Rotorua with Teenagers: Free Geothermal Adventures, Hot Foot Baths and Craters of the Moon
- eatcleanhealthandd
- 24 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Our first full day of exploring had arrived.
The sun was shining.
But wow, it was chilly!
Thankfully, our cabin at Tasman Holiday Parks Rotorua was lovely, warm and cosy, making it slightly harder to get everyone moving in the morning.
But today was adventure and exploring day.
And I had a plan.
Starting with a free geothermal adventure in Rotorua
Once the boys were awake, fed and ready to go, we headed out for a walk to the park next door.
Well, almost next door!
It was actually only by chance that I had realised just how close we were to Kuirau Park.
This was somewhere Craig and I had sought out on previous visits to Rotorua, but unfortunately, the last few times we had been in the area, the weather had been absolutely hammering it down.
This time was different.
It was a beautiful, bright winter's morning.
And the weather was perfect for exploring.
Kuirau Park is a free public park in central Rotorua, famous for its natural geothermal activity, bubbling mud pools, steaming lakes and man-made geothermal foot baths.
As a parent travelling with teenagers, it ticked several boxes for me.
Firstly, it was free.
And let's be honest, when you're travelling as a family and already spending money on accommodation, food, fuel and activities, free attractions are always very welcome.
Secondly, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to gauge how interested the boys actually were in geothermal activity before investing in some of the larger paid attractions in the Rotorua and Taupō areas.
And finally, it got us all moving.
So backpacks packed, with a towel just in case the foot baths got tested, off we went.
I had a feeling at least two of us would be getting our feet wet!
Bubbling mud pools and steaming landscapes
The park is clearly signposted and easy to walk around, with pathways taking you safely through the geothermal areas.
It really is an incredible setting.
On a warmer day, it would be perfect for a picnic, and there is also a playground for younger children.
But even on this chilly winter morning, it was a great place to explore.
The boys were fascinated by the bubbling mud pools.
They spent ages standing and watching, trying to spot new bubbles appearing through the mud.
There is something quite surreal about wandering through what looks like an ordinary public park and suddenly coming across steaming water, bubbling mud and geothermal pools.
It is one of those things that makes Rotorua so unique.
Of course, I had to try the thermal foot bath
Eventually, we reached the geothermal foot baths.
There are two areas, one covered and one open.
There were a couple of people sitting at one end of one of the pools.
I, however, needed absolutely no encouragement.
Off came the boots.
Off came the socks.
Leggings rolled up.
And straight into the warm water I went.
It was lush!
I genuinely can never say no to a thermal spa, hot pool or relaxing mineral foot bath.
Albie didn't take long to follow me in.
Archie, however, resisted.
I genuinely thought he might give it a go.
But no.
He was quite happy to watch!
Sitting there chatting in the middle of a public park with our feet soaking in naturally heated water felt almost surreal.
The area was lovely and clean, well maintained and clearly looked after.
It is one of those free experiences that I think should be included in any Rotorua itinerary.
Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or with children and teenagers, it is a brilliant little stop.
Ducks, ducklings and a final playground test
After our feet were nicely warmed and soaked, we dried off and continued exploring the park.
We came across a mummy duck and her two ducklings enjoying one of the heated ponds.
Of course, Albie had to stop and watch.
And naturally, no visit to a park is complete without testing the playground.
The climbing equipment was given a thorough inspection before we started walking back.
As we headed back through the park, a school group had arrived.
They were sitting around the foot baths while their teachers handed out food.
Hot pies and doughnuts from a local bakery.
Albie looked at me and said:
"Mum, how come on our school trips we have to take homemade packed lunches and they get bakery hot pies or doughnuts? That's not fair!"
He did have a point!
And, as it happened, his observation gave us our lunch plans.
Time for New Zealand pies
Before heading towards our afternoon adventure, we stopped at Patrick's Pies
The boys were more than happy with this decision.
They both refuelled with a hot pie.
One went for a potato-topped mince pie and the other chose chicken.
Unfortunately, there weren't any gluten-free options available for me.
So I settled for coffee.
One of the challenges I have when travelling gluten-free is that sometimes the food options are limited.
But the boys were happy.
They were fed.
And we were ready for our next adventure.
Exploring Craters of the Moon
Our next stop was Craters of the Moon
https://www.cratersofthemoon.co.nz, a geothermal walking attraction located between Rotorua and Taupō.
After experiencing the free geothermal activity at Kuirau Park, I thought this would be a brilliant next step.
It is easy to find and clearly signposted from the road.
Driving through the beautiful bush-lined entrance, we eventually arrived at the small car park.
Straight away, it felt peaceful.
