Whakarewarewa, Geothermal area in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand.

Whakarewarewa is a geothermal field beside the Puarenga Stream in Rotorua, the largest geyser field in New Zealand. It holds about 500 vents, mostly alkaline chloride hot springs and mud pools, plus at least 65 named geyser vents, seven of them active. Most active geysers sit on Geyser Flat, a sinter plateau about 6 m above the stream, aligned on one fissure. The Blue Pool, a strongly alkaline thermal lake at 30–50 °C, collects erupted water.

Te Puia, a Māori pā enclosed by wooden palisades, was first occupied on a steep-sided hill around 1325 and was never taken in battle. It formed part of the defence system of Te Arawa, whose centre was Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. Māori have lived at Whakarewarewa ever since, using the valley's geothermal heat for cooking and heating.

Māori communities have relied on the geothermal resources for cooking, heating, and healing practices across many generations, and these traditions continue to shape life in the area today.

Access to this site works best through guided tours where safety protocols are explained and information about the thermal features is provided. Wear appropriate footwear and stay on marked paths to safely explore the grounds.

The site's natural heat supplies energy to nearby structures and maintains steady temperatures in thermal pools year-round. This demonstrates how geothermal energy has long been harnessed for practical use by people in the area.