Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Tour | Tino Pai Tours | Shaara Deals
A 7 hour return coach tour from Tauranga to New Zealand's most colourful geothermal attraction, Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, with Tino Pai Tours on Shaara Deals from $265.
Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland has been called one of the 20 Most Surreal Places in the World, and Tino Pai Tours run a full-day coach trip out to it from Tauranga, timed to have you back at your ship at the Port of Tauranga well before sailing.
The name Wai-o-Tapu is Māori for "sacred waters", and the area was originally the homeland of the Ngāti Whaoa tribe, who descend from those on the Arawa waka. The journey out takes approximately 1.5 hours each way, with snacks and soft drinks included for the ride, so the whole thing runs to about 7 hours door to door.
The drive out
Leaving Tauranga, the route passes through farming land, avocado and kiwifruit orchards and pine forests before reaching Lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua, two of the sixteen lakes in the wider region. It's as much a scenic drive through the Bay of Plenty countryside as it is a transfer to the main event.
What's inside Wai-o-Tapu
Wai-o-Tapu's geothermal features have been shaped over thousands of years, and the park is built around some genuinely unique sights: the world-famous Champagne Pool with its naturally coloured waters, bubbling mud pools, steaming ground, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations, all set within natural bush. The Lady Knox Geyser is a daily highlight, erupting at 10:15am to heights of up to 20 metres.
Once you've explored, the Visitor Centre has a cafe for food and drinks along with a range of New Zealand souvenirs, and the leisurely drive back gives you time to look back through the day's photos before returning to Tauranga.
Prefer a different geothermal experience?
If you're not departing from a cruise ship in Tauranga, Shaara Deals also has entry to Orakei Korako, New Zealand's largest geyser field, and a private guided walk-and-kayak tour of Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
The essentials
- Deal: Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland return coach tour, Tino Pai Tours
- Price: From $265
- Duration: Approximately 7 hours, including the drive to and from Tauranga
- Includes: Snacks and soft drinks on the coach
- Merchant: Tino Pai Tours
FAQs
Is this designed for cruise passengers?
Yes, the tour departs from and returns to the Port of Tauranga, timed to have you back well before your ship's sailing time.
What's the highlight of Wai-o-Tapu?
The Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts daily at 10:15am to heights of up to 20 metres, alongside the Champagne Pool and its bubbling mud pools.
Are snacks provided on the drive?
Yes, snacks and soft drinks are included for the approximately 1.5-hour journey each way.
Is there a surcharge on public holidays?
Yes, the 25th and 26th of December, 1st and 2nd of January, and 6th of February incur a 15% public holiday surcharge.
Book the Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Tour on Shaara Deals at https://shaaradeals.co.nz/deal/6a949a823cd1af8d83f8124c and see one of the most surreal geothermal landscapes in the world without leaving the coach seat until you're there.
