Volcanic Air – Rotorua's Premier Scenic Flight Experience

Volcanic Air Official Website

Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Volcanic Air is one of New Zealand's most renowned aviation tourism operators, offering unforgettable helicopter and floatplane adventures over Rotorua's volcanoes, geothermal parks, crater lakes, forests, and waterfalls. Established in 1992, the company carries more than 10,000 passengers annually and is the only operator in Rotorua offering both helicopter and floatplane experiences. (Volcanic Air)

Why Volcanic Air is Special

Unlike traditional sightseeing tours, Volcanic Air combines:

• Scenic helicopter flights

• Floatplane adventures

• Exclusive volcano landings

• Geothermal park flyovers

• Remote hot pool experiences

• Expert pilot commentary on geology, Māori culture, and local history

Many of Rotorua's most spectacular locations are difficult to access by road, making aerial exploration one of the best ways to appreciate the region's unique volcanic landscape. (RotoruaNZ)

Signature Experiences

🚁 Mount Tarawera Landing & Guided Walk

This is Volcanic Air's flagship tour and one of New Zealand's most iconic helicopter experiences.

Highlights include:

• Helicopter landing on the summit of Mount Tarawera

• Guided walk along the volcanic crater rim

• Views across Rotorua's lakes and forests

• Flying over the volcano's famous 8-km eruption rift

• Expert geological and historical interpretation

The volcano erupted in 1886 in New Zealand's largest eruption in living memory, dramatically reshaping the landscape and creating many of the geothermal features visible today. (Volcanic Air)

🌋 Mount Tarawera & Geothermal Parks Adventure

Often considered the most comprehensive Rotorua scenic flight, this experience combines:

• Mount Tarawera summit landing

• Tarawera Falls flyover

• Waimangu Volcanic Valley

• Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

• Rotorua's crater lakes district

• Sulphur Bay and Mokoia Island

The tour showcases volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes, forests, and geothermal parks in a single flight. (Volcanic Air)

🥾 Volcanic Heli-Hike

For adventure enthusiasts, Volcanic Air offers a unique heli-hike experience:

• Helicopter landing on Mount Tarawera

• Guided summit exploration

• Scenic flight to Lake Tarawera

• 8-km self-guided hike along the Tarawera River

• Visit to the spectacular Tarawera Falls

• Scenic boat transfer across Lake Tarawera

This full-day experience combines aviation, hiking, waterfalls, and Māori cultural storytelling. (Volcanic Air)

✈️ Scenic Floatplane Flights

Volcanic Air also operates Rotorua's only commercial floatplanes.

Experiences include:

• Takeoff and landing directly on Lake Rotorua

• Flights over crater lakes and geothermal landscapes

• Remote lake access

• Hot pool adventures

• Photography-focused scenic flights

The water takeoff itself is a major attraction for many visitors. (Volcanic Air)

What You'll See From the Air

Rotorua Lakes District

The Rotorua region contains numerous volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions, including:

• Lake Rotorua

• Lake Tarawera

• Blue Lake (Tikitapu)

• Green Lake (Rotokakahi)

• Lake Rotomahana

• Lake Okataina

The aerial perspective reveals volcanic formations that cannot be appreciated from ground level. (Volcanic Air)

Geothermal Wonders

Visitors regularly fly over:

• Waimangu Volcanic Valley

• Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

• Sulphur Bay

• Steam vents and geothermal lakes

• Colourful mineral terraces

Waimangu is particularly notable as the world's youngest geothermal system, formed after the 1886 Tarawera eruption. (Volcanic Air)

Safety & Reputation

Volcanic Air places strong emphasis on:

• Professional pilot training

• Modern helicopter fleet

• Weather monitoring

• Detailed passenger briefings

• Small-group experiences

The company maintains strong visitor ratings and is consistently recommended by travellers exploring Rotorua's volcanic attractions. (Volcanic Air)

Location

Volcanic Air operates from the Rotorua Lakefront, conveniently located near hotels, cafés, and the city centre.

📍 Rotorua Lakefront, Lakefront Drive, Rotorua, New Zealand☎️ +64 7 348 9984

Best For

✅ First-time visitors to Rotorua✅ Photographers and drone-free aerial enthusiasts✅ Adventure travellers✅ Luxury and honeymoon experiences✅ Families seeking a once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand activity✅ Anyone wanting the best views of Mount Tarawera and Rotorua's geothermal landscape

Travel Tip: If your itinerary allows only one premium activity in Rotorua, the Mount Tarawera Landing & Geothermal Parks Helicopter Tour is widely regarded as the most complete aerial experience in the region because it combines volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls, and geothermal wonders in a single flight. (Volcanic Air)