Rotorua is one of the North Island’s most incredible destinations. Its location on the Pacific Rim of Fire has created a unique landscape made up of giant geysers, bubbling mud pools, colourful rock formations and of course lots and lots of hot springs - all of which are so accessible and easy to explore.
As well as this geothermal wonderland you’ll also find turquoise rivers, towering waterfalls, secret glow worm dells, a mossy canyon and several stunning redwood forests. It’s the perfect destination whether you’re looking for adventure, or to kick back and relax.
Here are all the best things to do in Rotorua.
20 Incredible things to do in Rotorua
1. Explore the geothermal delights of Orakei Korako
Your journey through the other worldly landscape of Orakei Korako begins with a short boat trip across the lake.
A fitting start to an amazing walk around an area filled with colourful silica terraces, bubbling mud pools, geysers, NZ's Only Geothermal Cave and a steaming blue pool which had real Yellowstone National Park vibes!
It’s an astonishing place with sights so weird and wonderful that it almost doesn’t feel real! The 2km walkway is in excellent condition and whilst it does have a few little hills, it’s generally very easy. It’s a self guided tour so you can spend as long as you like, which is great if you love taking photos like us!
It’s slightly further away from the city centre, at around a 50 minute drive, but it’s very much worth the effort.
We booked tickets through Bookme so it’s worth checking if they have any offers on before your visit.
2. Soak in a hot spring waterfall
Is there any better way to spend an afternoon than soaking in a natural hot spring waterfall surrounded by stunning forest? If your answer is no, then a visit to Kerosene Creek is a must.
Not only is the setting spectacular but the water temperature is perfect - it’s lovely and warm, but not so hot that you need to keep getting out for a break.
The creek has a number of fab spots for a soak and is accessed via a short, easy trail.
Somewhere this good does get popular though, so we have all the details you need to escape the crowds, as well as which bathing spots are the most picturesque in this post.
3. Take in the majestic Tarawera Falls
Tarawera Falls is a beauty. Water thunders down the cliff face from a number of different points giving the impression of a whole series of waterfalls.
The sheer volume of water and amount of cascades make for a mesmerising spot that’s truly hard to leave.
The falls can be accessed in two different ways. The first, which is what we opted for, is to drive out to the start point via unsealed private logging roads (which you’ll need a $10 permit for) and then walk for 750m (each way) along the very easy trail.
If you want to avoid the drive you can take a water taxi to the outlet and walk from there, which is also an easy trail, but considerably longer.
You can read more about the walk in this detailed guide.
4. Wander the spectacular Redwood Forest
Redwoods are some of the most spectacular trees on Planet Earth, and Rotorua has some seriously impressive groves. Our favourite way to experience the Redwoods is along the 2km easy Redwood Memorial Grove Track.
Wandering amongst these giants is a humbling experience and it’s hard to describe just how special the forest is. It’s so incredibly peaceful and the easy nature of the path means you can look up at the trees instead of down at your feet.
If you’re travelling with kids you might prefer to opt for the Redwoods Tree Top Walkway instead which has a series of swing bridges allowing you to view the forest from a totally different perspective.
It’s a 700m loop and though we preferred the free walking trail, it’s still good fun. You can read more on the paid vs free Redwood walks here.
5. Take in the spectacular landscape of Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain)
You don’t need to climb to the summit of Maunga Kākaramea/Rainbow Mountain to get a great view. In fact, the best view is just 500m into the trail, along an easy well maintained path.
It’s a staggering vista, with an almost iridescent blue crater lake backed by the colourful steaming rock of Rainbow Mountain. It’s one of the most sensational views in all of Rotorua and it’s completely free of charge!
If you do want to continue to the summit of Rainbow Mountain, it gets steeper, but it’s not a difficult walk. You’ll get one more volcanic view, but for the most part, after the crater lake it’s more like countryside vistas.
All the details on the full trail are in our Rainbow Mountain guide.
