Long White Gypsy uses affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for more information.
Fancy soaking your feet in a natural hot spring at the end of a full-day hike? The Tarawera Trail delivers that and more.
This 15 km one-way track (which can be walked in either direction) weaves through lush bush, through volcanically moulded terrain, ending up at the geothermally heated Hot Water Beach on the shores of Lake Tarawera.
Located just outside Rotorua in the Central North Island, the Tarawera Trail walk is packed with scenery, a good challenge, and the odd logistical twist.
In this Tarawera Trail guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know to plan it right—plus what not to do if you fancy finding those elusive hot pools mid-hike.
Track Notes for the Tarawera Trail
| DISTANCE | 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) – one way |
| TIME | 4 – 6 hours – one way |
| DOGS | Not permitted |
| BIKES | Not permitted |
| LOCATION | Lake Tarawera, Rotorua |
| TRACK GRADE | Advanced |
| TOILETS | Long-drops at Tarawera Trail car park, Wairua Stream and Hot Water Beach campsite. |
| WATER | A few streams to fill up at along the way, make sure to treat before drinking. Carry at least 2L per person. |
| PHONE RECEPTION | Pretty good all the way. |
| TRANSPORT | You can self-drive to Lake Tarawera with a private car then water taxi to/from Hot Water Beach. Shuttle bus transfers also available for water taxi users to/from Tarawera Landing from the official carpark. |
| HAZARDS | One (small) unbridged water crossing, geothermally heated hot water (make sure to follow all signage). |
| SPECIAL GEAR | Trekking poles will be an advantage (especially for the small unbridged river crossing), swimming gear and a towel for a soak in the hot pools at the end of your hike. |
Things to Know about the Tarawera Trail.
The Tarawera Trail is a well-formed, 15 km one-way track from the Tarawera Trail carpark (near the Buried Village on Tarawera Road in the Rotorua Lakes region) to Hot Water Beach on the shores of Lake Tarawera.
The trail winds through lush native bush, across volcanic terrain, and past some truly stunning lookout points. It’s not a loop, and you’ll need to plan your transport in advance.
You can hike the track in either direction, and unless you’re a very fit walker that will be enough! The track is easiest to walk in the direction from the carpark to Hot Water Beach.
One-way walkers can either book a campsite at the popular Hot Water Beach campsite, or make use of the water taxi service to transport them back to The Landing. Make sure to check the times and leave yourself plenty of time! There’s also a shuttle bus available between the car park and The Landing.
How to Get There – Tarawera Trail Directions.
From Rotorua, take Tarawera Road towards Tikitapu / Blue Lake. Carry on past Lake Rotokakahi / Green Lake a little way until you see the car park signposted on your right. If you reach Buried Village, you have gone slightly too far. You’ll find the trail just past the shelter at the carpark.
If you’re starting your walk from Hot Water Beach (as Mum & I did on our first trip) head further along the road to The Landing first to drop off your passengers, then arrange a shuttle to collect you from the carpark ready for your water taxi.
The drive to Lake Tarawera from Rotorua is beautiful. The region can often be blanketed in fog or low cloud, and even on a rainy day is spectacular. But if you’re lucky enough to score a crisp, blue-sky day, it’s hard to beat.
Just be prepared for the sulphuric stench that greets you in Rotorua on your arrival!
Track Grade & Fitness – Tarawera Trail Difficulty.
The trail is graded as an Advanced trail, so don’t underestimate it. Although the track is well-formed, the terrain is hilly and rough in places. Expect constant undulations, a few steep climbs, and uneven footing in places. There is even one un-bridged river crossing to complete at Wairua Stream.
On our first trip, Mum and I walked back to the carpark from Hot Water Beach and were on the trail for 7+ hours. This was much longer than we expected, and included a bush detour on a (failed) side mission to find the elusive hot pools at the Wairua Stream outlet.
On our second trip (and now walking in what we consider to be the right direction) our time was more aligned with the 5-6 hour official DOC estimate, leaving plenty of time for a soak at the beach before we caught our water taxi back.
Regardless, the distance alone means you need a moderate level of fitness, and ideally some trail stamina to complete this hike. It’s not too technical, but it is relentlessly undulating. If you’re not used to hiking 5+ hours in a day, this one might stretch you.
Tarawera Trail Guide – Facilities.
Toilets
Toilets are in all the usual locations along the track – namely the start, end and roughly in the middle. You’ll find some basic long-drop style toilets at Hot Water Beach and at the Wairua Stream crossing. Other than that, toilets can only be found at the Tarawera Trail car park.
Hot Water Beach Camping
There’s a DOC campground at Hot Water Beach, which is incredibly popular (especially over the busy summer months) and must be booked in advance. Book online here.
Transport To/From The Trailheads
- Tarawera Trail Water taxi: Operates from The Landing. Pre-booking is essential.
- Shuttle: Available between trailhead and The Landing.
Food & Water.
Because this is a volcanic environment, no potable water is available along the track, so it is recommended to bring at least 1-2 litres of your own water. Stream or lake water can contain background levels of arsenic.
We brought lunch, snacks, and heaps of water. And we needed all of it. There are long stretches with no access to streams or refill spots.
Lunch at Te Wairua was a much-needed morale boost. Just be warned: if you stop for a riverside snack, don’t get distracted and miss the turnoff to the side tracks (like we did with the hot pools).
