Away With The Steiners

20 Unforgettable Things to do in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Sarah Steiner

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 

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: 

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. 

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. 

Te Puia things to do in Rotorua.
Finishing our fantastic experience at Te Puia with hot chocolate as the sun sets over 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. 

Enjoying the hot foot pools in Kuirau Park.

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.

Saturday morning at Kuirau Market.
Have you tried a whitebait fritter yet?

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. 

The beautiful walks in the Redwoods Forest are one of the best free things to do in Rotorua.

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! 

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. 

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). 

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. 

Gavin crossing one of the swing bridges on our Original Tour.
Such an epic experience!

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. 

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. 

The waterfront boardwalk is a great space to enjoy in the centre of the town.

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. 

A market day on at Government Gardens in Rotorua.

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. 

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.  

The unreal neon green of the Devil’s Bath at Waiotapu.

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. 

Rafters exiting from the Trout Pools after rafting down the river at 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!

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

Late afternoon and heading into Eat Street for some snacks and a drink.

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.  

You can stop in and see the incredibly beautiful Putaruru Blue Springs in the South Waikato just off the road between Auckland and Rotorua. 

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.

Fairway Cottages has 2-bedroom apartments just out of town.  

The amazing thermally heated pool at Rydges Rotorua.

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

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

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.

Campervans parked overnight in Rotorua at the Government Gardens Motorhome and Campervan Parking Area.

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