6. Swim in the sensational turquoise river
If you dropped me at the Tarawera River and asked me where I thought I was, I would say somewhere on the South Island.
I always associate amazing turquoise blue water with the south, yet one of the most beautiful rivers I’ve ever seen is close to Rotorua. It’s basically paradise, with crystal clear water surrounded by lush foliage that has to be seen to be believed.
It’s wonderful just to walk along the river, but taking a dip here is truly something to remember. However, there are only a couple of spots which are safe to swim in due to the current and the underground river system. We detail exactly where you can swim safely in this guide.
Incidentally this is the river that you’ll walk beside if you visit Tarawera Falls.
7. Feel the magic at a secret glow worm dell
There are a number of really cool glow worm tours you can take in Rotorua, including kayaking right through a glow worm grotto, but if you want to visit independently we know several secret spots!
Our favourite is the magical little dell at the Blue Lake.
It takes just five minutes to walk there from the car park and then you’ll be standing surrounded by high walls that look to be strung with hundreds of twinkling blue fairy lights. It’s such a beautiful sight and the high cliff walls give it a feeling of seclusion and secrecy.
The dell is very easy to get to but it’s hidden away with no signage, however we have you covered on the directions to get there here.
8. Relax in the unique hot spring lake
We have visited a lot of hot springs around the world, but we’ve never seen one as unique as Te Rata Bay - Rotorua’s Hot Water Beach.
Here you’ll find an incredibly picturesque lake which is literally steaming on one side. The hot spring water and cool lake water don’t mix that well so it’s quite an unusual hot/cold sensation, which I absolutely loved.
You can visit via the 15km Tarawera Trail, which is a lovely track with two further hot springs along it (un-signposted but detailed in our guide), or by water taxi. We opted for the best of both worlds, walking one way and getting a water taxi back, and we’d highly recommend that option.
All the details on exactly what to expect at the springs and which water taxi company we used are in this post.
9. Bottle your own water at Hamurana Springs
Hamurana Springs is a gorgeous blue spring which reminded us of the famous Putaruru Blue Spring but without the crowds!
There’s a very easy 1.7km walk around the springs which takes you through stunning forest that even includes a small Redwood grove. The trail is just beautiful and walking beside the electric blue water is so serene.
Towards the end of the trail you’ll reach the source of the spring which you’ll know by the bubbles and you are allowed to fill up your water bottle here!
Drinking straight from the spring is hard to beat - it’s cool, crystal clear and tastes so much better even than bottled water.
You do have to pay to visit Hamurana Springs as its on private land. We got a great deal on Bookme and would recommend checking to see if the discount is still on before you visit.
10. Marvel at the Southern Hemisphere’s largest geyser with your morning coffee
Pōhutu is the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere and it’s located inside the Te Puia geothermal area.
We were really keen to see it but had already paid for so many attractions in Rotorua at that point that our budget was running low. Not wanting to miss out it was time to get creative!
Happily we discovered you can view the geyser from the terrace of the restaurant at Te Puia. For the price of a coffee (although you can have brekkie and lunch too), you can sit on the balcony and watch as the geyser erupts! Pōhutu erupts a couple of times an hour so it’s easy to fit it into even a very packed schedule.
Of course if you have the budget and go into the geothermal area, you are going to get much closer to the geyer which will be even more impressive - something we’ll be doing next time!
11. Test your nerve rafting the world’s highest commercially raftable waterfall
Those after an adrenaline rush should look no further than this grade 5 white water rafting adventure. I did it the first time I visited Rotorua and I can still remember it vividly years later.
It’s not one of those trips where there’s lots of lazy river in-between a few rapids, the Kaituna River is wild and action packed from start to finish (although only the waterfall is grade 5).
The jewel in the crown is the 7m high Tutea Falls, the highest commercially raftable waterfall in the world. It’s around a 50:50 chance whether you’ll tip, but you are given a full briefing before you go down.
