Rainbow Mountain Summit Track (Maungakaramea)
20 Rankers Reviews
17 Face-to-Face
5 Waiotapu
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Rainbow Mountain has been an active geothermal area for several hundred years and a reserve since 1903. The surface features are a manifestation of the extensive Waimangu / Waiotapu hydrothermal field.
Aptly named Rainbow Mountain due to the unusual colour of the soil. Busy geothermal activity and a pleasant walk through native bush to the summit.
Access
Rainbow Mountain is signposted 500 metres after the turnoff to S.H.38, 29km south of Rotorua on S.H.5.
Track
Maungakaramea is an active geothermal area with a fragile ecosystem. You MUST stay on the track at all times.
To the Crater Lake, the track is narrow and even. It climbs gently for 10 minutes to a junction, 1 minute from the Crater Lake lookout.
The main track climbs steadily on a mostly even surface for 1¼ hours to a junction with the metalled road. The summit is a further 5 minutes.
Geology
The Crater Lakes nestle at the foot of a scarlet and white cliffs, encrusted with sporadic clumps of tenacious vegetation. The colours arise from the hydrothermal activity, which cooks the rock to release minerals and chemically alters their composition.
The lake visible from the lookout is a milky peppermint colour and is accompanied by the bubbling of nearby hydrothermal outlets. Steaming fumaroles vent wisps of cloudy vapour on the hilltop above.
Flora
Much of the vegetation on the mountain is directly related to the thermal conditions, with periods of cooling interspersed with episodes of burning. A mosaic of tall shrubland, low forest and isolated stands of kamahi forest cloak the slopes.
Rare vegetation includes prostrate kanuka, threatened orchids and tropical ferns on the warm slopes.
Fauna
The lakes harbour a biota very restricted in distribution, which includes thermophyllic bacteria and enzymes.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Waiotapu |
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Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 20.
Mike Fricker
Ranking: 8/10
22Sept18. Stopped by and walked to the crater. That was good. Not enough time for the longer walks.
The car park is more of a lay by for storage of gravel and was very uneven and bumpy when we were there hence only 8.
Eva Hesse
Ranking: 7/10
This was an easy track on a cloudy day. Nevertheless, the volcanic activities on the mountain are astounding! Fumeroles are everywhere, sulphur and other gasses perfuming the area! Amazing that track finished at Kerosene Creek where we took a warm bath.
Maria Eriksson
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful walk if you take all of it - and not only the last part from the parking lot. Possibilities to take a swim/dip in the warm weather. Quite a lot of people.
Sebastian
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful walk to a hot pool.
Thank You - to the thousands of travellers that have contributed to our Top Voted NZ Activities Map - it's free from Rankers.
Lucie Revay
Ranking: 7/10
The view from top was OK for me, I wouldn't go again. What I liked most was the Blue lake. Fascinating colour!
Til Schaebitz
Ranking: 9/10
One of the most underrated DOC walks. Blue Crater lake, red rocks, not too exhausting, but not for wheelchairs.
Daniel
Ranking: 9/10
Nice trekking to the top of a hill with a lookout of all the surrounding area including a beautiful blue lake and ending in some really hot thermal springs with a nice waterfall - all free.
Ludovica Velo
Ranking: 8/10
360 degree view of the landscape! If the weather is good you can see both Taupo and Rotorua, lakes, forests, and Tongariro.
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Michal Kamradek
Ranking: 9/10
Nice lookout, a rainbow if you are lucky.
Manuel Bleiker
Ranking: 8/10
A bit of a walk, but worth it! Amazing views.
Lilli Erni
Ranking: 9/10
Great views from the balcony of the fire watching station on the mountain top.
Robert Erni
Ranking: 9/10
Excellent views! Worth the walk.
Patricia Erni
Ranking: 8/10
It took us a bit longer than one hour to get a very nice view (360). You could also go by a mountain bike.
DOC Managed
Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍
