About | Craters of the Moon
Visit Craters of the Moon to see a fascinating and constantly evolving landscape with lots of steamy action, hissing vents, bubbling mud, colourful soil and interesting plants that have adapted and thrive in the environment.
Grab a map from the shop and head outside. It’s a self-guided tour and at the very start of the track, you’ll come across the viewing platform where you can get a good lay of the land. As you scan the landscape you’ll be able to see large amounts of steam rising into the sky. Take a moment to read and reflect on the information boards – there’s lots of interesting information in there.
Wooden boardwalks and gravel paths take you along most of the track and protect you from the heat of the ground. There are viewing platforms along the way where you can take a look inside large craters.
This geothermal walk can be enjoyed in all types of weather, but colder months bring about more steam and make the place more alive. Come on a cool morning and enjoy the crisp air mixed with the warm steam that moves with the wind.
The lookout track adds 20 minutes to your walk and has lots of steps going up. At the top, enjoy views of the whole area.
History
Craters of the Moon first emerged in the 1950s when the land suddenly started to heat up. Steam escaped from the earth and craters full of boiling mud arose. It all started when a nearby geothermal power station lowered its underground water pressure, making superheated water rise up and steam escape at any place it could. The place is constantly evolving with new vents emerging regularly and when they do, the track sometimes has to move, too.
Pushchair/wheelchair friendly: can be used on the loop track which is mostly flat, but not on the steep lookout track.
Time: give yourself 40 minutes to walk around the loop track and an additional 20 minutes for the upper lookout.
Opening times: 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm). Open every day except Christmas Day. Under 5’s get in free.
Nearby
Lava Glass
Location
Photos
Ready to set off, we marched on, across boardwalks and close to hot steaming vents with low scrubs mostly covering the ground. We loved making it to the various platforms along the track and looking down into steamy and hot craters.
We especially loved this viewing platform at the main crater which measures 40 metres across – there was so much steam all around us, rising up high into the air. It’s a pretty spectacular sight. On a cold winters day, the warm steam would readily help warm you up!
Moving on, we continued along the boardwalk where the steam continued to rise.
The mud crater sure was pretty. Look below to see bubbling mud – or in warm months, the cracks of it after drying up.
We climb upwards and arrive at the last viewing platform and what a way to finish it off!
This was so much fun and the highlight of the geothermal walk. The kids had a wild time running in and out of the thick steam cloud. It was warm and thick, they couldn’t stay in for long and were completely surrounded by it. Wow!
Before heading off on our walk, the man working there told us that this viewpoint was not to be missed, so we didn’t bother with the Upper Walkway and chose to stay on track to stop in at this one instead. Good choice, I think! Otherwise, you could easily backtrack and do both if you’ve got the time.
A fun and different way to spend the morning, this makes for a very steamy and great family-friendly walk.
