Rotorua is a town set on its namesake lake in the North Island of New Zealand. It is renowned for its geothermal activity, Maori culture and adventure activities, but the list of things to do in Rotorua is long!
In this guide, we list the best things to do in Rotorua with tips for how to plan your visit to make the most of the famous geothermal nature, cultural experiences, and activities.
- About Rotorua
- How long do you need in Rotorua?
- Best time to visit
- Things to do in Rotorua
- Getting there
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
- More about New Zealand
About Rotorua
Rotorua is a city in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand’s North Island. It is sited on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name.
For travellers from around the world, Rotorua is most famous for its rich Maori culture and geothermal activityas well as the chance to experience some of New Zealand’s famous adventure activities.
How long do you need for the things to do in Rotorua?
Two days in Rotorua is the perfect amount of time for first-time visitors.
With two nights in Rotorua and two days you have time to experience the geothermal landscapes, try an adventure activity (or two) and learn about Maori culture.
What is the best time of year to visit Rotorua?
New Zealand has four weather seasons:
- Summer (Dec – Feb)
- Autumn/Fall (Mar – May)
- Winter (Jun – Aug)
- Spring (Sep – Nov)
The weather from November through to March is the driest and warmest in the north island and this is the best time of year for most of the things to do in Rotorua. Though lots of the outdoor activities are fine year-round and there are plenty of things to do in Rotorua on a rainy day!
Note that the summer months are also the peak season for tourism in New Zealand and for some attractions and activities you will need to book in advance.
The popular activities and accommodations can fill up quickly especially during the New Zealand school holidays.
- Read about travel in the South Island by campervan and what to expect in the winter months.
Things to do in Rotorua
In no particular order, here are 20 top things to do in Rotorua, New Zealand.
1. Te Puia Rotorua
Te Puia is one of New Zealand’s most famous attractions and top of the list for things to do in Rotorua. It is a geothermal park with dramatic geysers, bubbling mud, Maori cultural experiences, a traditional buffet dinner and kiwi conservation centre.
If you are on a tight travel schedule in New Zealand it is a great way to combine Maori culture and the natural geyser wonderland in one afternoon or evening.
The combination of the tour and kiwi conservation with delicious buffet hangi and the evening show was a nice mix of cultural experience, being outdoors and enjoying the wonders of nature.
- Read details and our review of Te Puia Rotorua.
- Open: 8:45am – 4:00pm (evening tour starts at 4:00pm)
- Cost: There are options for guided tours and packages available.
- Location: Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley
2. Kuirau Park – Things to do in Rotorua
Kuirau Park is a public park and green space in the centre of town. This is one of the best free things to do in Rotorua. The park has an abundance of natural geothermal activity with mud pools and boiling lakes in a beautiful, public space.
There are playgrounds, picnic tables and BBQs in the park as well as a great place to test the geothermal waters of Rotorua with a public foot pool!
We go for a wander in Kuirau Park every time we visit. It is possibly the best of all the free things to do in Rotorua.
- Tip: Kuirau Park is free to visit and located within an easy walk from the city centre, just off Pukuatua and Ranolf streets with free parking.
3. Kuirau Park Market
In the centre of Kuirau Park is a regular market held weekly on a Saturday morning. There is a wide variety of food, coffee, cake, honey, fruit, plants, vegetables and crafts available for sale.
The Kuirau Park Market is run by volunteers from the Rotorua North Rotary Club with the proceeds going to local charities and community projects.
- Open: Every Saturday, 7am – 1pm (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and ANZAC Day).
4. Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest
The walking trails in the Redwoods Forest is one of the best free things to do in Rotorua. There are multiple walking and mountain bike tracks of differing lengths in the forest.
We really enjoyed the Redwood Memorial Grove Track (Red Track) which is just 2km and extends to the Waitawa Walk (Blue Track) for 3.4km return.
The Whakarewarewa Forest Redwoods walking trails all start at the Redwoods iSite information centre.
