11 minute read
Rotorua Must Do's
Geothermal Wonders
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.
Advertisement
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 attime 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.
GEYSER BY NIGHT AT TE PUIA 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.
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.
WAIKITE VALLEY THERMAL POOLS Another day, another hot pool! This one at wallet-friendly 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.
Pohutu Geyser, Te Puia © Destination Rotorua
Mountain Biking Spots
• Redwoods / Whakarewarewa Forest
• Tuhoto Ariki Trail
• Western Ōkataina
• Te Ara Ahi
• Rainbow Mountain
• Hot X Buns
• Skyline Gravity Park
• Hatupatu
• Tokorangi
• Whirinaki MTB Trail
Cycling in Whakarewarewa Village © Miles Holden
Māori Culture
THE BURIED VILLAGE OF TE WAIROA New Zealand’s mostvisited 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.
© Buried Village, Rotorua
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.
TE PĀ TŪ Māori hosts share their culture at this recreated traditional village, 15km from Rotorua. You will feel very much part of this community, participating in traditional Māori practices.
Te Pā Tū © Miles Holden
TE PĀ TŪ HUI E! KAI E! 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.
TE PUIA This geothermal park is packed full of experiences to fill your day. From cultural
Māori carving, Te Puia © Graeme Murray
Adventure
Off Road NZ
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.
Whaka E-Bike Trail
Power through this geothermal trail in the Whakarewarewa Forest on your e-bike for an easy, accelerated experience, passing hot spring lakes, bubbling mud pools and geysers. Access through Living Māori Village is strictly for e-bike rentals from Electric Bike Rotorua and dogs are prohibited in the village.
Crankworx
The world’s largest mountain biking festival sees the planet’s best mountain bikers come together to compete.
River Sledging
Effectively whitewater rafting without a raft. Instead, riders cling to a small board and come face-to-face with grade three rapids, wild eddies and two-metrehigh 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.
credit Rotorua Ziplines
Rotorua Ziplines
This is ziplining elevated to the next level! Soaring over Ōkere Falls, whizzing through the treetops and across swingbridges, all the stuff that family memories are made of.
Duck Tours
Using amphibious World War II 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 on the gondola, opening up to the land of mountain biking, dining, ziplining and luging. Three new tracks have recently opened and are awaiting their next challengers.
Skyline Luge, Rotorua © Destination Rotorua
Monstrous White-water Rafting
Negotiate the highest commercially raft-able waterfall in the world: the seven-metre Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River.
Lake Ōkareka
Off the beaten track, enjoy picnicking, trout fishing, boating and walking. Take a tour on the lake with Duck Tours or go horse trekking on the surrounding farmland with great views of the lake and out to Mt Tarawera.
Family fun
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.
3D Trick Gallery, Rotorua credit Destination Rotorua
Mini-golf Rotorua - With Rabbits!
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.
Agrodome
Entertaining farm shows, sheep shearing and herding demonstrations, tours and cute farm-yard animals round off this very Kiwi experience.
Manupirua Springs Hot Pools
Day trip on Lake Rotoiti; hop on a water taxi, departing from the VR Rotorua Lake Resort in Ōkawa Bay, and soak in lakeside hot pools.
Rotorua Canopy Tours
Soar like a bird above the native tree top canopy.
NATURE
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 multimillion-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 the protected 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.
The Redwoods Treewalk and Nightlights
Climb 12m into the trees via 23 suspension bridges and platforms. From dusk onwards, illuminations light up the forest, causing magical silhouettes. See if you can spot the latest Horoeka Lantern in place.
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
The National Kiwi Hatchery
Head off on a tour to observe conservation in action at the world’s leading kiwi hatchery and get a behind the scenes glimpse at efforts being made to help keep this iconic bird from extinction.
Kiwi, Te Puia - credit Destination Rotorua
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.
R&R
Polynesian Spa Sink into one of four hot spring bathing areaslooking across serene lake views. You can seek solace here from Wednesday to Sunday between 9am and 10pm.
Polynesian Spa credit Destination Rotorua
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 weeklySaturday 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.
Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Rotorua © Graeme Murray
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.
Eat Streat
This collection of top-notch eateries is located in Tūtānekai Street and is jampacked with diverse dining options, complete with underfloor heating and retractable roof for all-weather feasting.
Secret Lake-side Glamping
Te Rātā Bay boasts two of the country’s most secluded glamping spots. Kānuka and Te Rātā Family Glamping are both overseen by Totally Tarawera, offering native bush glamping only accessible via the Tarawera Walking Trail or water taxi.
