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Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon
4
Hiking TrailsGeologic Formations
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Craters of the Moon is a geothermal area, a short drive north of Taupo township, NZ, where you can view the colourful craters and steam vents.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Pam M
    Denver, Colorado356 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was a nice walk … but not the best geothermal features!
    Sadly, this was a disappointing activity. Lotsa steaming vents but almost no visible bubbling mud or water—but the trails are well-maintained and it felt good to stretch our legs after hours in the car. I wish we’d given this a pass and had more time to hike at Huka Falls.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 7 March 2024
  • potaracke
    Laupahoehoe, Hawaii324 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hot time had by all
    Actually, we went a few years ago but, I still remember the dramatic sights there. It's a good way to spend a day or half a day anyway. Lots of hot steam obviously and bubbling mud....watch your step. Don't wear nice clothes or shoes. I would go back again in a few years.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 March 2024
  • HahnTravels
    Liverpool, Australia1,300 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    OK
    It was my first visit to a geothermal area. A nice walk, would be very exposed in heat or rain. Lots of steam vents, most of mud had dried up but could hear it bubbling. Only $10 to enter, nice gift shop and parking is easy. It was OK we thought. If you have been to other sites around Rotorua, probably one to miss.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 March 2024
  • Emily Y
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pleasing Experience
    Amazing views and an exciting experience. A small fee to get in but paving and erecting of paths were in very good confirm with great viewing platforms so well worth it. Great information throughout the walk. Would recommend.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 June 2024
  • Emmanuel811
    Castres, France852 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice walk
    It is a pleasant 45 min walk that allows you to fully understand the strong geothermal activity of the region. You walk among craters and fumaroles according to a marked route. That’s nice. Afterwards there are much more impressive sites near Roturoa.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 August 2024
  • Jessica_nz2
    Christchurch, New Zealand225 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good value for money
    At 10 dollars per adult it was a pleasant hour stroll. The craters were cool with bursts of steam. Be sure to read the information signs, we learnt a lot. We visited Orakei Korako and Wai o Tapu parks on our trip, but I thought this added something we hadn't seen at either park. The park is hot however so be prepared for that in the heat of the summer.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 September 2024
  • GeneralShamu
    New York City, New York1,275 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for Learning
    Great place to visit and stroller / push car friendly. Total time needed with an infant is more like 85-100 minutes (including reading all the info upon entry), whereas if it's just adults you can do it in sixty minutes. There is plenty of information to read upon entry as well. Only restrooms are located at the main entry/exit point.
    Visited December 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles2,035 reviews
Excellent
717
Very good
726
Average
424
Poor
111
Terrible
57

JamesM
Liverpool, UK12 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020 • Family
Really good few hours at this Geothermal Site. A 4 star review may be unfair as this has been written after seeing the Geothermal marvels of Te Puia (Rotorua), which have a completely different and, in my opinion, fascinating experience of a geothermal site in New Zealand. The experience itself was very good with plenty to see. The whole walk took around an hour which included some amazing views of mud pools and steam geysers.

Some of the track is quite steep but an easier route can be taken if you have difficulties. What I will say is my 4 year old son could complete the longer track uphill so if you can, I would recommend the longer track.

Good value and a very reasonably priced gift shop means that this trip will not break the bank ... even with 3 children who want the whole shop!
Written 10 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JanitaBlinco
Blackwater, Australia87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
This is a great little walk around the Craters of the moon. It took us around 40mins on the track. Well sign posted with very interesting facts about the hot areas and how this came to be. It costs $10 per person - the weather was perfect - sunny and warm. Interestingly, I was expecting that sulphur smell of rotten eggs - but there was no aroma at all..
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TripNicky
London, UK222 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Based on the name Craters of the Moon you may be expecting something amazing. I was a little disappointed. Although having said that it's a pleasant 45 minute walk around a geothermal area but there's nothing very dramatic to see, although some nice views. It's not expensive - the fee is for the group that keeps an eye on the area and makes it safe to leave your vehicle in the car park. I did it at the same time as the Huka Falls - they are far more impressive.
Written 20 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike Gillatt
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020 • Couples
This is quite possibly the most over rated tourist attraction I’ve ever been to in the world. And I’m embarrassed to say it is in my own country.
If you want to buy cheap trinkets at the shop, walk around watching some steam coming out of a few holes in the ground, see vast expanses of scrub and a few mud pools, then this is for you.
Otherwise save your money and head up the road towards Rotorua where you will see much superior geothermal activity.
Written 10 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gray's Reviews
Timaru, New Zealand1,424 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
This was our second time here. It's a nice place to wander around on its clearly labelled pathways, with most, but not all, areas suitable for those with a stroller. Being an active thermal area, the necessity is to stick to those paths and adhere to the rules set out throughout the place and at arrival. Cost is $8/adult, $4/child and $20/family and the time to walk around is no more than 1 hour.
Stream vents dominate the landscape, along with bracken and native plants.
The staff are happy, helpful and cheerful, as well as instructive.
Good place to visit on a nice day.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew M
Taupo, New Zealand135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We are locals but haven't been to the Craters of the Moon for a while and we really enjoyed the walk. The walk takes about 50-60 mins and its very interesting to see the activity from the viewing platforms. A very good way to spend an hour and get some exercise - entry is $8 for adults.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bg005882
Wollongong, Australia10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We really liked this place, a great walk and very interesting to see the geothermal activity. It’s cheap, only $8 and a nice easy walk, takes about 45 mins. It’s completely uncovered so gets hot in the sun. Worth a visit when in Taupo!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

fortunatefew
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand509 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Couples
We were disappointed and underwhelmed on our visit to Craters of the Moon. There were quite a few tourists over Easter doing what we did, walk around the boardwalks for 45mins looking at a few pockets of steam. We went to Orakei Korako last year and although it’s more expensive and further out from Taupo it was well worth it, so much to see. I felt we paid $8.00 just to have a walk at craters of the moon, had it been more than that I would have felt ripped off.
Written 7 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aud61
Dubai, United Arab Emirates107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
If you want to see steam this is the place to go! It’s everywhere , seeping out of the rocks and ground . There is a 45 minute easy walk around and I enjoyed it . We went on a cloudy day and you can really see the steam drifting around across the landscape it’s quite weird! No geysers but it’s still very dramatic - worth a visit just north of Taupo
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mike385
New Plymouth, New Zealand108 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Couples
We hadn’t been here for many years and were delighted to see that there was a shop at the entrance stocked with souvenirs. Very pleasant people gave us a map and explained the main features including safety. The $8 entrance fee is worth it.
A lookout building has info about the history and boardwalks along the entire journey make walking easy. We enjoyed seeing the thermal activity.
The toilet facilities are the best we’ve seen. Simply excellent.
Written 25 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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