Overview

We have different elements to our business. We offer a straight drop off and pick up service to and from Hot Water Beach, for walkers,walking the Tarawera Trail or for campers,camping at Hot Water Beach Lake Tarawera. We offer Cultural and Geothermal tours that include Hot Water Beach and the Natural Bush Hot Pool. You will experience its unique geothermal wonders and relax in crystal clear warm water, under a canopy of unspoiled forest. Other tours take you to the Tarawera Falls, one of New Zealand's outstanding short walks or other popular walking tracks. All tours include a commentary on the amazing local Maori cultural, and volcanic history. We have an all weather boat. Our newest venture is Glamping (glamorous camping).This is not new to New Zealand but there are few places like Lake Tarawera to experience the full spectrum of what this experience has to offer. A native bush setting, direct views to Mt Tarawera, whare style shelters and not 50 metres away from your tent, the crystal clear lake to swim and play. Of course there is the geothermal at the lake edge for soaking or trying your hand at cooking in the sand. (We have just produced a cook book to show you how). And there are no sulphur smells to worry about.

5.0

297 reviews

Excellent87%
Very good12%
Average1%
Poor0%
Terrible0%

Travelers talk about

“water taxi” (106 reviews)

“hot water beach” (138 reviews)

“eco tour” (18 reviews)

Closed Now

Hours

Hours Today: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

LOCATION

Tarawera Road, Lake Tarawera 3076, New Zealand

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Write a ReviewReviews (297)

1 - 10 of 293 reviews

lipi285

Tauranga, New Zealand

2

Reviewed 5 days ago

Water Taxi - Tarawera Trail

Totally Tarawera's water taxi collected us from Hot Water Beach (the end of our tramp) and took us back to Tarawera Landing where we had left our car. It was easy to book the water taxi online, they collected us at the stated time and...More

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Ask lipi285 about Totally Tarawera

Thank lipi285

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Thanks for your review. Especially taking the time to do it. We love the Tarawera Trail and enjoy that so many people are using it with positive feedback. You also get to see a different prospective of the Lake Tarawera area coming back on the...More

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jodibel1

2

Reviewed 6 days ago

Totally over the expected.

So helpful, so pleasant. Felt proud to be a Kiwi. The boat was spacious with a friendly atmosphere. Confidently helped us navigate the provided map. Will be back of course. The hike to take all my friends too.More

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Ask jodibel1 about Totally Tarawera

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Thanks for taking the time to review us. We feel proud to do what we are doing when we get feedback such as yours. Not only is this one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand it is our whenua, our tribal land....More

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Tennillecourtenay

1

Reviewed 1 week ago

Fun ride!

he driver of the little boat was friendly, he boosted us back to the main area in no time haha. Was a fun ride after a long walk. If you are keen on the long walk or just visiting the beach it's a cool ride...More

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Ask Tennillecourtenay about Totally Tarawera

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Thanks for the review. Glad you thought it was a fun ride and hopefully a safe one which we pride ourselves in. After walking the Tarawera Trail or one of the other trails around the lake then taking the water taxi you get to see...More

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gluke2018

Auckland, New Zealand

1

Reviewed 1 week ago

Great day out!

After an amazing walk around Lake Tarawera we caught the Totally Tarawera ferry back to the Landing. We found the ferry operators to be very warm, friendly and professional. We can't fault the service but we do think the price of the ticket is too...More

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Ask gluke2018 about Totally Tarawera

Thank gluke2018

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to do this review. We try hard to give good service and help you enjoy the overall experience of Lake Tarawera. Totally Tarawera operates 364 days of the year with Christmas Day being our only day not operating....More

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r0s54

Armidale, Australia

52

Reviewed 1 week ago

water taxi shuttle

Great service. So good to be able to enjoy walking the beautiful Tarawera Trail knowing we had a restful, scenic trip back to our car. The operator was friendly and gave an interesting commentary for the journey.More

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Ask r0s54 about Totally Tarawera

Thank r0s54

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Thanks for your review and taking the time to do it. I am pleased you enjoyed our water taxi service and the Tarawera Trail itself. We are proud of it and excited that one day it will take walkers right around the lake. There is...More

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David I

Auckland, New Zealand

52

Reviewed 1 week ago

Not difficult

I was reluctant to do this track as I read it was an advanced track. In reality it was easy, and that is from a sixtyy three year old with only moderate fitness and carrying a ten kilo pack. Loved it. Took my ultra light...More

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Ask David I about Totally Tarawera

Thank David I

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Thank you for this review. It is interesting that DOC call the Tarawera Trail an "advanced track" as I would agree with you it is what I would call a "moderate walk" with a couple of challenging hills for the less fit but overall...More

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nigelwignall

Rotorua, New Zealand

1

Reviewed 1 week ago

Lake walk and water taxi

We arranged the taxi the day before our walk with the lovely Tracey who was so helpful explaining the History of the area and about the eruption of the mountain We did the lake walk the next morning which was amazing Had about an hour...More

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Ask nigelwignall about Totally Tarawera

Thank nigelwignall

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Thanks for taking the time to do this review. The lovely Tracy is my daughter so it is with pride that I thank you. Wayne her husband is our regular driver with me filling in and of course my wife, Karen is our "boss"...More

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LDSmember

Auckland, New Zealand

4240

Reviewed 1 week ago

Just Fantastic

We booked the 3:45pm pick up service from Hot Water beach to the Landing through the Totally Tarawera website - which was easy. The best way to communicate with TT is to call them directly. I spoke with Tracey several times and meet her on...More

Ask LDSmember about Totally Tarawera

Thank LDSmember

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Thank you for your feedback and providing the useful information around walking the Tarawera Trail and our water taxi service. It is really appreciated. If you have a group or have any special needs it is a good option to contact us directly as you...More

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jekabala

Bristol, United Kingdom

1

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

great boat trip across the lake and fantastic walk back along the trail

very informative, friendly and helpful skipper, beautiful lake and great walk back along the trail through fantastic sceneryMore

Review collected in partnership with this attraction

Ask jekabala about Totally Tarawera

Thank jekabala

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Appreciate your review and taking the time to do it. We love Tarawera and love having the opportunity to share it with you. We are a family business who descend from this area so it is our privilege to host you even if for...More

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Nataliya M

2

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Good but expensive

Totally Tarawera is the only water taxi operating between the landing and Hot Water Beach campsite (at least we couldn't find anybody else). This certainly allows them to charge monopoly prices. Couple that runs the taxi service is very friendly and accommodating but service is...More

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Ask Nataliya M about Totally Tarawera

Thank Nataliya M

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Greetings, Thanks for responding and complimenting us on our friendly and accommodating service. $25 for the water taxi services from Hot Water Beach to Landing. - We operate 364 days per year with as few as 2 people on the boat. - We carry many...More

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Ask a question

Questions & Answers

Paige D

Hey, how do you get from rotatura information point(where all the buses go) to this totally tarawera? Or Is there a coach that can take you? Paige x

July 14, 2017|

AnswerShow all 2 answers

I had my own car so just ask at rotorua information centre

KiwiCanadian305

Can we hike this in a round day hike with out taking the boat back

March 4, 2017|

AnswerShow all 7 answers

Hi KiwiCanadian305, As others have said, by rights you can but it depends on your level of fitness. We have had some that have completed both ways within 7 hours and we have had others that thought they could walk back out... More

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