I have to say I was pretty relieved when we stayed upright! The whole experience was amazing, the scenery is gorgeous and the guides were great, with lots of opportunities to get more involved if you wanted to.
It was the first time I’d ever been white water rafting and it’s still the best I’ve ever done!
At time of writing there are some great deals on Bookme, hopefully they’re still there as you’re reading this.
12. Enter the mystical world of the Redwoods at night
There’s something wonderful about entering the forest at night and the Redwoods Tree Top Walkway makes it all the more enchanting. You head along the same swing bridges that you walk in the daytime, but after dark is definitely when the magic happens.
The lighting is done beautifully, enough that you can see everything, but not so bright as to be garish or take away from the feeling of being in the forest at night.
I loved the lanterns but my favourite bit had to be the sections where there are hundreds of tiny lights projected amongst the trees, giving the feeling of being surrounded by fireflies. It was like entering a fairytale.
We’d recommend going when it’s properly dark, rather than just after sunset for maximum impact. You can read more about the experience in our Redwoods guide.
13. Stare in awe at the world’s largest hot spring
Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot spring in the world and to be honest it looks pretty terrifying. I was utterly convinced that I was staring at a death trap until a few minutes later I saw two ducks lazily swimming by!
Death defying it might not be, but it’s still incredibly impressive, as is the rest of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rotorua’s youngest geothermal area.
Expect to see bubbling mud, steaming vents, tiny geysers and the jaw-dropping Inferno Crater Lake - which is an absolute highlight.
There are several hiking trails to explore and we walked the full 4km track to the lake, as well as up to Mt Hazard. Mt Hazard doesn’t offer much in the way of views and is only really worth doing if you’re keen on bushwalking.
The full trail to the lake is wonderful, but the main sights are along the first 1.5km, so if you don’t feel like walking far you won’t miss out too much. You can also take a boat cruise on the lake at the end.
A shuttle bus (which is included in your entry ticket) takes you back to the car park so you don’t have to double back on yourself - handy as the way back would be a fair bit of uphill!.
We got our tickets discounted on Bookme so it’s worth checking the site before you go.
14. Learn about the terrifying eruption of Mount Tarawera
The nearby volcano, Mount Tarawera, exploded in a deadly eruption in 1886 burying Te Wairoa and several smaller villages in one of the New Zealand’s worst natural disasters.
You can learn all the tales of that tragic night at the Buried Village archaeological site.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t heard much about it before our visit, but the museum is excellent. Rather than simply relaying facts, the focus is on the stories of the people who were part of the tragedy, which makes it really engaging. You can then wander the archaeological site looking at the remains of the village, which strangely feels quite peaceful now.
There is also a fantastic waterfall in the grounds which is very much worth a visit too (if you only want to visit the waterfall the entry ticket is cheaper). The whole walk around the site and to the waterfall was around 1.5km.
15. Kick back in style at the Polynesian Spa
We’ve mentioned a few natural hot springs in this post already, but when you fancy something a little more luxurious it’s time to head to the Polynesian Spa.
There are two parts to the spa and we opted to treat ourselves to the Deluxe Lake Spa, which was only a little more expensive and had pools which have great views over the lake and also less people in them.
There are five mineral hot pools with different water temperatures as well as an ice cold plunge pool. It was so relaxing to hop between the pools and then chill on the heated recliners before repeating the cycle.
We went for sunset and stayed for hours, so we also got to experience the gorgeous starry night sky.
Alternatively, you could opt for the larger Pavilion Pools which are cheaper and also looked great - but busier - or smaller completely private pools.
It sometimes pops up on Bookme, but the timings aren’t always great as it tended to be early mornings that were discounted, but it’s worth checking!
16. Enter the otherworldly mossy canyon of Whirinaki Forest
The ancient Whirinaki Forest is majestic and it’s an enchanting place to visit in and of itself. All you can hear are the sounds of nature and it’s basically like tuning in to one of those meditation videos on Youtube.