- Location: Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest
5. Redwoods Treewalk Tree Top Walks
The Redwoods Treewalk is a 700-metre long, eco-tourism walking experience in the heart of Rotorua’s Redwood Forest – but up above the forest!
The Treewalk takes 30 – 40 minutes and includes 28 suspension bridges between 27 humungous Redwood trees. The trees are over 120 years old!
It is a magical experience and great for kids too.
There is a daytime option or the choice for a night tour walking up above the trees lit up by lanterns and lights!
- Open: 9:00am – 11:30pm
- Cost: Adult (Daytime) $40 NZD
- Location: Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest
6. Mitai Maori Village
Mitai Maori Village is a great way to experience M?ori culture in Rotorua.
You can tour the traditional village and see a Waka (war canoe) or book the complete package including a dinner show.
- Open: 9:00am – 6:00pm
- Cost: Adult $169 NZD
- Location: Fairy Springs Road
7. Whakarewarewa Thermal Living Maori Village
The Whakarewarewa Thermal Village is on best geothermal things to do in Rotorua. The village is set up as a living village showing how Tangata Whenua (the locals) still reside as they have done for generations.
The villagers show you around the site on a guided tour explaining traditions and their way of life amongst the bubbling hot mud pools and steaming geysers.
There are cultural performances and a geothermal Hangi (food cooked in a traditional underground oven).
- Open: Guided tours of 1 hour are available daily at 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm.
- Cost: Adult $40 NZD
- Location: Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley
8. Rotorua Canopy Tours
If you are looking for an unforgettable experience while in New Zealand, we can highly recommend Canopy Tours as one of the coolest things to do in Rotorua!
This is a guided tour above the forest with 1.2km of swing bridges, ziplines and platforms all high up in the lush native forest canopy only 10 minutes out of town.
- Read more about Rotorua Canopy Tours.
- Open: 8:00am – 5:00pm
- Cost: Adult $189 Original Tour
- Location: Fairy Springs Road (on the way into Rotorua)
9. Skyline Rotorua Luge and Gondola
If you haven’t heard yet about the Skyline Luge, this is one of the most popular things to do in Rotorua!
It is an adventure activity taking a gondola up the hills and racing down in a choice of tracks and trails – on a part go-kart part toboggan!
This is an awesome activity for families. Young kids can ride with an adult or kids over the age of seven can steer their own Luge down one of the scenic tracks.
There is plenty of parking and tickets can be bought onsite just five minutes drive from central Rotorua.
- Open: 9:00am – 8:00pm
- Cost: Adult (Gondola + 3 Rides) $78 NZD, Child $48 NZD
- Location: Fairy Springs Road (on the way into Rotorua)
10. Lake Rotorua
The famous Lake Rotorua is the largest of the districts 16 lakes. It is originally a spent volcano.
There are various boat tours and jet boat rides on the lake. Though one of the best free things to do in Rotorua – and especially with kids – is a walk around the lakefront boardwalk and huge playgrounds.
11. Government Gardens and Rotorua Museum
Government Gardens is a public park laid out with gardens, along the edge of Lake Rotorua. It is just a few minutes walk from the city centre.
The Rotorua Museum is housed in a grand Tudor-style house that was once an elegant spa retreat.
The Maori Iwi (local tribe) gave 50 acres of the land to the British Crown, and it became the Government Gardens.
- Open: 9am – 5pm (Gardens open 24 hours)
- Cost: Adult $20 NZD
- Location: Queens Drive, Government Gardens
12. Polynesian Spa
The Polynesian Spa is a geothermal bathing retreat located right on the shores of Lake Rotorua. There are two natural hot springs that feed into 28 different hot mineral pools!
There are a range of different packages and combos available to suit individuals, couples and families.
- Open: 9:00am – 11:00pm
- Location: Lakeside, Rotorua
13. Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland
You don’t have to travel far within Rotorua to spot geothermal activity; it’s everywhere.
There are mud pools in the parks, steam billowing out under sidewalks, and even in patches and pools beside the lake.
