About Rotorua!

There is so much to do in Rotorua, I recommend a 3 night stay. We’re close to everything you want to see!
Did you know there are more than 85 hours of adventures, enjoyment and beauty in Rotorua? Base yourself in Rotorua and do a day trip to Taupo (1 hour drive) and Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, Tauranga and Whakatane (1h 10mins drive).

VOLCANIC ATTRACTIONS
WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY
'Wai' meaning water and 'mangu' meaning black. Walk down into the Waimangu Volcanic Valley of active volcanic craters and see the biggest hot spring in the world! Do a cruise on the crater lake Rotomahana and see the steaming cliffs !

TIME NEEDED: 2½ -4 hours
DRIVE TIME: 24 minutes

TE PUIA The icon of Rotorua . See the world famous Pohutu Geyser, boiling mud, the wood carving house, weaving display, kiwi house. Enjoy a Maori Concert 3 times a day. TIME NEEDED: 2½ -4 hours DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL WONDERLAND Wai' meaning water, 'tapu' meaning sacred. Wai-o-tapu is the prettiest volcanic area in Rotorua.... the pools are beautiful. Blues and yellows with pink edges!! The Lady Knox Geyser plays at 10.15 am only. Wai-o-tapu has the best mud !! TIME NEEDED: 2 hours DRIVE TIME: 30 minutes

HELL’S GATE
Very active sulphur and graphite pool at incredible temperatures. This is surely what Hell looks like! The largest hot waterfall in the southern hemishere. Self-drive or let me book you on a tour which includes this attraction.

TIME NEEDED: 2½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 25 minutes

ORAKEI KORAKO
Lonely Planet Travellers Guide writes… “ Orakei Korako is possibly the best thermal area left in New Zealand and one of the finest in the world”.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 45 minutes

WHAKAREWAREWA VILLAGE
The descendants of the Tuhourangi-ngati-wahiao will guide you through the geothermal village, home of the famous penny divers. See Pohutu Geyser and The Prince of Wales' Feathers . See food cooked in the natural steam.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

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ROTORUA VISITOR ATTRACTIONS

AGRODOME The Agrodome Sheep Show, where you’ll see nineteen sheep breeds, the art of sheep shearing, sheepdog demonstrations, cow milking, bottle feed lambs and an exciting sheep auction. Audience participation is a major part of the show. The guided tour shows you our 160 hectare farm. Hand-feed and pet the animals. During the Farm Tour, you will also visit our Pure NZ Organic apple, mandarin orange, olive and kiwi fruit orchard and stop at the Organic Education Center for kiwifruit wine and honey tasting. TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours DRIVE TIME: 12 minutes

RAINBOW SPRINGS AND KIWI PROGRAMME
Wild trout in tranquil pools, set in beautiful New Zealand bush. Live Kiwi birds on display and see New Zealand's live dinosaur, the 25 million year old Tuatara. Rainbow Springs is idyllic at night and you can see the native kiwi bird wandering in natural nocturnal surroundings.

Day TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 5 minutes

Night TIME NEEDED: 1 hours
DRIVE TIME: 5 minutes

PARADISE VALLEY TROUT SPRINGS AND LION PARK
Rainbow Trout, bird-life, wild animals and lion pride. When cubs are under 6 months old, visitors are able to go into the enclosure with them.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 15 minutes

ROTORUA MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
This beautiful Elizabethan-style Bath House once housed a health spa. See the spiritually significant treasures of the Te Arawa people and the exhibits of the 1886 Tarawera eruption.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

BURIED VILLAGE
The haunting remains of an excavated village buried by the Tarawera eruption in 1886. Natural bush walk and beautiful waterfall.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hours
DRIVE TIME: 25 minutes

OHINEMUTU VILLAGE
Once the main Maori settlement on the shores of Lake Rotorua. St. Faith's Anglican Church has a unique sandblasted window of Christ who dressed as a Maori chieftan, appears to walk on the waters of Lake Rotorua.

TIME NEEDED: ½ hour
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

ARIKIKAPAKAPA ROTORUA GOLF COURSE
Have a round of golf on the only golf course in the world where you can lose a ball in a mudpool!