Make sure you:
- Bring at least 2L of water per person
- Carry a water filter or tablets just in case
- Bring high-energy snacks: scroggin, trail mix, chocolate, muesli bars
- Reward yourself with chocolate when spirits are low (seriously, it’s a lifesaver)
Seasonal Variations.
Autumn and early winter can offer perfect hiking weather: crisp air, bright sun, and fewer bugs. But fog and frost can make morning driving sketchy.
We lucked out with good weather, but the trail can become slippery and muddy after rain, especially in shaded gullies and clay-based sections.
Be mindful of events: Our first attempt was cancelled due to the Tarawera Ultramarathon (which typically occurs in February each year). The trail and water taxi service are affected on race weekends.
Tarawera Trail Guide – Camping at Hot Water Beach.
One of the best things about hiking the Tarawera Trail is the opportunity to also experience the incredibly popular Hot Water Beach.
This little beach on the shores of Lake Tarawera is accessible only by foot and water taxi – and it’s pretty special. There aren’t many places in the world where you can end a hike with a geothermal soak right beside your tent!
The shoreline is thermally active, fed by natural geothermal vents that heat the water at the edge of the lake. You can quite literally soak your feet in a warm pool while gazing out across Lake Tarawera!
There’s no better way to finish a hike of the Tarawera Trail than by soaking your muscles in the warm waters of Hot Water Beach – so make sure to start early, pack your swimming gear and book your water taxi for later in the afternoon so you have plenty of time to enjoy it!
The lakefront Hot Water Beach camping is hugely popular, and if you have the opportunity I highly recommend spending a night here. You’ll need to book early via the DOC website – in summer, the campsite books out fast!
The geothermal activity here is a direct result of the area’s explosive volcanic history. Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886 in one of New Zealand’s deadliest eruptions, destroying nearby villages and obliterating the famous Pink and White Terraces—once considered the eighth wonder of the natural world. The lake and surrounding area are part of that dramatic legacy, and the presence of Hot Water Beach is a reminder that Tarawera still sleeps, but hasn’t gone cold.
Tips for enjoying Hot Water Beach:
- Arrive early or stay late if you want quieter moments. Day-hikers and campers pass through frequently.
- Bring swimming gear and a towel—even a quick dip feels like a reward.
- Be respectful of others camping nearby. Pack out all your rubbish, use the nearby toilets and keep noise to a minimum (if visiting at night).
- Stay on designated paths. The ground around geothermal areas can be hot and unstable. Make sure to follow all marked signage and test the water temperature before going all-in.
Tarawera Trail Guide – the Route.
I have hiked the Tarawera Trail on two occasions, once from each direction.
On my first trip, myself and Mum decided to catch the water taxi to Hot Water Beach and hike back to the carpark. This seemed sensible at the time as it gave us the freedom to walk at our own pace, without stressing about making a boat deadline.
In this direction, the trail begins with a solid uphill, and because of the topography you’ll actually be walking steadily (and in some cases not so steadily) uphill all the way back to the carpark 4 hours later (spoiler alert: it took us 6 hours!).
So, within 10 minutes of starting the track, you’re climbing. Be prepared for this.
That being said, the bush is beautiful, the track is very well-marked, and the views across the lake pop in and out along the way.
There’s a side track to another set of geothermal hot pools (if you can find it). We missed it the first time, realised our mistake, backtracked, and got briefly lost. The pools are unmarked, the trail overgrown, and honestly—we turned around before we found them. Lesson learned.
We crossed a river barefoot (bridge out), climbed slips, sweated up hill after hill, and hit a low point around hour five. Mum was over it. I was over it. We ate all the chocolate.
But then, like magic, we hit a rhythm. The Oneora and Twin Streams lookouts brought much-needed views and morale boosts. Eventually, the track flattened slightly. We knew the car park was close when we saw the shelter roof in the distance.
Total Time Taken: Just over 7 hours including lunch, breaks, and one misadventure.
Tarawera Trail Guide FAQs.
How Long is the Tarawera Trail?
The trail is 15 km one-way. Most people take 4–6 hours, depending on pace, stops, and weather. We took 7 hours from go to woah, because of the direction we walked (more elevation) and also some time spent looking for the hot pools en route.
What is the Tarawera Trail Difficulty?
The Tarawera Trail is rated easy to intermediate, but don’t be fooled—it’s a solid workout! The track is well-maintained but hilly and undulating. You’ll need a moderate level of fitness and the stamina for 4–6+ hours of walking, depending on your pace and detours.
Can You Walk Up Mt Tarawera?
Yes—you can do the Mt Tarawera summit hike but only with a guided tour. Mt Tarawera sits on private land, and access is restricted to private tours. The mountain is not accessible from the Tarawera Trail. Kaitiaki Adventures runs a regular guided Mount Tarawera crater walk to the summit if you’re interested in checking that out.
Is Tarawera Active?
Yes, Mt Tarawera is considered active but dormant. Its last major eruption was in 1886, and while it hasn’t erupted since, it’s still geothermally active—hence the hot springs and thermal features around the area.
Final Thoughts.
The Tarawera Trail is beautiful, unique, and harder than it looks on paper. It’s a test of patience, stamina, and navigation. But it’s also one of those hikes you finish exhausted but proud.
If you’re mentally prepared for a long day and come armed with snacks, water, and a bit of resilience, you’ll have a great time. Just don’t rely on signs for side trips. And maybe download a topo map.
Oh, and bring chocolate. Always bring chocolate.