At the time of our visit, entry was reasonably priced, $10 an adult and $5 a kid, and there was also a coffee wagon and gift shop on site.
But we were there to explore.
Walking through a geothermal landscape
The walking track takes you through an incredible geothermal landscape.
Steam rises from the ground.
Mud pools bubble away.
Craters appear amongst the vegetation.
And you can see just how active the geothermal landscape is.
The main walk is tracked and relatively easy to follow.
This made it ideal for us.
And, importantly when travelling with teenagers, there was plenty to look at along the way.
There is also a nature trail element, encouraging visitors to look at the flora and fauna around them.
Anything that keeps children and teenagers engaged gets a big tick from me.
There is also the option of a steeper walk up to a lookout point.
I would highly recommend doing it.
The views are definitely worth the climb.
The sun was shining while we were there.
But the wind had picked up.
And when that wind blew, the chill factor was definitely biting!
Despite the cold, it was absolutely stunning.
A perfect winter's day.
Keeping teenagers engaged outside
The boys were actually smiling, mucking about together, looking out for birds, checking out plants. And exploring.
Best off NO screens.
No endless scrolling.
And, thankfully, no dreaded words every parent eventually hears:
"I'm bored."
From the moment my boys could walk, I have always tried to make being outdoors more engaging.
Nature trails.
Scavenger hunts.
Wildlife spotting.
Anything that gives a walk or day out an extra element of fun and learning.
During the pandemic, our daily walks often included these kinds of activities.
We would combine being outside with elements of their school learning.
Bringing the outdoors into their education.
As they have got older, particularly with a 14-year-old teenager, it has become slightly harder to get that same level of engagement.
But it is still possible.
And venues that provide activity sheets, information trails and interactive elements definitely make a difference.
For me, this kind of day is perfect quality time.
Being outside, learning without necessarily feeling like you're learning.
And really importantly spending time together without the constant distraction of screens.
A brilliant afternoon at Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon.
It was engaging without being overwhelming.
The walking track was manageable.
The scenery was incredible.
And there was plenty to keep the boys interested.
A massive thank you to Pip and Amy at Craters of the Moon for helping me organise our visit.
It was lovely to meet you, Pip, and thank you for taking the time to provide information about the park and the geothermal landscape.
We all had an awesome time.
If you are staying in Rotorua, travelling towards Taupō or simply passing through the area, I would definitely recommend building this into your itinerary.
You won't be disappointed.
Back to Rotorua for hot pools and the jumping pillow
After our afternoon exploring, we headed back up to Rotorua and our cabin.
Albie had one thing on his mind.
The hot pools.
Well, two things actually.
The hot pools and the jumping pillow!
So as soon as we got back, that was exactly what we did.
The boys made the most of the facilities.
And, of course, we returned to the hot pools again later in the evening.
If you have thermal pools available to you, you may as well make the most of them!
Another self-catering family dinner
Back at the cabin, dinner was homemade again.
This time, chicken tikka curry.
Packed with vegetables including sweetcorn, capsicum and carrots.
One thing I always try to do when travelling is keep a balance.
We love eating out and trying local food.
But when travelling for several weeks, self-catering also makes life easier.
It helps with budgeting.
It makes managing dietary requirements easier.
And it means I can still make sure we are eating plenty of vegetables and balanced meals.
Especially when travelling with two growing boys!
Meeting fellow travellers in the hot pools
During our evening visit to the hot pools, it was lovely to meet an English couple travelling around New Zealand with their two young children in a motorhome.
We chatted and shared travelling stories and experiences.
And, if I'm completely honest, hiring a motorhome had originally been my first choice for this trip.
I have travelled around New Zealand in a motorhome before.
In fact, during my very first trip to New Zealand all those years ago, I hired one.
There is something about the freedom of being able to wake up somewhere new and simply continue your journey.
But this time, I would have been doing all of the driving myself.
Archie also wasn't particularly keen on the motorhome or camping-style experience.
So perhaps that will be something for a future trip.
Maybe just Albie, me and maybe Craig.
Because I know they would have been completely up for it!
Ending our final night in Rotorua
Back at the cabin, we made our usual evening call to Craig.
Then settled down for a few episodes of either YBS Youngblood or Untide on YouTube.
A perfect way to wind down after a busy day.
Before long, both boys were sparko.
Our first full day of exploring New Zealand had been a success.
Free geothermal pools.
Bubbling mud.
New Zealand pies.
Craters and steaming landscapes.
Hot pools.
The jumping pillow.
And plenty of time outdoors.
Rotorua had definitely delivered.
And this was only the beginning of our Aotearoa adventure.
Next stop…
More New Zealand exploring with two teenage boys.
And plenty more adventures still to come.
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