TIME NEEDED: 1½ -3 hours
DRIVE TIME: 23 minutes

GOVERNMENT GARDENS GOLF COURSE
21 bay, floodlit, all-weather driving range plus full size 9-hole golf course

TIME NEEDED: 1½ -3 hours
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

SPRINGFIELD GOLF COURSE
Beautiful green course... this would look good with a few sheep on it.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ -3 hours
DRIVE TIME: 2 minutes

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SPAS

POLYNESIAN SPA World Top Ten Spa (natural, medical, thermal) as voted by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine 2004 – 2007, 2009,& 2011. Indulge in an array of hydro and dry relaxation spa therapies at Lake Spa Retreat. All spa therapies include deluxe bathing! Relish wonderful natural ingredients, including the exfoliating, cleansing and healing qualities of Rotorua thermal mud, the hydrating, healing and soothing traits of New Zealand manuka honey, and the anti oxidant effects of New Zealand kiwifruit. TIME NEEDED: ½ hour DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes
WAIKITE VALLEY THERMAL POOLS SPRINGS N SPA Bathe in 100% pure natural geothermal waters at The Waikite Valley Thermal Pools springs n spa. There is a great café which suits families perfectly. TIME NEEDED: 1 hour DRIVE TIME: 45 minutes

HELL’S GATE
The lovely Wai-ora spa has mud to relax in or massage therapies

TIME NEEDED: 1 hour
DRIVE TIME: 25 minutes

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FREE SCENIC ATTRACTIONS

ROTORUA LAKEFRONT

TIME NEEDED: ½ hour
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

MT NGONGOTAHA
Take a drive up the mountain to see the spectacular lake views and Mt. Tarawera, the dormant volcano, in the distance.

TIME NEEDED: 1 hour
DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

GOVERNMENT GARDENS
Walk around the delightful gardens below the Rotorua Museum. See the Rachel Pool which fed mineral waters to the original Bath House.

DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

KUIRAU PARK
A free public park with mud pools and thermal activity.

DRIVE TIME: 2 minutes

WHAKAREWAREWA REDWOOD FOREST
Stroll among the Californian coastal Redwood trees. Tracks clearly marked. Maps available at the Visitors Centre.

DRIVE TIME: 6 minutes

HAMURANA SPRINGS
5 Million litres of fresh spring water flow, every day, from this - the largest natural spring in New Zealand's North Island. Unbelievably beautiful and home to Rainbow and Brown trout

DRIVE TIME: 25 minutes

SULPHUR POINT
Walk beside Lake Rotorua to Sulphur Point and native birdlife.

DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Bike among the Californian coastal Redwood trees. Tracks clearly marked. Maps available at the Visitors Centre. Also bike from the forest through to Sulphur Point.

DRIVE TIME: 6 minutes

BLUE AND GREEN LAKES
See the amazing beauty and contrast between the Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and the Green Lake (Rotokahi). There is an observation point between the 2 lakes.

DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

LAKE TARAWERA
The volcano Tarawera lies dormant, on the far shores of the beautiful Lake Tarawera, creating a powerful atmosphere. Have lunch or dinner at the Landing Cafe

DRIVE TIME: 30 minutes

ROTORUA LAKES
There are eleven lovely lakes in the Rotorua District..... Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoma, Okataina, Okareka, Blue Lake, Green Lake, Tarawera, Rotomahana and Rerewhakaitu.

DRIVE TIME: 3-30 minutes

HUKA FALLS
Experience the power of the mighty Waikato River.

DRIVE TIME: 40 minutes

ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS

THE WALL
Climb an indoor wall. Instructors handy at all times. Great for beginners.

TIME NEEDED: 3/4 hour
DRIVE TIME: 3 minutes

SKYLINE SKYRIDES
Take a gondola ride up Mt. Ngongotaha and luge one of the three courses.

TIME NEEDED: 1½ hour
DRIVE TIME: 6 minutes

OGO
Roll down a hill in a big plastic ball …..you not me!

TIME NEEDED: 3/4 hour
DRIVE TIME: 7 minutes

ZORB
There’s that green grassy hill again and yep you are going  down in a big plastic ball wet or dry.

TIME NEEDED: 3/4 hour
DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

SHWEEB
Ride lying down a monopod with bicycle wheels…sound strange …it is a kiwi invention and great fun for all global mountain bikers or cyclists

TIME NEEDED: 3/4 hour
DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

FREEFALL
Be blown into the air as if you are flying WOW!

TIME NEEDED: 1/2 hour
DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

AGROJET
A small fabulously fast jet boat. Don’t let size fool you this thing motors!

TIME NEEDED: 1/2 hour
DRIVE TIME: 10 minutes

HUKA FALLS JET
You’ll marvel as you slide past cliffs and trees at an incredible 80km an hour in one of our state of the art jet boats. Then get ready for our trademark 360 degree spin as the boat turns on its own length.

TIME NEEDED: ½ hour
DRIVE TIME: 45 minutes

TAUPO BUNGY
Take a day trip to Taupo and jump into thin air!!! 154' (47m) over the beautiful Waikato River

TIME NEEDED: ½ hour
DRIVE TIME: 1 Hour