What it is
Whakarewarewa, often shortened to "Whaka", lies in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. It was the site of the fortified pā Te Puia, first occupied around the 14th century and never taken in battle, and the people living here have long used the hot pools for cooking, washing and heating. Te Pākira Marae and the Wahiao meeting house serve hapū of Tūhourangi.
The area has around 500 hot pools, mostly alkaline chloride springs, and at least 65 geyser vents, of which a handful are active, including Pōhutu. Drilling of private bores once damaged many features; after bores were closed in 1987–88 the field recovered, and Papakura Geyser, long thought extinct, became active again in 2015.
Getting there by bus
Route 11 (Toi Ohomai - Te Puia - Rotorua CBD) is the bus for Whakarewarewa. It stops on Fenton Street at Opposite BP Station (stop 3048), about 310 metres away, and Fronting No.406 (SH 30) (stop 3047), about 370 metres away, around four or five minutes on foot.
Route 11 also stops on McKee Avenue (stops 3119 and 3120, about 480 metres away) and at Te Puia Thermal Park (stop 3060), about 600 metres away.
