Stupendous scenery--after a lot of pain.

Only attempt this as a day hike if you are experienced in hiking and in decent shape (otherwise take a helicopter trip in). DOC claims an 8-12 hours return--this for a ~12 mile (19 km) return. Yes, it really is likely to take that long; the net elevation of gain of ~1600' (from 380m to 880m) requires you to ascend a total of 2500' (760m)--after the first 200-250m gain, you literally are taking two steps up and one down. The trail sidehills through southern beech forest, in places being very narrow on a steep slope. We lost count of the number of downed trees we had to go over, under, or around. The trail crosses numerous landslide (slip) scarps, making for quick steep up-and-down sections of trail. Other than some large trees, views in the forest are rare. Eventually the trail descends to near the stream, indicating you are getting close. After crossing a tributary which descends in an open area you have about 500m to the bivouac as shown on the map; this is where you emerge from the forest. A walk of ~1.5km brings you in view of the glacier and falls at the head of the valley (this is the 6 mile point); you can go farther to see more. The trail saw a total of 11 hikers on a February weekday; several had spent the night in the valley. That might be the best way to visit--you don't immediately face the daunting prospect of the descent through the trees to the trailhead. My ranking of 7 is balancing the great scenery at the top against the miserable trail up to it. Note on trailhead: the DOC trail starts on the far side of a farmer's pasture off the Lovers Leap road on the east side of Earnslaw Burn; we and several others parked on the side of the road in the grass there, but I don't know if this is permitted. A local claimed you could bushwhack up the west (right) side of the stream from the end of the road in the national park just right after crossing the Burn, but I suspect this would be very difficult

Reviewed almost 9 years ago

A small operation (2 boats); they generally only take 10 max on a boat (though can take more for a single large group).

Our day we got lucky: just us. Great guide, wonderful lunch, kayaking, snorkel gear, hiking, good stories, some seals, penguins, cormorants. Not nearly as crowded as many of the water taxis or other groups plying the waters in the area.

Reviewed almost 12 years ago

Note this is a commercial operation and it isn't cheap to get in ($36 adult).

It is a fairly compact thermal field with some very nice sinter terraces, a few small geysers and many mudpots and steam vents. So you can see most everything in a relatively short walk. Thankfully kept fairly natural (nobody tossing detergent in a geyser to make it erupt, for instance) and fairly well signposted. Staff pleasant and helpful. Free Wi-fi with admission (in the entrance area). Watch where you park--there is some steam coming up there that might not be good for your car. Worth the diversion from the main highways,

Reviewed almost 12 years ago

Arguably New Zealand's only 'backstage' tour.

This has MUCH changed over the past few years; we dropped by in early 2009 and it was still pretty quiet with more sheep stuff than movie stuff. Now, the sheep stuff is nearly gone (unless you do the farm stay) and the place is crazy busy. This is basically a tour of one of the largest movie sets ever built and arguably the only one truly built permanently (some of the backstage stuff at Universal in Hollywood might be equally long term). As such, if you don't like movies, forget it, and if you didn't like LOTR or Hobbit, pass. If you do like those, it is a fun tour as the collaboration with Peter Jackson now means they are keeping the look up and the guides can remind you of different shots or how the place was used in filming. Green Dragon Pub is a pleasant stop. Probably book ahead as a backup--some tours fill and some don't and it wasn't obvious which were more likely (earliest morning safest, it seems, but around 10 several buses arrived and chaos ensued). It was clear in the last few months that the deluge of visitors was taxing the staff (watching how the number of tours grew on the website was interesting), but they've actually managed pretty well. The main area faces east, so best photos in the morning into midday, I'd say.

Reviewed almost 12 years ago

At Christmas/New Years, the place is packed but the facilities aren't really up to the level of use (lines--sometimes long--for the showers, for instance, and the dump station is a tad awkward).

Unlike other reviewers, staff were helpful for us (helped with a stopped drain, discussed merits of some of the attractions nearby). The gates actually close totally at 11 pm (need a gate card before then), so can be something of a hassle if doing the Earth and Sky program (it is a fair stroll on over, though there is a path--we had somebody who couldn't wank that far due to injury). Maneuvering with a larger motorhome is a tad tight but doable.

Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012

This is a rather amazing urban holiday park.

This was one of the best landscaped parks we visited, and the facilities were clean and uncrowded and unusually well thought out (ah--the graywater drain that needed no hose, so simple and clever). The sites can be a bit tight and you would want to drive about carefully. The staff, while absolutely deluged with questioning visitors while we were there, were unfailingly polite and helpful and did not put us off.

Reviewed almost 12 years ago