About Maroa
Maroa is a caldera(s) rising to 897 meters (2,943 feet) in New Zealand's Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Maroa is located in New Zealand, within the Taupo Volcanic Arc of the broader Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. Situated at 38.42° S, 176.08° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 897 meters above sea level, Maroa is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a caldera, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The 16 x 25 km area defined as the Maroa Volcanic Centre formed sometime after 230,000 years ago (230 ka) in the NE corner of the 30 x 40 km Whakamaru caldera, which is the largest of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The Whakamaru caldera partially overlaps with the Taupo caldera on the south and was formed during the eruption of the Whakamaru Group ignimbrites between about 340 and 330 ka. The Maroa area was subsequently filled by at least 70 rhyolitic lava domes or flows, mostly erupted along a SW-NE trend. Lesser amounts of basalt were also erupted. The latest dated magmatic eruption took place about 14 ka, when the rhyolitic Puketarata tuff ring and lava domes were formed (Brooker et al., 1993). The Orakeikorako, Ngatamariki, Rotokaua, and Wairakei hydrothermal areas are located within or adjacent to the Whakamaru caldera. Large hydrothermal eruptions have occurred at the Orakeikorako thermal area during the Holocene, the latest immediately prior to the Taupo eruption about 1,800 years ago.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Maroa.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Maroa
Is Maroa an active volcano?+
Maroa is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Maroa?+
Maroa has a summit elevation of 897 meters (2,943 feet) above sea level. At 897 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Maroa?+
Maroa is classified as a Caldera(s). Caldera(s) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Maroa located?+
Maroa is located in New Zealand, in the Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Taupo Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -38.420° latitude, 176.080° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Maroa?+
Maroa can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. New Zealand may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
