This panorama shows Rainbow Crater at Wai-O-Tapu. When the steam briefly clears, it is possible to see the boiling mud and coloured water at the bottom of the crater. The picture was taken shortly after Wai-O-Tapu opened on a sunny summer morning in 2008.

Rainbow Crater at Wai-O-Tapu - Rotorua visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Rainbow Crater at Wai-O-Tapu' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Bay of Plenty.

Rainbow Crater is the second feature on Walk 1 at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, just past Devil's Home Crater. The crater is formed by the action of acid and bubbles away. Walk 1 continues past other such craters on the way to Artist's Palette. It then traverses mud flats at Primrose Terrace to the beginning of Walk 2 Loop. Walk 1 turns back to the visitors centre, passing the Champagne Pool, the most important thermal pool in New Zealand, Bird's Nest Crater where a species of bird use the thermal activity to incubate their eggs, and Devil's Bath, filled with bright yellow water.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
PO BOX 1992,
Rotorua,
New Zealand

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is on Waiotapu Loop Road. This comes of Highway 5 at Waiotapu about 27km south of Rotarura and 55km north of Taupo.