But experiencing the dramatic colours, smells and sounds of under-earth activity at Waiotapu is the best place to really get an understanding of what is going on. The colours of Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland can only be described as ethereal!
It is one of, if not the, most popular geothermal tourist hot spots in New Zealand.
- Read more about visiting Waiotapu (and why we recommend it as one of the best things to do in Rotorua!).
- Open: 8:30am – 4:30pm
- Cost: Adult $45 NZD, Child $15 NZD
- Location: Waiotapu Loop Road about 25 mins from Rotorua
14. White Water Rafting
There is plenty of kayaking and white-water rafting action around Rotorua!
The most popular rafting activity is on the famous Grade V Kaituna River that includes a 7 metre drop over the Okere Falls.
But if you aren’t up for rafting yourself (or have family members keen) there are some fantastic viewing platforms on the Okere Falls.
15. Rotorua Duck Tours Amphibious Sightseeing
I reckon this must be the most unique of things to do in Rotorua…
Rotorua Duck Tours is the first, and still the only company in New Zealand to provide the unique opportunity to explore Rotorua and the beautiful lake in an authentic amphibious WWII landing craft!
The Duck Tours include a Rotorua City and Lake Tour. Plus it involves two splashdowns entering Lake Tikitapu and Okareka!
- Cost: Adult $89 NZD, Child (3-16 Years) $55 NZD
- Location: Tours depart from the Rotorua Duck Store at 1241 Fenton Street, opposite Amazing Thai.
16. Secret Spot Hot Tubs
This is one of the things to do in Rotorua that we didn’t get a chance to do on this trip but really would love to!
The Secret Spot Hot Tubs are geothermally heated hot tubs each in a secluded spot overlooking the forest.
There are 12 hand-crafted cedar hot tubs nestled among native plantings and alongside a lovely stream on the edge of a magical forest so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while soaking in your own hot pool of fresh spring water.
- Open: 9:00am – 10:00pm
- Cost: Adult $43 NZD for 45 mins
- Location: Mill Road, Rotorua
17. Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa
Hell’s Gate – known locally as Tikitere – is the most active geothermal park in New Zealand and home to our only mud spa. Due to the composition of the geothermal system in Rotorua, the muds and waters found at Hell’s Gate have unique healing properties that are only found here.
The waters and mud of Hell’s Gate has been an important part of traditional Maori culture in the region for many generations.
Thanks to the beautiful and healing properties of Tikitere it has been documented as a destination for spa and nature seekers since 1871. In 1934, Irish playwright Geogre Bernard Shaw visited and cited it as inspiration in awe of the boiling mud and steam billowing into the sky.
Shaw is said to have exclaimed, ‘this could be the very gates of hell!’ To which upon hearing, the local iwi (tribe) decided the English name for the area would become ‘Hell’s Gate’.
Today this is one of the iconic things to do in Rotorua to experience both the local culture and natural geothermal activity.
- Open: 10:00am – 6:00pm daily
- Cost: Adult (Package) $115 NZD, Child $57.50 NZD
- Location: 351 State Highway 30, Tikitere
18. Okere Falls Bushwalk
This is another of the best free things to do in Rotorua. The Okere Falls bushwalk has multiple options of short walks that are under an hour.
The trail is a well-formed bushwalk with scenic lookouts over Okere River and its spectacular waterfalls.
We parked off Trout Pool Road and did the 30-minute walk to the Trout Pools and viewing platform. On the way back there is the option for a different 30-minute track past the caves and Hinemoa’s Steps with another (epic) viewing platform. You can watch rafters sweep down over the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world!
There are numerous information panels along the track, describing the human and natural landscape.
- Location: The Okere Falls track is located 21 km from Rotorua on Trout Pool Road off SH 33 (the Rotorua to Tauranga highway).
19. National Kiwi Hatchery
The National Kiwi Hatchery is a great opportunity in Rotorua to learn about New Zealand’s national icon. It is the largest and most successful Kiwi hatchery in New Zealand (and the world!).
