An excellent experience well worth visiting!

This is somewhere my wife has wanted to see for a long time... and the unique situation in 2021 meant we were able to visit (as of writing NZ borders are still closed due to Covid).

The park is a wee drive to get to, through some very classic NZ rural scenery (grass, enormous trees etc), but is worth driving to for the experience. It’s a really great park.

The facilities are well setup with ample parking, toilets and the visitor centre. There is no mobile coverage but excellent free wifi at the venue, and the crew provide free sunblock (spf50) if you need it, and top up of your water bottle - and you will need water.

There is a short ride across the Waikato river from the venue to the park, and from there it’s a 2.5km walk around a well built timber path. Most parts don’t have guard rails, but if anyone in your group is that rampant perhaps don’t bring them along. The path gets you up close to a number of thermal vents with boiling water, steam and smells.

This is why you go - to get as close to raw nature as possible - and you will see it up close.

On our visit it was late January so the water levels are lower than typical, and even then it was spectacular. I imagine in winter and spring it’s quite something.

The location is quoted as being 4-5 degrees warmer, and we agree - take water, bring a hat, wear sunblock. It’s worth it and very easy to do.

$40pp and about 1-2 hours depending on party size and how busy the park is.

If you live in NZ now, Go see it. This is a quality location with huge investment in facilities, and deserves support. $40 is not expensive for the service being supplied!