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George was a wonderful pilot and seems to have a lot of flying experience ! He took us over the volcanoes with lots of interesting informations, and always gave me time to translate for my parents. The plane was comfortable and we didn’t have to wait at the beginning. George gave us lots of information about what to do for the next days, and always with a big smile. He is highly recommendable, and the flight lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes, awesome !!!! You need to do this if you are in N.Z. !!
This tour is an absolute must do. Not only is this tour the only way that you can get up Mt Tarawera, it is also a real privilege to be able to walk up there. We had two guides who shared lots of information with us as we went around. They were kind and very patient. In our group there were young and old people. One person was afraid of heights. So one guide stayed back with them and gently encouraged them. The other guide went on ahead with the rest of the group. No one was left behind and no one was held up. It was really really good. Together everyone was able to complete the walk. From the top we were able to see Whakaari ( White Island) , whale island, Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Mt Ruapehu.... amazing Loved it and would definitely do it again.
This was our first ever guided group hike, but it exceeded expectations. The trip started with a one-hour drive on roads that become quite bumpy as you ascend. This was followed by 1.5-2 hrs of hiking, which provided brief workouts on a couple ascents. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable of the geology and area culture. The mountain displayed rich earth-tone colours and scenic views of the volcano and area. A steep scree slope provided a fun descent and the guides insured the two children descended safely. Suggest hikers wear pants to keep rocks out of your boots, and bring hiking poles if you own them. The group pace was slow which allowed time to soak up the views. Recommend this as a relatively easy Alpine hike on a dormant volcano. If you are less fit, we saw groups coming via helicopter.
Unfortunately it was wet and visibility was poor, but we still enjoyed the experience. Even though you couldn't see much you still got a good sense of the power and history of this mountain.
This walk was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever done. We had a perfect day. It was a bit cloudy at the beginning but then the sun came and we could see unique landscapes. Our tour guide Dan was amazing! He knew a lot and told us all the history of this place. He also showed us the different types of rocks you could find there and ALWAYS checking on us (He was also really patient because we stopped a lot to take pictures haha). A must do if you’re around Rotorua. I definitely recommend doing this. I can’t wait to come back :)
Would highly recommend this hike, it was fairly easy going with a bit of rock climbing up the Hillary stairs. The 360 degree views from the summit are amazing so definitely aim for a clear day! I was a bit unsure about the scree decent into the crater but the guides gave some good tips and once I got the hang of it this part was lots of fun! Even the van ride to the car park is an adventure (just make sure you empty your bladder first lol).
Not an easy hike, but it was explained clearly, with the challenges of each section outlined. Guide was fairly inexperienced but clearly well trained, and there was a very experienced guide also on hand. Well worth doing!!!
Really good experience and relaxing after adrenaline activities. Staff very friendly. Had a late lunch at the cafe which was very much needed and reasonably priced.
Was so awesome, made my skin feel so soft. Still over 24 hrs later and 3 showers my skin still feels soft. I trod on a bumblebee just before I got in the mud and it stung the bottom of my foot, as soon as I rubbed it in the mud the sting left. Staff were really friendly, nice atmosphere. Just wonderful all round ??
Incredible that the who walk was earth and not man made
We really enjoyed the entire 3 hours. The walking path to the lake is very well signed & the provided map with details at each stop is helpful & informative. There are many beautiful lookouts & interesting features. The boat trip was a fun little cruise, especially on a sunny day & our captain was funny & a great narrator. Very cool to be able to see the geyser! It would have felt pricey at full price but at the discounted Bookme price is was really great value. Glad we went & recommend !
Awesome tour our driver/ tour guide was so so cool would do this again mean maori mean ???
A great ending to our romantic break in Rotorua. Stunning view across the lake. Can be a cool breeze so worth wrapping up. I had the eggs Benedict which was delicious and hubby had the full English which he thoroughly enjoyed. My only suggestion would be hot plates as the chilly weather can cool the food quite quickly. Will definitely return to this magic spot!
This was a long walk, but very worth while and very interesting. It was long as we spent ages reading all the info at each site as well as taking in all the views. The boat tour and the guide were great. We had done the Buried Village museum in the morning and this in the afternoon and it tied in beautifully to bring the whole story together. We saw the volcanoes and the site of the pink and white terraces. Great to see the wee geyser as well. Fantastic afternoon.
Fantastic trip with Paul, a very pleasant and knowledgable man. Loved the ride and the forest walk.
Really loved the experience. Great guide.
Lots of fun, feeding the chooks, the bush walk and the cuppa, all stops along the way. Self drive the carts. very informative and low key. great for families also.