There are guided tours available and the chance to get up close and see Kiwi and learn about incubation, chick rearing and the important conservation efforts in New Zealand.
Note that you need to book in advance for all hatchery tours. Tours depart 4 times a day from 9am to 2:15pm.
- Open: 9am – 3pm
- Cost: Adult $65 NZD, Child (5-15 years) $30 NZD
- Location: Ngongotaha, Rotorua
20. Eat Street Rotorua
‘Eat Street’ is Rotorua’s main dining hub. The street is packed full of restaurants and bars with all offering al fresco dining in the one stretch of options.
You will find Eat Street at the lake end of Tutanekai Street which leads onwards towards the lakefront boardwalk, park area and playgrounds.
There are plenty of options to choose from with everything from pub fare and steaks to tapas, Indian, Italian, Thai and much more.
Getting to Rotorua
Rotorua is well connected with other North Island and New Zealand destinations by road and air.
By road Rotorua is a three hour drive from Auckland. The scenery and landscapes are beautiful through the Waikato region to the Bay of Plenty.
- Auckland to Rotorua: 2h 39m (226 km)
- Taupo to Rotorua: 1h 7m (79.6 km)
You can stop in and see the incredibly beautiful Putaruru Blue Springs in the South Waikato just off the road between Auckland and Rotorua.
- Read about visiting the Putaruru Blue Springs.
Or the Rotorua Regional Airport is only a 10 minute drive from the centre of town.
Accommodation and where to stay in Rotorua
There is a great range of accommodation in Rotorua and close to the lakefront and main town area.
We loved our stay at Rydges Rotorua! The hotel location is amazing with stunning views over the thermal valley.
- Rydges Rotorua
This is a great pick for families with a swimming pool and hot tubs, kids Play Zone. The in-house restaurant has a delicious buffet dinner and breakfast.
- Gemini Lodge
Chalets with multiple bedrooms well set up for families.
- Kings on Peace
One of the top reviewed properties on Booking.com.
- JetPark Hotel Rotorua
Another top pick for families with great deals for kids to stay and dine free with a paying adult.
Fairway Cottages has 2-bedroom apartments just out of town.
Where to stay in Rotorua with a motorhome or camper van
One of the best ways to see New Zealand is by road with a camper van or motorhome. In Rotorua there are two options in town. Overnight parking is only allowed at the sites listed below.
Free site: Government Gardens Motorhome and Campervan Parking Area
- Location: Hinemoa Street, opposite Polynesian Spa
- Type: Free Site (Council)
- Park4Night: #47400
- Cost: Free
- Facilities: No toilets, showers or water provided
About: Only self-contained campervans/motorhomes permitted to stay overnight. Space for a maximum of 17 campervans/motorhomes. Maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights per calendar month.
Free site: Hamurana Reserve, Lake Rotorua
- Location: Hanurama Reserve
- Type: Free Site (Council)
- Cost: Free
- Facilities: Public toilets available, water tap with drinkable water
About: Only self-contained campervans/motorhomes permitted to stay overnight. This is a council-owned space permitted for overnight stay with space for a maximum of 10 camper vans/motorhomes. Maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights per calendar month. There is a food preparation area (no hot water), barbecue and children’s playground on the nearby reserve.
The spaces to stay overnight with a motorhome in Rotorua have limited spaces are available. Note that freedom camping is not permitted on any other parks or neighbourhood recreation reserves.
Read more about travel in New Zealand
- Franz Josef Or Fox Glacier?
- Family Friendly Walks In Franz Josef.
- Putaruru Blue Springs South Waikato.
- Wairere Falls Walk Near Matamata.
- 5 Things To Do In Russell Bay Of Islands.
- Visiting Milford Sound In Winter.
- Hooker Valley Track Mt Cook.
- Hiking Roys Peak Track In Wanaka With Kids.
More about travel planning for New Zealand and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, adventure ticket, local tours and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before embarking on all the great things to do in Rotorua!
