Forgot to mention (allow about 3-4 hours if you do everything):
www.whakarewarewa.com
There are a couple of places like this but we felt this place had the whole geyser, bubbling mud, show thing in one place.
Our oldest boy, then 5, got invited up to do the Haka at the show and one time they got to ride around on the land train (it wasn't running the other time).
When the geysers go off it really is amazing and there are places where you can lie on the stone and its like underfloor heating. This is a great place to get those allimportant NZ photos sometimes it feels like another world - the boys thought it was like being on the moon - it really captured their imagination.
We really enjoyed the tour but the boys weren't so interested. They've recently improved it and it has an interactive room which they loved - lots of buttons to press and things lighting up as it told you about Maori history and culture.
Its also got a small Kiwi house.
We have been to this place twice and would go again.
Cheers
Tia