TAUPŌ AIRPLANE FIELD GUIDE
Over the Rift: A Floatplane Flight Above Rotorua’s Green and Blue Lakes and Mount Tarawera
A one-hour aerial circuit from Taupō that overflies Rotorua’s vibrantly colored lakes, Buried Village and Mount Tarawera’s 1886 fissure—useful for planning a short, family-friendly scenic flight with an optional geothermal landing.
Over the Rift: A Floatplane Flight Above Rotorua’s Green and Blue Lakes and Mount Tarawera.
Head north from Taupō for a compact, one-hour floatplane circuit over the Lakes of Rotorua, taking in the Green and Blue Lakes, the Buried Village and Lake Tarawera before climbing to Mount Tarawera to view the massive fissure formed during the 1886 eruption; on the return leg the flight passes the geothermal landscapes of Wai‑O‑Tapu and Orakei Korako, with an optional landing to walk among silica terraces, steaming geysers and boiling mud pools.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Orakei Korako’s silica terraces and boiling pools
The trip offers an option to land at Orakei Korako so you can walk among silica terraces, steaming geysers and boiling mud pools—an intimate encounter with Rotorua’s geothermal theatre.
Mount Tarawera and the 1886 fissure
Climb to the summit of Mount Tarawera to view the massive fissure carved by the 1886 eruption, a dramatic imprint of volcanic force visible from the air.
The Green and Blue Lakes from above
The flight overflies the Green and Blue Lakes, their striking hues best appreciated from the air as part of the route that also passes the Buried Village and Lake Tarawera.
What the day feels like
What the hour feels like
A brisk, scenic loop: depart Taupō, head north to thread a corridor of lake and volcanic terrain, pass the Green and Blue Lakes and Buried Village, climb to Mount Tarawera to inspect the 1886 fissure, then return via the geothermal systems of Wai‑O‑Tapu and Orakei Korako—optionally touching down at Orakei Korako to stroll among terraces and vents.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits—and who should check details before booking.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The advertised circuit is one hour; confirm local departure times with the operator.
No specific gear list is provided in the supplied details—contact Taupo's Floatplane for recommendations on clothing, cameras and footwear for an optional geothermal landing.
A minimum of two adult fares is required; child rates apply for ages 3–15 and children under 3 fly free. Family fares cover two adults and up to three children.
Flights may be combined with other passengers; all prices are inclusive of GST—confirm meeting/departure details with the operator in Taupō.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the flight?
The circuit is one hour in duration.
Can the flight land at geothermal sites?
There is an option to land at Orakei Korako so you can walk among silica terraces, geysers and boiling mud pools before returning to Taupō.
Are there age or child fares?
Child rates apply for children aged 3–15; children under 3 fly free; family pricing covers two adults and up to three children.
Is there a minimum booking requirement?
A minimum of two adult fares is required.
Will I be flying alone?
Your flight may be combined with other passengers; check with the operator if you require a private flight.
Are prices inclusive of taxes?
All prices are inclusive of GST.