Kuirau Park Geothermal Walk

Just a 5-minute walk from Rotorua’s town centre, Kuirau Park is New Zealand’s only free public geothermal park. It’s a unique blend of peaceful gardens, grassy lawns, and dramatic geothermal features like steaming vents, bubbling mud, and colourful hot springs.

At the park’s northern end, you’ll find the hauntingly beautiful Kuirau Lake. Surrounded by misty rainforest and lush moss, the lake is encircled by a wooden boardwalk that takes you past boiling streams and dense greenery that feels straight out of a fantasy novel.

Māori History of Kuirau Park

According to the Māori legend, the park was named after a woman called Kuiarau, who was taken by a spirit from the lake’s depths. The gods, angered, made the lake boil to destroy the creature. The name lives on, though its spelling has evolved.

Since at least 1300 AD, Māori have used the park’s geothermal features for cooking, particularly using the clear alkaline springs to boil freshwater mussels. In the 1800s, locals also swam in the Waiparuparu pool and harvested porous silica (sinter) for building chimneys, some of which still stand in Ohinemutu Village by Lake Rotorua.

Geothermal Activity at Kuirau Park

Kuirau Park showcases nearly every kind of geothermal feature, from steaming vents to boiling streams, making it one of the top free attractions in Rotorua. While it doesn’t have a geyser, new eruptions do sometimes occur. In 2001, a sudden steam blast launched rocks through the air, a reminder that this landscape is very much alive.

Alkaline Hot Springs

Alkaline springs are clear, often vibrant pools where water has surged up quickly from deep underground. Their colours can be striking, turquoise, blue, even green, but they’re deceptively dangerous, often simmering at scalding temperatures of over 70ºC.

Acidic Hot Springs

Acidic springs tend to be cloudy or milky. They form when water heats slowly underground and mixes with volcanic gases, creating acidic conditions. A few of these pools exist at Kuirau Park, best admired from the safety of the footpath.

Mud Pools

Mud pools bubble to life when rising steam and gas mix with surface clay and rainwater. Rotorua’s frequent rain gives its mud pools a soupy texture, though smaller ones can look thick and alien-like.

Foot Baths

While bathing in the hot springs is no longer allowed, you can still enjoy the therapeutic warmth at the park’s foot baths. The main one is near the children’s playground, with a couple more dotted around the lake. Bring a towel to dry your feet or wipe down the seating.

Saturday Farmer’s Markets

Visit on a Saturday morning and you’ll stumble into the local farmer’s market, held from 6 am to 1 pm. Enjoy fresh produce, breakfast snacks, and second-hand books courtesy of the Rotorua Library, all while surrounded by the park’s steamy, bubbling backdrop.

Getting There

Kuirau Park is in Rotorua’s northern area, right across from Rotorua Hospital. If walking, head to the corner of Pukuatua and Ranolf Streets. If driving, free parking is available at the park’s southern end, just follow the walking trails north.

Whether you're a nature lover, history buff, or just looking for a unique free activity in Rotorua, Kuirau Park offers something for everyone. It’s a place where geothermal wonders, cultural heritage, and community vibes come together in one unforgettable experience.