Champagne Pool

Champagne Pool is a large geothermal spring in the Wai-O-Tapu thermal area on New Zealand’s North Island, noted for its vivid colours and active bubbling caused by dissolved gases. The pool measures roughly 65 metres in diameter and typically holds water close to 73 degrees Celsius.

The pool is rimmed by orange-brown silica and mineral deposits and emits continuous gas bubbles that give the feature its name. A raised boardwalk provides the standard public viewing route so visitors can observe the terraces and mineral formations without disturbing the fragile geothermal surface.

The pool formed through hydrothermal activity and ongoing mineral deposition; silica and sulfide minerals create the distinctive colours and textures visible today. Wai-O-Tapu remains an active geothermal area with multiple features clustered within a managed reserve.

Located in the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area near Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, the site is accessed from the regional thermal tourism zone around Rotorua.

• Size and temperature: Approximately 65 metres across and with water temperatures around 73 degrees Celsius, making it one of the larger and hotter geothermal pools in the Wai-O-Tapu area.
• Safety: Boardwalks provide the only safe viewing access; touching the water or leaving the path is dangerous due to high temperatures and thin crusts around the pool.