Rotorua: Visit Hell's Gate or Wai-o-Tapu?

We have a day in the Rotorua area of New Zealand, and have two thermal areas that we can visit. Has anyone been to both Hell's Gate and Wai-o-Tapu? If so, which is the better choice, if you could choose only one?

We have a day in the Rotorua area of New Zealand, and have two thermal areas that we can visit. Has anyone been to both Hell's Gate and Wai-o-Tapu? If so, which is the better choice, if you could choose only one?

kia ora,

Tikitere (Hells Gate) & Wai-o-tapu are but two of a number of geo-thermal areas in the Rotorua region. They are both good. Wai-o-tapu (my personal favourite) has a good variety and has some amazing colours and is some twenty minutes drive once you reach Rotorua. Tikitere is quite active in parts, smaller and is just under ten minutes drive before town, so has the advantage of being closer to Mount Maunganui where your ship will dock.

http://www.waiotapu.co.nz and http://www.hellsgate.co.nz may help in your deliberations.

Aquarians

kia ora,

Tikitere (Hells Gate) & Wai-o-tapu are but two of a number of geo-thermal areas in the Rotorua region. They are both good.

Do you have a recommendation of another? I'll be doing a 10 day stay on the North Island after my cruise, and I'm not sure where in the Taupo/Rotorua area I should put on my list. (My list is still in the preliminary stages and changes frequently, so there's lots of research left to do, but Wai-o-tapu also caught my eye).

Do you have a recommendation of another? I'll be doing a 10 day stay on the North Island after my cruise, and I'm not sure where in the Taupo/Rotorua area I should put on my list. (My list is still in the preliminary stages and changes frequently, so there's lots of research left to do, but Wai-o-tapu also caught my eye).

Kia ora,

Rotorua has is a vibrant Maori culture, spectactular thermal areas, forests, lakes and numerous outdoor activities (eg. world class mountain biking, rafting and trout fishing to name a few.). Some other thermal areas are: Whakarerewa (which includes a 'living' Maori village) http://www.whakarewarewa.com, Waimangu (the youngest geo-thermal system formed after the Tarawera eruption) http://www.waimangu.com, Te Puia which shares part of the Whakarerewa system and which evolved from the Maori carving school is one of the most visited by tour operators http://www.tepuia.com. Thermal activity is evident around the town and in parts of the region too, Eg. kuirau park with its small hot lake and boiling mud pools and historic Ohinemutu with its marae and St Faiths church which boasts an interior with Maori caring and piopio panels and is soon to be designated as what we believe will be the smallest cathedral church in the world!. Trust the above helps - http://www.rotoruaNZ.com may help too.

ka kite ano

Mike