Rainbow Mountain Summit Walk

What: 2hr-ish return walk to the top of Rainbow Mountain      
When: Anytime of year
Where: Rainbow Mountain lies 26 km south-east of Rotorua, beside the Rotorua-Taupo highway (SH5). Approaching from Rotorua the carpark is located just past the turnoff for SH 38, on the left-hand side of the road.

How…

Rainbow Mountain is a great place to stop and stretch the legs on a long journey whilst catching some spectacular 360 views across the Rotorua lakes, and mountains of the Central Plateau.  From the carpark on SH5, follow the signs to the crater lakes lookout.  After a 10-15 minute walk, the viewing platform here provides a peek of the stunning emerald lakes and unusually coloured brown, orange, and red surrounding rock-faces. 

From here, the track to the summit continues upward through a mixture of native bush and bare ridges providing regular views of the crater lakes and surrounding countryside along the way.  The final part of the track emerges onto the dirt and gravel summit road which will take you the remainder of the way to the top. 

From the summit Mt Tarawera, Lakes Tarawera, Rotomahana and Rerewhakaaitu can be seen to the north, the Paeroa Range to the west,  Urewera Ranges and Kaimanawa Forest to the east,  and Mt Tauhara, Lake Taupo and the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park to the south.  The summit  provides a nice flat picnic area to take in the views, or for a slightly better view, ask the man in the fire-watch house nicely and he’ll invite you up for a view from the deck.  

Sore muscles?  After returning to the carpark, drive a few minutes further down SH5 and take the turn off to Kerosene Creek.  A few minutes down the gravel road will lead you to a carpark with the thermal creek running alongside it.  Walk as far as you like until you find a spot you fancy.  This natural wonder forms from a hot spring flowing down through natural bush, pouring over an old lava flow.  With a range of bathing spots along the river this is a great place to come with a group of friends or perhaps a romantic spa (if you don't mind the 'slight' smell).