Lake Rotomahana Lake
Geothermal lake in North Island, once hosted terraces
Rotomahana near Rotorua occupies a volcanic landscape with active geothermal features; visitors book boat trips and guided tours to see hot springs, steam vents and recent volcanic terrain.
Lake Rotomahana at a Glance#
Address: Lake Rotomahana, Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
About Lake Rotomahana#
Lake Rotomahana is a geothermal lake on New Zealand’s North Island in the Bay of Plenty region, located on the flanks of Mount Tarawera. It is notable for its direct association with the 1886 Tarawera eruption, which dramatically changed the lake and surrounding geothermal landscape.
Shorelines around the lake show active geothermal features including steaming ground, fumaroles and hot springs. The lake and its environs are visited for their geothermal activity and to study the post-eruption landscape and altered hydrothermal systems.
Before 1886 the area contained the Pink and White Terraces, natural silica sinter formations that were largely destroyed in the eruption; the event enlarged and reshaped the lake’s basin. Scientific and archaeological work since then has focused on mapping the altered lakebed and nearby eruptive deposits.
The lake sits in a volcanic and geothermal zone southeast of Rotorua and is set among the slopes of Mount Tarawera and adjacent volcanic terrain. Access is typically via the wider Rotorua region and guided excursions operate into the area.
- 1886 Tarawera eruption: The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera destroyed the famed Pink and White Terraces and greatly altered the lake basin; parts of the terraces may remain under lake sediment.
How to Get to Lake Rotomahana#
From Rotorua, take State Highway 30 east then turn at State Highway 30A toward Kawerau; follow local roads east to the Tarawera/Rotomahana area-about a 40-60 minute drive. Some viewpoints and walking tracks are accessible from car parks maintained by local authorities and DOC.
Tips for Visiting Lake Rotomahana#
- Visit viewpoints that look down into the crater-some are a short, steep walk from the road and give dramatic vistas.
- Combine a visit with nearby geothermal features in the Bay of Plenty-there are multiple DOC tracks and interpretive displays.
- Respect safety warnings: the area is geothermally active and unstable ground can be present near hot springs and fumaroles.
Best Time to Visit Lake Rotomahana#
Late spring through early autumn for best access and milder weather.
Weather & Climate near Lake Rotomahana#
Lake Rotomahana's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in February) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 3°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1520 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 12° - 23° | 17° | 106 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 12° - 22° | 17° | 113 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 11° - 21° | 16° | 146 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 107 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 5° - 15° | 10° | 119 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 4° - 13° | 6° | 131 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 166 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 4° - 13° | 6° | 145 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 5° - 14° | 8° | 119 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 7° - 16° | 12° | 116 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 9° - 18° | 13° | 115 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 11° - 21° | 16° | 137 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
