9 minute read
Rotorua Must-Do's
TE PUIA
Discover over 500 geothermal wonders, Māori culture and performances. Pohutu Geyser is the southern hemisphere’s largest, erupting up to 20 times per day, to heights of 30m.
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GEYSER BY NIGHT AT TE PUIA
Te Puia Geyser at night © Destination Rotorua
Come dusk, Te Puia guides will sneak you into the geothermal valley through a secret passage. Your guided night trail concludes at the world-famous Pohutu Geyser, glowing under the night’s sky.
Kuirau Park Free Foot Bath Spas
Centrally located, a handful of walkways lead to the crater lake, gurgling mud pools and a free thermal foot bath. There are free barbecues and a weekly Saturday market between 7am and 1pm.
Secret Spot Hot Tubs
Hidden in the Whakarewarewa Forest Park. Book a private wooden hot tub, order chilled drinks. There are also mini foot baths for ‘shinny dipping’ and an on-site café.
Eat Streat
This collection of top-notch eateries is located in Tutanekai Street and is jampacked with diverse dining options, complete with underfloor heating and retractable roof for all-weather feasting.
Cooking in geothermal water, Rotorua © Te Puia
Polynesian Spa
Sink into one of four hot spring bathing areas looking across serene lake views. You can seek solace here from Wednesday to Sunday between 9am and 10pm.
Secret Lake-side Glamping
Te Rātā Bay boasts two of the country’s most secluded glamping spots. Kānuka and Te Rata Family Glamping are both overseen by Totally Tarawera, offering native bush glamping only accessible via the Tarawera Walking Trail or water taxi.
Volcanic Hills Winery
Crafted at the base of Skyline Rotorua. Take the gondola to the top to taste it; sample all five Volcanic Hills wines over 45 minutes, or three wines if you’re in a rush.
WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL PARK
Arguably the most famous thermal park in Rotorua, Champagne Pools are widely recognised for their bright orange crust, while Lady Knox Geyser blows every day at 10.15am. Under renovation at time of print – please check online before you visit.
HELL’S GATE
Visit one of New Zealand’s most active geothermal fields. Discover the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere and soak in skinsmoothing mud at the spa.
WAIMANGU VALLEY
With steam escaping out of nearly every crevice and bubbling crater lakes as far as the eye can see, the world’s youngest geothermal valley offers self-guided walks, a boat cruise and a newly reopened full-day guided tour.
STEAMING CLIFFS KAYAK TOURS
While exploring Waimangu Valley, kayak across Lake Rotomahana surrounded by steaming cliffs. Tours explore geothermal features unique to Rotorua.
Motion Entertainment
Big, bright and family friendly, limber up for state-of-the-art arcade games, laser tag, bowling, trampolines and mini-golf, all under one roof.
3D Trick Art Gallery
Sit inside a Van Gogh painting, hang from an icy cliff edge or get inside a snow globe – with so much optical illusion at play, spend hours setting up the perfect deception.
Mini-golf Rotorua - With Rabbits!
Mini-golf Rotorua © Destination Rotorua
A game for all ages and abilities, navigate fairy lights, a bubble machine and bouncing bunnies hopping across an 18-hole course. And yes, you can cuddle them!
3D Maze Rotorua
A small and super-friendly family run set-up, it's part maze and part petting farm. There are also plenty of games, a picnic area – and pigs!
Paradise Valley Springs
Say hello to some awesome, notably very content creatures. Featuring trout pools, a 20ft-high treetop boardwalk, animal feeding, birdlife and a fantastic pride of African lions, including a lion cub petting area.
The Arts Village
Ignite your creativity at this thriving community of artists, including three on-site gallery spaces, a calendar of exhibitions, an art and craft shop and adjoining café.
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools
Another day, another hot pool! This one at walletfriendly prices. Sink into several outdoor lagoons with a shallow zone for kids and secluded nooks for adults. Stay overnight and entry is included in your camping price; 30 minutes south of Rotorua.
Waikite Hot Pools © Graeme Murray
The National Kiwi Hatchery
Open 8.30am to 2pm, Thursday to Sunday during term time and daily in the school holidays. Tours depart hourly from 9am to 1pm.
Kiwi © Chris McLennan
Lakes Galore
Home to an impressive 18 lakes; favourites include Lake Tarawera, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Ōkareka and the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Tikitapu.
Rotorua Lakefront
Stroll along the new boardwalk, part of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment. It’s a fresh, modern space perfect for picnics and a new playground is under way.
Sulphur Bay Wildlife Refuge
This is a public geothermal area where the flora and fauna has adapted to thrive beside steam vents, boiling mud pools and naturally hot water. Home to threatened bird species including New Zealand dabchick, banded dotterel and black-billed gull.
Government Gardens
In the late 1800s, Māori gifted 20ha of Rotorua land with natural bush and geothermal activity to the crown. It was transformed into a Tudor-style spa bath house and elegant garden. Today it houses a museum and an award-winning exhibition detailing the area's popularity as a 20th century spa attraction.
Blue Lake Track
Pack a picnic and make a day of it. This 5.5km loop walk fringes the Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and Green Lake (Rotokakahi). Flop onto beaches and swim – but in the Blue Lake, not privately-owned Green Lake.
Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre
The new Wingspan site is currently undergoing development. In the meantime, 'Flight of the Falcon' shows are running – guaranteed to impress with lightning-speed steep climbs and swoops. Jump on the website for updates and availability.
