Wairakei Thermal Valley

A true kiwi experience! After a short drive into the valley along a gravel road, you spot the cafe. Very quaint with it's water wheel and small selection of lunch/morning tea items. John, who runs this facility, is friendly and funny. Likes a practical joke 😂. Paid $12 per adult to go on the self guided thermal walk. Always fascinating! Probably not a good idea to take small children on this walk unless you keep a tight hold of them, as there are unfenced areas. Then there's the animals! Sheep, alpaca, ducks, peacocks and chickens all wandering freely around the carpark. Most of them rescue animals. Super friendly as they come to meet you hoping for a pat and some food (you can buy chicken food in the cafe to feed the chucks!). We loved it! Thanks John, and Simon the friendly cafe cat! Well be back.

Loved this place! They've explained everything well and had a great time over there! Worth visiting for sure.

Beautiful walk with lots of native foliage. Gorgeous cat inside the cafe who likes a pat while you have a coffee. The birds outside love to have their photo taken and will come running from the other side of the paddock if you pull out a cellphone. Watch out for those tarantula eggs though!

Its too bad we dint managed to join the thermal walk but this is totally a underated place to visit. These animal are so friendly and crazy to interact with you. The owner always have fun to show you, dont forget to knock the door if you are visiting.

Lovely spot for a peaceful walk through geothermal features. Enjoy bird spotting at the entrance, and the friendly owner adds a warm touch to the visit. The walk is simple yet unique, showcasing steaming vents and bubbling terrain, and there’s a cozy café to relax in afterward. A great spot to explor!

Great experience. The owner was chatty, humorous and friendly. I walked in the thermal valley, being mesmerised by the stream and the forest. I also fed the chickens. Highly recommended. For your info, the entry costs 15 dollars per person. A lot of goods are for sale, e.g. souvenirs, chicken feeds and etc. there is a cafe shop for you if you are hungry/thirsty. P.s. that Mr. Peacock is such a meanie. Easy there ducks, food is for everybody you know.

Came here to stay the night as being school holidays, everything else booked out in Taupo. Found $66 to hook up to power a bit excessive for the night, but it was a very quiet, peaceful place. They have lots of animals roaming around hens, roosters, sheep, alpacas, Guinea fowl, pigs in pens and a peacock, which kids would love, and the ones staying near us enjoyed being able to assist the owner in putting them in their enclosure for the night and feeding them. Was nice to be woken by the roosters and not someone's engine! We didn't visit the thermal valley, we heard someone say "yeah ok" when asked by the owner how they enjoyed it. I assume it wasn't that great so thought we'd save our $10 each for something that is wow!!! The road in is a narrow dirt road so take it easy as in places it's really only one lane. Hot showers available camp kitchen and BBQ area. Nice enough just cost to much in my opinion!!!

We went to find out more when we saw the sign saying you could Camp here. We just stayed for refreshments and a lovely chat with John who was very informative and entertaining 😄. He tried to give me a horse 🐎 boy you don't know how tempted I was but it wouldn't fit in our caravan 😕. There's a thermal walk that is all natural, but hubby wasn't up to walking today. I'd definitely be back with the grandkids. They didn't have alternative milk for my coffee but the herbal tea was delicious 😋 hubby said John makes a good coffee.