Lake Tarawera Lookout

This vista spot offers a great view over Lake Tarawera. It includes some information about the history of the eruption in 1886, a Pouwairua carving and a time capsule, which is to be opened in 2086 - the bicentenary of the eruption.

Beautiful lake! Would have been stoked if I had a free boat ride to the natural hot spring at the other side of the lake!

Awesome view . Pictures don't do it justice

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.Visitors from around the world flocked to the shores of the lake to see the famed Pink and White Terraces - once named the '8th wonder of the world' - which the eruption destroyed.The Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter, who drew a pre-eruption map of the Rotorua region in 1859, recorded that he personally felt unsafe near Mount Tarawera and that local Māori also tended to keep their distance. Wisely so, as things turned out.Before the eruption Mt Tarawera consisted of three peaks. The first peak to erupt was the Wahanga peak, furthest to the north, at about 1:30am. This was followed by the middle and highest peak, Ruawahia, and then the most southern, Tarawera. The roar of the eruption was heard hundreds of kilometres away, even as far as Christchurch and Auckland.It was estimated that more than 2 billion cubic yards of ash were scattered over an area of more than 6000 square miles.At the Rotomahana Hotel, the inhabitants had to first leave one room when the roof collapsed under the hail of ash, rocks and mud, and then the entire hotel.Mount Tarawera is known to have erupted five times in the last 18,000 years. While the time between each of the eruptions is around 700 to 3000 years, the eruptions are 100 to 100,000 times larger than other volcanoes.

Beautiful scenery very quite lovely to the native birds singing.

A beautiful view from the lookout. Pristine bush and a picturesque view. Definitely worth a visit, even though it is a short one!

Well worth the drive out of your way.If you continue down the road you'll end up at the lakeside. An awesome place for lunch

Only a minute or so drive past the buried village it is worth visiting this lookout while you’re there to get a great view over Lake Tarawera.

Simply breathtaking! One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Beautiful views, of a beautiful country. Well worth a look.