If you love forest bathing then you really shouldn’t miss the full 11km Waterfall Loop Track.
However, if you prefer shorter walks then you can walk directly to Te Whaiti-Nui-a-Toi Canyon, which is only a 2km return trail and almost entirely flat (you also visit the canyon on the longer loop track).
Viewing the canyon from above is straightforward but if you want to get down into it, it does involve a short scramble - which we detail in this guide.
17. Catch a sunrise from Lake Tarawera
Catching a beautiful sunrise from the jetty of Lake Tarawera is exactly what we planned to do, that was until we didn’t get up in time!
Instead we opted for sunset, which is also a lovely time to be at the lake, although sunrise is definitely the most photogenic if you don’t mind an early start.
There are quite a few jetties dotted around the lake, each offering a slightly different perspective. We opted for the newish looking one accessed from the Stoney Point Reserve car park.
You need to walk for a couple of minutes along the beach (heading right from the car park). It’s a fantastic spot and would also make a great place for an early morning dip!
18. See geothermal activity right in the city centre
It’s hard to believe but Rotorua actually has an active geothermal park right in the city centre and it’s free to visit. Kuirau Park might not be on the scale of some of the bigger geothermal areas, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
You’ll find small colourful pools, bubbling mud pits, a giant steaming lake and even a hot mineral bath for your feet (although we were gutted to find that in winter the water was cold!).
The steaming lake sometimes covers the whole walkway in its plumes making for a very atmospheric stroll. All the paths are flat and easy and it’s a great place to begin your Rotorua explorations.
Parking is free and it’s located just off Pukuatua and Ranolf streets.
Incidentally if you’re looking for other free areas to view geothermal activity, the Waiotapu Boardwalk is definitely worth a stop.
The bubbling mud pool here was actually the best we saw in all of Rotorua, it’s huge and very active (almost alarmingly so at points!). The first viewpoint is right beside the car park and the second just a minute further along.
19. Visit the stunning Okere Falls
Okere Falls is a powerful set of cascades, but a visit here is more about the whole area than just the falls. As well as Okere Falls (which are less than one minute from the car park) you’ll also visit Tutea Falls (where if your timing is right you will get to spot the rafters!), Trout Falls and Trout Pool.
The whole walk covering all these spots is just 3km return, on an easy well maintained track - there’s a small amount of uphill but nothing very steep. If you’re feeling in the mood for some wild swimming you can take a dip at Trout Pool at the end of the track, where there’s an area away from the strong current.
You’ll also pass by Tutea Cave. It might not seem like much in the daytime, but by night you’ll find it has a little more sparkle!
All the details on visiting Okere Falls are in this guide.
20. Admire the magnificent Champagne Pool
Wai-o-Tapu is the most famous of Rotorua’s geothermal areas, showcasing the incredible Champagne Pool, as well as the famous Lady Knox Geyser. I’ve been lucky enough to visit twice in the past, but sadly it was closed on our most recent trip so I wasn’t able to get photos (you wouldn’t want to see the shots from our pre-blogging days!).
Although we aren’t able to write up Wai-o-Tapu in the way we would have liked to, I can definitely assure you it’s well worth a visit. I can still remember the crazy green lake which didn’t even look real and of course the spectacular Champagne Pool.
Where to stay in Rotorua
Best Western Braeside Rotorua & Conference Centre
The Best Western is a great combination of a hotel with facilities like a pool and spa, yet rooms still have kitchenettes so you don’t have to eat out for every meal. It’s set in lovely grounds, close to the gondola.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Six On Union Motel
If you are looking for something cheap and cheerful, the Six on Union Motel has well reviewed rooms, with kitchenettes or bigger kitchens depending on whether you opt for a studio or apartment. It’s in a great location and there’s access to a guest laundry.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Getting to Rotorua
Rotorua is located in the Bay of Plenty Region and is just under a three hour drive from Auckland and 5.5 hours from Wellington.
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