- Walk or bike partway up Rainbow Mountain, in the Maunga Kakaramea and Waiotapu Scenic Reserves near Rotorua, for a 360 degree summit view.
- Starts with the easy Crater Lake Walk, then climbs through native bush and steaming ground to the fire lookout at the top.
- Free to enter, this is separate from the fee paying Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland next door.
- Part of the Rotorua Walks collection.
Quick facts
Getting there
Rainbow Mountain sits beside SH5 between Rotorua and Taupo, at the Waiotapu turn off onto SH38. Coming from Rotorua, watch for the SH38 junction, the car park is a short distance past it on the left, a large gravel area with a sign for the track start. Parking, picnic tables and toilets are provided at the base of the mountain.
There is no public bus service to the car park, so you will need to drive, cycle or arrange a ride, it is roughly 20 minutes from central Rotorua.
The walk
Start on the easy Crater Lake Walk, a well formed track that takes about 15 minutes. The first ten minutes or so is wide and gravelled, then the surface changes to clay for the rest of the climb. Turn left at the lookout sign and in a couple of minutes you are at the Crater Lakes lookout, worth a photo.
Back on the main track, keep an eye out to the left for the crystal clear Emerald Lake and for patches of coloured earth, red, orange and brown from the thermal activity underneath. If you want a souvenir, a small container of the coloured soil is an easy one to bring home. Do not stray off the formed track here, the ground off to the sides can be hot thermal vent, and it will burn you.
As you climb, the bush changes from low scrub to taller, young native forest, a good place to get out of sun or wind depending on the day. The lower section of this track is shared with the Te Ara Ahi cycle trail, and higher up you join the Te Tihi o Ruru mountain bike track, so stay alert for riders in both directions.
When you get your first look at the Rainbow Mountain fire lookout, you are about 45 minutes from the top. The last 15 minutes or so is steep and rough underfoot. The track comes out onto a service road that vehicles occasionally use to reach the lookout, so watch for traffic on this final stretch, on the road itself or on the walking track alongside it.
At the top, walk around the lookout building to find a spot out of the wind. There is a rainwater tank next to the lookout, we could not vouch for how fresh the water was, use your own judgement. Looking south you can follow the power line down to the road, that is Kerosene Creek, a thermal swimming hole at the base of the mountain.
What you will see
The mountain earns its name from bands of coloured earth and rock along its slopes, the result of the same thermal activity that heats Wai-O-Tapu next door. Native bush covers the western side, while Kaingaroa Forest, the largest forestry plantation in the southern hemisphere, spreads out to the east.
On a clear day the summit delivers proper 360 degree views. The day we were up there we could pick out Mt Ruapehu 128 km to the south, Mt Tarawera 14.2 km to the north and Lake Rotomahana 7.8 km to the east.
Who it is for
The Crater Lake Walk alone suits most people, including families, in about 15 minutes each way. Continuing on to the summit is a different proposition. DOC classes that section as an Advanced tramping track, so it suits reasonably fit walkers who are comfortable on a steep, rough clay track rather than a casual stroll.
When to go
Go on a clear day if you want the long views, cloud or mist will rob you of the payoff at the top. The summit is exposed and can be genuinely cold and windy even when it is warm at the car park, so bring a layer. Early starts help you beat both the crowds and the day’s heat on the exposed upper slopes.
Important stuff
- Dogs are not permitted on this track.
- DOC currently grades the summit section an Advanced Grade 4 tramping track, notably more strenuous than an easy walk, check current DOC grading before you commit to the summit.
- Stay on the formed track. Ground just off the track can be hot thermal vent and will burn you.
- The track is shared with mountain bikers on both the lower Te Ara Ahi section and the upper Te Tihi o Ruru track, listen and look for riders.
- Near the summit the track meets a service road that is occasionally used by vehicles, watch for traffic on the final approach.
- Toilets are at the car park at the start, there are none further up the mountain.
My honest take
I walked this one on a clear day and it paid off, we could see Mt Ruapehu 128 km to the south from the summit. The climb through the bush is pleasant enough, but the last 15 minutes before the lookout is steep and rough, my legs knew about it the next day. I packed coffee and cake for the top, sitting out of the wind behind the lookout building with that view is one of the better rewards for effort I have found around Rotorua.
I would not trust the rainwater tank by the lookout for drinking, bring your own water. On the way down, keep an eye out south for the power line running to the road, that little swimming hole you can see is Kerosene Creek, worth a stop if you have togs in the car.
Common questions
Is Rainbow Mountain hard to walk?
The Crater Lake Walk section is easy, about 15 minutes each way on a good track. Beyond that, DOC grades the summit section an Advanced Grade 4 track, steeper and rougher than the word “easy” suggests, so check current DOC grading if you are planning to go all the way to the top.
How do I get to Rainbow Mountain without a car?
There is no public bus service to the car park. You will need to drive, cycle or get a ride, it is roughly 20 minutes from central Rotorua.
Is Rainbow Mountain the same as Wai-O-Tapu?
No. The Rainbow Mountain walking tracks are on public conservation land and free to use. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland next door is a separate, privately run attraction that charges an entry fee, do not confuse the two.
Are dogs allowed on Rainbow Mountain?
No, dogs are not permitted on this track.
How long does the Rainbow Mountain summit walk take?
Allow about 1 hour 30 minutes to walk up to the summit, and around 3 hours if you are doing the return trip.
Other walks nearby
- Blue Lake Walk, an easy loop around one of Rotorua’s prettiest lakes.
- Hamurana Springs Walk, a short walk past New Zealand’s clearest spring water.
- Kerosene Creek Hot Pools Walk, the thermal swimming hole you can spot from the Rainbow Mountain summit road.
See more of our Rotorua Walks.
