Kerosene Creek hot pools just out from Rotorua.

The temperture of the water is around 30 degrees and the reason for the bad smell is because of the decaying vegetation along the water’s edge. However, it’s a nice walk to go for a swim.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Near Rotorua, Central North Island
  • Distance: 0.20 km
  • Time needed: 10 minutes
  • Difficulty: Very Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Round Trip
  • Elevation: Flat walking
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: Yes
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Thermal Creek and the Pine forest.

Track Quality

Ok, was a bit muddy when we went.

Transport

You'll need to drive yourself there.

Driving Instructions

Drive south on highway 30 to Taupo from Fenton St. It is the main road out of Rotorua. You will know this street because of all the motels and hotels along is full length. At 24 km you can’t miss Rainbow Mountain. On top of the mountain is a forestry fire lookout. You can see the building from the main road, there is also a radio mask alongside the building. At 26 km there is a turn off to the left on to Highway 38. This highway goes to a forestry town called Murupara, then Lake Waikaremona and out to the east coast of NZ, to a town on called Wairoa. Don’t turn to the left; keep driving towards Taupo. At 450m, you will be driving past a gravel storage area on the left, now ease off on the gas and get ready, then turn left onto the old Waikaremona Rd. It is very tricky and the surface quite rough. The roading boys were working on the road when we drove through there, let’s hope it is a lot better now. The 2 km drive to the car park is a little bumpy and dusty. Also keep an eye out for logging trucks. You cannot miss the car park on the right, if there is no room, park on the left hand side of the road.

Area & Trail History

There is not a lot of history to talk about, in the 1920s and 1930s the whole area 150.000 hectares was used for planting of a pine forest Then in the 1950s the government built a large new mill on a site on the Tarawera River to mill the Radiata pines.

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Rainbow Mountain Car Park
Looking back to Rainbow Mountain
Looking down to the Kerosene Creek Hot Pools Car Park
Kerosene Creek Hot Pools Car Park
TheStart of the Kerosene Creek Hot Pools Walk

Start of the walk to Kerosene Creek

The old Waikaremona Rd road is a typical gravel, dusty and narrow NZ road, please drive slowly. The main car park is on the right, but there is adequate parking on the other side of the road.  It would be a lot more enjoyable if you planned your trip to the pools on any day but Saturday and Sunday. 

The dirt motor bikers use the hill on the other side of the road to race their little toys up and down.  So it will be very noisy. People have camped there overnight. BUT DO NOT LIGHT ANY FIRES, you will get into a lot of trouble.  Walk down through the trees and along the creek.  It is a short 5 min walk to the main pool.

Kerosene Creek Hot Pools
Kerosene Creek Hot Pools
Kerosene Creek Hot Pools

On the way to Kerosene Creek

About half way to the main pool, the track runs very close to the creek.  You can hop into the creek at any spot that takes your fancy. The only drawback is the depth, it’s too shallow.

There is a very small waterfall right alongside the track just deep enough to sit in.  The only drawback is everyone walks within inches of you.

At the main pool, downriver end, there is, what is left of an old ladder to help you down into the water.

The pool has a clean sandy bottom and is quite shallow in places, so make your way up to the waterfall.  The depth there is good, but the rocks make it a little tricky to find a good foothold to brace yourself when you back up to the waterfall. 

The pressure is great and just what the doctor ordered for the aching back.

Almost forgot about the temperature, it is not quite to my favoured 40c, and not as cold as 32c, so I would say around 37c.  If you dig your toes into the sand, you will find places where the temperature is as high as 40c. I might take a spade down to the pool next time we are there.

The only downside is the smell.  Not quite a sulphur smell but more like KEROSENE.  If the wind is blowing down the valley it’s not too strong for the noise. There seemed to be no effect on the skin, but the swimsuit still smelled of kerosene the next day.

One good point I must say, is there were no mosquitoes around, great.

Don’t waste time walking further down the creek, I tried that, nothing but mud and overgrown with blackberries.

See more of my walks in Rotorua