommend to friends and family
Nick Dixon — Google review
Wonderful experience. It is 2 dollars each way for adults, you can pay by cash or EFTPOS. 4 people at a time, or 5 for slims 😂
There are many parking on top of the hill or plenty on-road parking next to the War Memorial Tower. Or you can park at the bottom of the hill, climb the very steep stairs to the top and take the elevator down. The parking at the bottom has 60mins and 120mins time limits. The tunnel at the bottom is really good, the Neon lights changing colours.
Highly recommend it.
Lily Liu — Google review
What a fantastic place to take in a beautiful view over Whanganui.
Sean Cuttriss — Google review
Clean, small tower for anyone who doesn't want to climb the big one haha.
Great view of the city :)
Stick — Google review
Loved this place! Only 2 such lights in the whole wide world. One in Portugal and another one is this one!
Walk through the tunnel, it is painted white, well lit and best of all echoes loudly. Me and my child enjoyed making different sounds while walking through the tunnel.
The lift is at the end of the tunnel. Ring the bell, a friendly lift man will bring the lift to bottom of the hill.
During Jan 2023, they were running half price on the fares. It was just a dollar for an adult and 50c for kids. How amazing!
I suppose many school kids still use this lift especially to carry their bicycles.
Beautiful views at the top of the hill. Anzac tower 🗼 which 300 m tall. We were almost 1000m above sea level at the top of the tower. Stunning views and beautiful experience!
Kudos the team who are running this. This is a must visit!
D B — Google review
What a wonderful piece of history and a great feat of engineering. Emma was the guide for the elevator and she was knowledgable and friendly. Great views from the top. If you have the energy to ascend 175 steep steps then you will get to the top of the tower and I imagine the views will be spectacular. They were pretty good from the smaller platform above the elevator.
Durie Hill is a lovely suburb.
Recommended
Sigrid Jenkins — Google review
A short fun ride albeit a bit rattley.... Plus a good long walk through the tunnel. A good place to take visitors!
Rob Forrest — Google review
Must do when you are in Wanganui. The tunnel ->elevator-> tower is such a fun outing to do with kids (or any age). Great view from the top looking over Wanganui and on good days can even spot Mt Taranaki..
Andrew Mackay — Google review
Worth the visit and worth the consideration.
Bit windy when I was here but it is an easy drive with some good sights to be seen overlooking the city.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me
Gerard McCall — Google review
Awesome unique experience. Great value.
Leon Salter — Google review
Very nicely maintained historical information. Fun to climb up and get view for sightseeing.
aashni prasad — Google review
An informative elevator operator gave us a ride up the tower. We then climbed the spiral staircase to be greeted with a great view over the city - although very windy.
Sarah Bell — Google review
4.6
(573)
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4.5
(404)
42 Anzac Parade, 3 Blyth Street, Whanganui 4501, New Zealand