Wairakei Thermal Valley

I had a pleasant stay here, the owners are very friendly. A lot of chickens, peacocks and other birds. Not a bad 30mins thermal walk. I'm giving 4stars because of the only one bathroom (it's tidy), you have to wait in a busy time.

We popped in as were driving by and I was pleasantly surprised! This place was beautiful, the guys working were fun to chat with and my flat white was delicious. One of my other favorite things about the place were all the free range chickens, peacocks, Guinea hens and alpacas.

Interesting place... lots of animals to see and feed like rabbits, llamas, goats, chickens and peacocks. The walk is nice to, great scenery and geothermal activity. The track is know know for for prams or elderly though.

John is so fantastic and friendly, my wife said her coffee was fantastic and she is fussy. Tonnes of animals roaming, cute friendly rabbits. Awesome interior decor and theme, inviting and fun. The walk itself is incredibly interactive and informative, we loved the bridges and little custom pathway touches to make it personal and fun. Very active valley. The singing wall was one of my favorite segments of the walk. What an awesome place for anyone and everyone. We will be back

Really close to nature. The walk is very steep and not a casual hike or for little kids. Beautiful views and experience. Worth it if you are brave! If you don't like heights or narrow tracks then the walk might not be for you.

Disappointing. Very little geothermal activity (wisps of steam from holes in the ground). Also, maintenance is needed. Firstly some of the foliage growing over the footpath needs cutting back but more importantly, some of the duck boards and steps are broken and in need of replacement. This is a hazard. Also, we didn't notice any signs warning patrons about the steep up and down steps. We are fit, competent walkers and didn't have too much of an problem. That would not have been the case for anyone with mobility issues. We were also really surprised to see that other reviewers had been charged for simply driving up to the entrance of the park. We did not notice any signs warning about that at the main road. It clearly wasn't an issue for us because we paid to do the walk. This smacks of sharp practise.

Lovely secluded campground. The owners are very friendly and the inquisitive but well-behaved animals make for a unique experience and nice atmosphere. The facilities are clean and well-maintained and the whole place has a charming rustic yet tasteful character. Really glad we found this place!

If you come expecting great things you’ll be disappointed and unimpressed. If you come expecting a pleasant walk through a quiet valley where you can get close to some geothermal features you’ll have a nice time.

My mom and I stopped here on our way to Wellington. It turned out to be a good choice. We spent a few hours exploring and finished with a visit with the gentlemen who runs the cafe. It was hands on and a quite active walk on the trail. I would recommend be prepared for some physical activity.