The day we were there, we could see Mt Ruapehu 128Km to the south from the summit

Start on this walk with the easy Crater Lake Walk, leading you to two crater lakes in about 15 minutes. Then, walk uphill through regenerating native bush, passing vibrant, steaming ridges.

Along the way, soak in the great views of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy the summit for the ultimate 360-degree views!

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Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Rotorua, Central North Island
  • Distance: 2.8 km
  • Time needed: 1 Hour 30 Minutes to the top
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Double back
  • Elevation: 743m
  • Mountain Bike: Yes but downhill on the mountain bike only track
  • Toilets: Yes at the beginning of the walk
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

You will see a rainbow of coloured earth and rock on the side of the Rainbow Mountain. If you have the time, you can collect the different colours of earth in a test tube, it makes an excellent souvenir. The mountain is covered in native bush on the western side; on the eastern side is the KLC pine forest. On a clear day, you can see for miles. The day we were there, we could see Mt Ruapehu 128km to the south, Mt Tarawera 14.2 km to the North and lake Rotomahana 7.8 km to the east, the largest forestry plantation, in the southern hemisphere, Kaingaroa Forest.

Track Quality

The track is wide and graved for the first 10 min. Then the surface changes to a clay track all the way to Rainbow Mountain lookout.

Hazards

If you walk off the track, there is a high risk of you walking onto hot thermal vents and burn your legs.

Transport

Buses run from Rotorua to Taupo every day. But they might not stop to let you off.

Driving Instructions

Drive south on highway 30 to Taupo. At 26km there is a turn off to the left on to highway 38. 460m past the turnoff to Lake Waikaremoana there is a rather large gravel car park. Pull in, over to the left you should see the sign to the start of the track.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Waiotapu Village, 5 Minutes south past the car park.

Area & Trail History

Rainbow Mountain is a colourful part of Bay of Plenty’s volcanic landscape of boiling mud and steaming pools. Mangakakaramea, as it is also known, means mountain of coloured earth. The mountain has bare brown, orange and red steaming slopes, as the backdrop to two tiny crater lakes.

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Car park at the bottom of Rainbow Mountain

Carpark at the beginning of the walk

Crater Lakes lookout 650m, 2.8 km.  The start of the track is easy to find, for a change DOC has built a sign that you can see and read.  

Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk

An easy 15 minute walk, just follow the track. Turn left at the lookout sign, and in 2 minutes you will be at the Crater Lakes lookout, take your camera. 

Back on the main track again, keep a lookout to the left for good views and an excellent place to collect your samples of coloured soil.

Emerald Lake.
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk

To the left, you will see the crystal clear Emerald Lake.  If you feel like a little rough and tumble try making your way down to the lake, it’s only 50m.

Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk

As you walk higher, the bush changes from short dirty scrub to tall open young native trees.  Great for getting out of the hot sun or out of  the cold bone chilling wind.

The Summit of Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk
Rainbow Mountain Reserve Walk

When you walk around a corner and catch your first glimpse of Rainbow Mountain fire lookout, you only have a 45 minute climb to the top.  From this point on, look for a very short track running off to the left; go have a look, but tread lightly.

Mt Raupehu
Mt Raupehu
Kerosene Creek Hot Pools

1 hour 40 minutes to the top, now it’s time for hot coffee and cake – I packed it myself!  The last 15 minutes is a little steep and rough. You will walk out onto a service road for the fire lookout.

You can either take the road to the top or cut back over to the left and continue walking along the walking track to the top. 

Enjoy the view, you might have to move around the lookout building to find a good spot out of the cold wind.  I’m not sure how fresh the water would be out of the rainwater tank next to the lookout, I will leave that up to you to decide if it is fit to drink. 

Now look to the south, follow the power line on your left running down to the road at the bottom of Rainbow Mountain.  This is Kerosene Creek a thermal swimming hole.  In the first photo you can just see the red car in the Kerosene Creek car park.

See more of my walks in Rotorua