Whakarewarewa Forest
Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua © The Redwoods Tree Walk
The towering California redwood trees are spellbinding. If you have two wheels, there are 180km of all-ranging mountain bike trails and if you have stamina, several walking paths. Grab a free map from The Redwoods Visitor Centre and follow the colour-coded trail markers.
Hamurana Springs
Explore at your own pace or request a guided tour with the Ngāti Rangiwewehi people. They have centuries of tribal association with the springs. As one of the deepest and crystal-clear freshwater springs in the North Island, the water is frequented by a bevy of birdlife
Rainbow Springs Nature Park
The park is currently closed but the National Kiwi Hatchery Tours are available. Observe conservation in action at the world's leading kiwi hatchery and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at efforts made to save this iconic bird from extinction.
Tarawera Trail
A lakeside walk that weaves through the bush to popular Te Rātā Bay and its hot water beach. Allow approximately four-and-a-half-hours and catch the water taxi back (book in advance) or camp overnight at the DOC site.
The Buried Village of Te Wairoa
New Zealand’s most-visited archaeological site is where stories of devastation and resilience following the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera come to life. Relics are housed in the museum; there’s also a 4.8ha excavation site to explore and waterfall trails, too.
Pink and White Terraces
Part of the Buried Village, the terraces once formed a staggering staircase of tiered hot-water pools, considered the eighth Wonder of the World. The eruption of Mt Tarawera destroyed them but downloading the Waimangu Volcanic Valley app will reveal their original beauty.
Whakarewarewa – the Living Māori Village
Home of the Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao. Take a guided tour of their fully functioning village. New for 2020, the Whaka Geothermal Trails traverse a Jurassic-like landscape, encountering hot spring lakes, mud pools and geysers.
Tāmaki Māori Village
Māori hosts share their culture at this recreated traditional village, 15km from Rotorua. You will feel very much part of their community, participating in traditional Māori practices.
Tāmaki Māori Village Hui E! Kai E!
Tāmaki Māori Village © Destination Rotorua
Twilight experience Guests on this tour are invited to help prepare a hāngi (complete with fried bread ‘puku burgers’ invented in the village), enjoy live performances and share stories by firelight.
Mountain Jade
© Mountain Jade
Discover the largest and most diverse collection of pounamu (greenstone) in New Zealand. Chat with working artists on a free workshop tour between 10am and 3pm every day.
New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Located at Te Puia, alongside the national schools of carving, weaving and traditional arts, watch expert craftspeople showcase 800-year-old techniques.
Off Road NZ
Off Road NZ © Graeme Murray
For an action-packed, full-on adventure that’s extra fun, grab your mates and take a 20-minute drive from Rotorua to Off Road NZ. Buckle up and hold on tight for a pulse-racing ride through native bush in a monster 4x4 or race a 390cc 4-stroke kart on New Zealand’s longest outdoor circuit.
Redwoods Altitude
To access 25 jungle-themed bridges, you ascend a three-storey spiralling staircase wrapped around a giant redwood tree. Journey high into the treetops and learn stories of the forest with a guided tour.
Mt Tarawera
At the top of this mountain famous for erupting in 1886, you can take a scree run in the very heart of the crater or lap up the views from the summit. Access is via helicopter with Volcanic Air or 4WD with Kaitiaki Adventures.
Glowworms by Kayak or Stand-up Paddleboarding
Local companies know exactly where to find an abundance of these bright-butted critters. Simply choose your vessel. Go with Paddle Board Rotorua, River Rats kayaks or jump in a Canadian canoe with Waimarino Kayak Tours.
The Redwoods Treewalk and Nightlights
Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua © The Redwoods Tree Walk
Climb 12m into the trees via 23 suspension bridges and platforms. From dusk onwards, illuminations light up the forest, causing magical silhouettes.
Crankworx
The world’s largest mountain biking festival sees the planet’s best mountain bikers come together to compete.
River Sledging
Effectively white-water rafting without a raft. Instead, riders cling onto a small board and come face-to-face with grade three rapids, wild eddies and two-metre-high waves, courtesy of Kaitiaki Adventures.
Secluded Picnics with Volcanic Air
With a hamper full of delicious fare, take off for a scenic floatplane tour over Lake Rotorua and surrounds before landing beside a secluded beach. While away an afternoon with swims and a picnic.
Rotorua Canopy Tours
Keep your heart beating at full pelt with ziplines, treetop platforms, forest adventures and exhilarating swing bridges. Located a seven-minute drive from central Rotorua.
Duck Tours
Using amphibious WWII landing crafts, this tour may start on the road, but once you reach the lake, the vessel transforms into a boat and charges right into the water.
Velocity Valley
The adventure park of all adventure parks. Try everything from superman-style flying, 3Gs of jet-boat adrenalin, faux skydiving, a reverse bungy jump, bouncy BMX airbags and shweeb racing – the world’s only high-speed pedal-powered monorail.
ZORB Rotorua
Little known fact: zorbing was conceived in Rotorua. Roll down four hillside tracks inside a giant inflatable ball, and when you're not doing that, jump in the complimentary hot tubs.
Skyline Rotorua
Make your way up Mt Ngongotaha for the gondola, Mountain Bike Park and luge, as well as dining, ziplines and a Skyswing that propels riders 50km upwards, at 150kmph.
Mountain Biking
The gondola-assisted bike lift at Skyline Mountain Bike Park grants access to 12km of terrain. Rainbow Mountain is for experienced riders and Whakarewarewa Forest is suitable for all.
Monstrous White-water Rafting
Negotiate the highest commercially raft-able waterfall in the world: the seven-metre Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River.
