Orakei Korako - still the best

Highly recommended. Being a little bit more difficult to get to, but by no means off the beaten track, Orakei Korako offers a special experience. Starting with a quick ride across the Waikato river the park provides a great walk without the crowds you sometimes find elsewhere. The paths are well-maintained and the setting is beautiful being on a slightly undulating bush-clad hill-side which ensure that you get a variety of views of each of the geo-thermal features. With mud pools and mini-geysers sending hot water cascading over colourful slopes it has enough to keep most people happily wandering for at least an hour. We spent three hours and could have stayed longer! Take some water with you as the cafe and souvenir shop are back on the other side of the river. I first visited the park many years ago when you could go down into the cave, a real highlight at the time. Unfortunately the small risk of rockfalls has put this out of bounds but you can still look down into the cave and imagine the magical view from the bottom!