Lake · Tongariro & Mangatepōpō

Emerald Lakes

Ngā Rotopounamu

Three vivid green-blue crater lakes, coloured by dissolved minerals from the vents around them.

From the top of Red Crater the loose scoria descent arrives at the three Emerald Lakes, their colour coming from dissolved minerals washed down from the thermal area. Steam vents hiss around the edges. The lakes are tapu; do not touch the water or eat beside it.

❄ The lakes sit in snow from June to October; the descent from Red Crater becomes an icy slope.