Wild and spectacular, Tarawera boasts a remarkable landscape with a rich and colourful past.

Lake Tarawera was historically the main access point for overseas tourists visiting what was widely lauded as the eighth wonder of the world, the "Pink and White Terraces".

History shows that tourists were "ferried" by local Maori in wakas to visit the terraces at the culmination of what was often a long and dangerous pilgrimage from their homeland.

Sadly in 1886 Mt Tarawera erupted wiping out the Maori villages of Te Ariki and Moura and the settlement of Te Wairoa and tragically killing over 100 people. The eruption also reshaped much of the surrounding landscape and destroyed the terraces forever.

More than 120 years on, the area has greatly recovered and now offers lush native bush with magical walking tracks and therapeutic thermal beaches created by natural hot springs.

Wakarua is a specially designed lake boat that continues the tradition of enabling visitors to absorb and experinece the wonder of Tarawera.