Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and the Earth makes its presence felt here in spectacular fashion. The entire region hisses, bubbles, and steams with geothermal activity — boiling mud pools pop and belch like cauldrons, geysers shoot columns of superheated water skyward, and mineral-rich hot springs range in color from milky blue to vivid orange and emerald green. The standout geothermal attraction is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where the Champagne Pool — a 65-meter-wide hot spring rimmed in orange and yellow mineral deposits — and the brilliant green Devil’s Bath create an alien landscape that seems to belong on another planet entirely.

Te Puia is another essential stop, home to the Pohutu Geyser (the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupting up to 30 meters high) and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where young carvers and weavers learn traditional techniques that have been practiced for centuries. The connection between Maori culture and the geothermal landscape runs deep — the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao people have used these hot springs for cooking, bathing, and heating for generations, and a cultural performance with a traditional hangi feast cooked in the steaming earth is one of the most authentic experiences in New Zealand.

Pro tip: Visit Wai-O-Tapu first thing in the morning when the steam rising from the pools is thickest and the crowds are thinnest. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15 AM (induced with biodegradable soap, which is noted on-site). End your day with a soak at the Polynesian Spa on the lakefront, where hot mineral pools overlooking Lake Rotorua are the perfect way to unwind.