Well set up and organised - not spectacular scenery but not many railways are! Patrick the guide was very relaxed but professional.
A great day of memories for me personally as I am a retired NZR Loco Engineer who drove trains on the Awakeri line. Paul and his team have done a terrific job, looking after our NZ history. Recommended to everyone to take the journey.
I had the pleasure of joining the owner of Awakeri Rail Adventures for a trip during a visit to the area during October. The tour was much more interesting as you have complete control of your car unlike others rail tours I have taken with cars that are computer controlled. The tour guide - owner was super friendly and thoughtful as we stopped along the trip for an informative short trek through the bush and also for an animal feeding, as well as refreshments at another venue. The trip was really most enjoyable, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have an entertaining few hours.
My family and I had a great time our guide, Nate, was awesome as was the rest of the guides. Would definitely recommend our kids want to come back so we will see you again. Thank you for a primo day best wishes to you all for 2020 ?
Fantastic team. Was an amazing afternoon highly recommended.
Awesome and unforgettable lifetime experience for even a non-swimmer like me. The rapids may look scary but it is so much fun rafting with complete confidence in your guide and the red (lifesaver) kayak. The crew were incredible and they have such an enviable office. I would say this is a 'must-do' activity in everyone's lifetime.
Me and my partner were first timers going white water rafting and it was an awesome experience. Thanks Sam our diver on the boat you are awesome highly recommended.
I overcame my fear of water with the friendly , professional team at Rotorua Rafting. They were very safety conscious and best of all made my whole experience very memorable! Exhilarating and a must do for everyone. I will definitely be back !
Fantastic experience, I did this as a 50th birthday treat with my daughter, son in law and one of their friends. Great guide thanks Cam you totally made our day, I would definitely be doing it again next time I visit New Zealand ?
Had such a great time on the river with a group of amazing (crazy) guides! Would recommend everyone to do this because you won't regret it!?
Crew: Friendly and hilarious! Very professional. Experience: quite a number of rapids and obviously the waterfall itself! It was thrilling to say the least! Overall: An hour of total fun! Very thrilling but safe as well. There were a large number of additional help on kayaks aside from one guide per boat. Life jackets work ?. Swallowed water but that's to be expected ?. Anyone with contact lenses should bring and wear goggles. Mine slipped out and i was almost half blind. So i had to shut my eyes at the best bit which was a little sad. But overall great fun!
We ent in summers so the water was pretty warm and the guides and all the staff were very professional and fun. They made the whole experience even more fun. Our guide was SAM and he was amazing, he was really funny and a great trainer. Overall, the whole experience was really fun and a must-do for whoever is visiting Rotorua.
I would highly recommend this company, especially ride with Tom or Jesper! Jesper gave us a ride from town and Tom was our guide on the boat. We have laughed all the time :) one of the best experience in NZ! Definitively not to be missed! Cheers
What a ride!! Absolutely awesome time on the river!! Felt a bit nervous initially but the crew put us all at ease straight away with their friendly hilarious banter and stellar expertise. Complete masters of their craft, always felt absolutely safe and had a blast! Would highly recommend Rotorua Rafting for a great adventure that won’t be soon forgotten. Thanks to Jure and Nathan…. what a top bunch of lads! We never felt it’s unsafe when we’re with them and we enjoyed to the fullest of our ride. Thanks to George for the beautiful pictures ☺️. A must do!
These guys are excellent. From arriving at the base to leaving afterwards they provided the best customer service and provided you with everything you needed. On river was amazing, beautiful bush scenery all the way, and of course heaps of fun on the raft. We surfed waves, swum over a waterfall and had the perfect trip. Recommend these guys for your rafting trip, you won’t be disappointed ! Also they took photos along the way, and you can purchase them at the end for only $39 which I thought was great value.
The most exhilarating 1-2 hr rafting experience this whanau enjoyed today. A great Christmas gift idea, well worth it. Thanks to friendly, helpful and funny staff members for an epic adventure.
It was our first wedding anniversary celebration and we cannot ask for better place.Had a beautiful adventurous experience
Absolutely awesome time on the river!! Felt a bit nervous but the crew put us all at ease straight away with their friendly hilarious banter and stellar expertise. Complete masters of their craft, always felt utterly safe and had a blast! Would highly recommend Rotorua Rafting for a great adventure that won’t be soon forgotten. Thanks Mitch, Nate, Nikau and Jure - what a top bunch of lads!
Amazing experience. Lovely staff. Kept us safe. Brilliant !
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