Wai-O-Tapu to Redwoods Private Tour from Auckland

Soak in a cedar hot tub surrounded by ferns and forest after a day of geothermal wonders and ancient redwoods.

A private day tour from Auckland covers three North Island destinations in one day: Wai-O-Tapu's geothermal park with Champagne Pools and boiling mud, Redwoods Forest's towering Californian Coast trees, and Secret Spot's cedar hot tubs in the forest. Hotel pickup and an English or Korean-speaking guide are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Wai-O-Tapu, Redwoods, and Secret Spot

• Pickup from accommodation
• Travel to Wai-O-Tapu (3.5 hours)
• Tour Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (1 hour)
• Lunch in Rotorua City (1 hour)
• Travel to Redwoods (30 minutes)
• Explore Redwoods & Whakarewarewa Forest (1 hour)
• Relax at Secret Spot Hot Tubs (45-minute soak)
• Return to accommodation (3.5 hours)

The experience

The route starts with a 3.5-hour drive from your Auckland accommodation to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where you spend roughly an hour walking through naturally colored ponds, steaming earth, massive craters and the world-famous Champagne Pools: all sculpted over thousands of years by geothermal activity. The park's scale and the range of thermal features mean you see boiling mud, terraces formed from hot spring deposits and panoramic views without the crowds of a larger group tour.

After lunch in Rotorua (your choice of restaurant, about an hour), a 30-minute drive takes you to Redwoods & Whakarewarewa Forest, where an hour on the walking tracks lets you move through a stand of towering Californian Coast Redwoods mixed with native species. The forest air and the scale of the trees create a quiet contrast to the geothermal park. Then you head to Secret Spot Hot Tubs, where you settle into your own cedar tub for a 45-minute soak overlooking the Whakarewarewa Forest and Puarenga Stream. Cold plunge tubs, lockers and a foot soak are complimentary, and towels and robes are available to rent. Your guide then drives you back to your accommodation.

The 12-hour day is built around the long distances between these three sites (difficult for individuals to navigate without a car), so the private format means your group (family, friends, couples) moves at one pace and stops where you want. The vehicle is air-conditioned and pickup is from your hotel, so the logistics of getting to the North Island's most colorful geothermal park and back are handled.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your Auckland accommodation.
• English or Korean-speaking guide.
• entry to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Redwoods Forest.
• 45-minute soak at Secret Spot Hot Tubs with complimentary cold plunge tubs, locker and foot soak.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Youth (1 to 16 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sunny Tour

Is this one for you?Private tours work best for families, friends and couples who want to move together at their own pace across three distant sites without the schedule of a larger group. The long distances between Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua and the forest mean a private vehicle and driver handle the navigation and timing, so you focus on the stops themselves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Korean.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (1 to 16 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland like when you get there?

Wai-O-Tapu is a geothermal park filled with naturally colored ponds, boiling mud, steaming earth, massive craters and terraces formed from hot spring deposits. The world-famous Champagne Pools are the signature feature: a series of naturally colored thermal pools created by thousands of years of geothermal activity. You walk through the park for about an hour.

Can you walk through Redwoods Forest or is it just a drive-through?

Redwoods Forest has a network of walking tracks, so you spend about an hour on foot moving through the forest among the towering Californian Coast Redwoods and native species. It's designed for people who want to experience nature actively, not just view it from a vehicle.

What happens at Secret Spot Hot Tubs?

Secret Spot Hot Tubs gives you a 45-minute soak in your own cedar tub surrounded by ferns and forest, overlooking the Whakarewarewa Forest and Puarenga Stream. Cold plunge tubs, lockers for your belongings and a complimentary foot soak are included. Towels, swimwear and robes are available to rent at reception.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch, or is it included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll have about an hour in Rotorua City to choose a restaurant and eat before heading to Redwoods Forest.