Visit Waikato Region with Mighway

Orakei Korako Geothermal Park

Come and explore a world of gushing geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and some of the largest and most amazing silica terraces in the world.Wander through the Hidden Valley and veiw the thermal Ruatapu Cave which extends more than 36m down to the 'Waiwhakaata' or 'Pool of Mirrors' hot pool at the bottom.

Orakei Korako boasts the most active geysers of any geothermal park in New Zealand. Up to 23 active natural geysers play freely through the area, which is constantly changing. Marvel at the number of boiling hot springs and the vibrant colours all around you. Lonely Planet writes "Arguably the best Thermal area in New Zealand" Trip Advisor Award of Excellence 2011 to 2017.

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company is New Zealand’s first black water cave rafting adventure operator.

With exhilarating caving & rafting tours, namely Black Abyss, Black Labyrinth and the Black Odyssey, to choose from, there is something to suit all adventurous spirits. The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. is New Zealand's first black water rafting adventure operator. And it's also the only tour that takes you through the incomparable Ruakuri Cave.

Each Waitomo Caves Black Water Rafting expedition includes around 6-12 people guided by expert guides who will support and encourage you through the whole breathtaking caving tour.

Our friendly, knowledgeable local guides have helped The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. achieve an excellent safety record over many years. They can help you step outside yourself and leave with a huge sense of accomplishment.​​​​​​​​​​​​

Hamilton Gardens

Explore an enchanting world of secret gardens at Waikato's most visited tourist destination. In the 1960s, Hamilton Gardens was a bleak city rubbish dump covered in blackberries with seagulls circling above. Remnants of the Gardens’ earlier history as a pre-European Pa, British military post, Victorian rifle-range and dog-dosing station lay scattered across the site. Four acres had been part of the Hamilton East Town Belt and was passed over to Hamilton City Council for the purposes of a public garden; an opening ceremony for Hamilton Gardens was held on 24th July 1960. The site now extends over 54 hectares. Today, more than 40 years later, these humble beginnings have been overshadowed by the development of the Gardens’ internationally unique concept: The History, Context and Meaning of Gardens.

Hamilton Gardens is not a botanical garden. Instead, its concept acknowledges there is a story to tell about gardens, their development over time and across cultures, and their use. This concept was conceived in the early 1980s by Hamilton Gardens director Dr Peter Sergel and met with significant enthusiasm from city councillors. Some of its inspiration came from the Bundesgartenschau of Germany and other international garden shows, where many differing approaches to gardening and garden design are brought together on one site. The concept has also been compared to a museum, where each garden collection has historic integrity and provides a window into the story of civilisations, their arts, beliefs and lifestyles. More than 30 years later, Sergel’s sketchbook designs are almost identical to the themed gardens existing today.

Assistance from the community, and trusts formed to support specific garden developments, has been invaluable to the Gardens development. For 20 years the Gardens benefitted from the labour provided by Taskforce Green and Pre-Employment Programmes which subsidised the wages of young workers while they developed skills on the job.

Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a highlight on the scenic drive from Waitomo Village to Marokopa. The track is pushchair-friendly and follows a boardwalk through an impressive limestone gorge that takes you underneath a natural bridge.

The 17 m high limestone arch, which spans the Mangapohue Stream, is all that remains of an ancient cave system. From here the track becomes stepped and passes under the bridge giving a superb view of the ceiling studded with stalactite-like formations and an excellent view back down the gorge.

The track continues for over farmland. Follow the marker posts around to the right and up the hill where you can see 25 million year old fossilised oysters exposed in the limestone outcrops. Follow the marker posts until you cross a stile back into the reserve heading back to the car park.

Combine this walk with Piripiri Cave Walk and Marokopa Falls Walk on a scenic drive from Waitomo to Marokopa.

Getting there

The track starts on Te Anga Road, 25 km from Waitomo Village.