7 Volcano Hikes and Treks in New Zealand Worth Booking

1.Rotorua Hiking: Mt Tarawera Guided Volcanic Crater Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $121Our pick

Travel from Rotorua by 4WD to Mt Tarawera, then hike volcanic trails with guides such as Jesse, Hauri, Jack, Dan, or Chucky. Expect a 4.5-hour outing, Māori history, 360-degree views, steep scoria, and an optional slide into the crater.

“This was incredible! Our tour guide (Dan) was very friendly and helpful, and it was amazing getting to hear all the history of this place. Highly highly recommend!”

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2.Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 248 reviews · from $46Best value

Walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley independently with a guide sheet and optional app. Choose a route to suit your time, see Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, steam vents, forests, and Lake Rotomahana, then ride the internal shuttle back uphill.

“Absolutely loved this walk! The scenery on this walk was unlike anything I'd every come across before! It was stunning! I found the information provided very insightful and interesting to learn about the history and geography of the surrounding areas. The boat trip was also fabulous with stunning views across the lake!”

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3.Guided Horse Trekking from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 159 reviews · from $68

Join a guide for a one-hour horse trek through the lower foothills of Mt. Ngongotaha. You’ll ride across working farmland, native bush, and uneven ground to a lookout above Lake Rotorua. Horses are matched to your ability, helmets are supplied, and the small group has a maximum of five riders.

“It was a great trek, we hadn’t been on horses since we were children so a little nervous at first but the instructor was great and made us feel at ease. The horses were so chilled and well behaved. Great experience.”

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4.Auckland: Segway to North Head Volcano Summit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 53 reviews

Meet Pauline or a fellow English-speaking guide at Devonport Ferry Terminal for a 2.5-hour Segway tour. After practice, ride past Victorian villas, beaches, lava flows, and the yacht club to Maungauika/North Head, its tunnels, gun emplacements, and superb Hauraki Gulf views.

“what a WONDERFUL experience. The scenery was beautiful and our guide was incredibly patient. The directions to the meeting point were simple. I felt safe the whole way and I highly recommend this experience while in Auckland.”

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5.Rangitoto Island: Sea Kayak & Summit Hike Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 31 reviews · from $144

Paddle from St Heliers Beach to Rangitoto Island with a qualified English-speaking guide, then take the one-hour summit hike through pohutukawa forest and black scoria. Guides such as Tony, Daniel, Ben, and Eric have led recent trips. Lunch, drinks, gear, and optional museum pickup are included.

“Excellent trip, Ben our guide was great. We laughed and had a fun day., We were lucky with calm water for the kayak trip and nice walk up to the crater. There are other trails on the island so it would be nice perhaps with more time on the island to walk longer.”

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6.Rotorua: Scenic Horse Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · 1 hour · from $74

You’ll ride a friendly horse through rolling farmland near Mt Ngongotaha, with wide views over Lake Rotorua. An English-speaking guide matches you with a suitable horse, gives a safety briefing, and leads the group at an easy pace. Bring closed-toe shoes and expect a quiet countryside outing rather than fast riding.

“Wonderful way to see views of the lake. I really enjoyed my time. The horses were great!”

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7.Rotorua: Kaituna Rafting & Mt. Tarawera Guided Hike Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · 9 hours · from $200

Spend nine hours with Kaitiaki Adventures hiking Mount Tarawera and rafting the Kaituna River. Local guides such as Jesse, Caruzo, and Ben lead the action, with Maori stories, 4x4 mountain transport, safety gear, and pickup from central Rotorua included.

“We had Ben as a guide, the whole experience was fantastic”

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