Maunga Kākaramea (formerly known as Rainbow Mountain) offers one of the most beautiful and unique views in Rotorua.

Hiking here had been on my bucket list for years, and in April 2024, I finally made it happen! My only regret is not doing it sooner! This trail takes you through native bush, past steaming red cliffs and Crater Lake (the second photo!). Once you reach the summit, you’ll get 360-degree views stretching to Taranaki Maunga and Mount Ruapehu.

Track overview

• Difficulty: Easy to Crater Lake, moderate to the summit

• Length: 1km return to Crater Lake, 6.8km return to the summit

• Time: Approximately 1.5-2 hours

It's very easy to reach the Crater Lake viewpoint. You’ll wind through dense native bush before reaching a junction. Crater Lake is hidden in the bushes to the left-hand side of the track on your way to the summit. You’ll need to keep an eye out for a small clearing on the left where there’s a small, well-trodden path. It’s easy to miss but worth stopping for!

Continue walking, and you’ll come to another viewpoint overlooking steaming red cliffs (the first photo on this pin!). The final section is steeper, but I wouldn’t call it challenging. Then, before you know it, you’ll be at the summit. The highlight for me was seeing the road wind into the distance! There’s a picnic bench and a lovely place to sit and relax before you head back down via the same track.

How to get here

The Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve is 20 minutes outside Rotorua town centre, beside SH 5 (the Rotorua-Taupo highway).

The track starts at a large, free car park about 20 minutes from Rotorua. There’s a long-drop toilet (bring your own toilet paper!) but no other facilities, so make sure you pack enough water for the whole hike.

Know before you go

• The path to the top is generally in pretty good condition, but if you visit after rain, there will probably be a few muddy patches.

• This part of the walk is shared with uphill cyclists. We only saw one biker who wasn’t going too quickly, but keep aware of your surroundings so you can step to the side if needed.