Things to Do in Rotorua

Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Movie set one-way tour includes visiting two of the iconic New Zealand attractions – Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.

Visit a traditional Maori village and learn more about their customs and rituals at an amazing cultural experience, including a tasty hangi feast and dessert.

Explore The Lakes Tour – 9am to 1pm By far the best lakes tour in Rotorua, small group, locations and value. With 18 lakes in the Rotorua area our Explore The Lakes Tour provides a driver-guided exploration of some of the highlights of New Zealand’s Lake District: Hamurana springs, the largest fresh water spring in the North island. Okere falls and Tutea falls with Native forest walk. lake Rotoiti, the Blue and Green lakes and lake Tarawera. Explore our favourite scenic spots and natural springs on foot. Take photographs at your leisure and learn about Rotorua’s colourful culture and history from our knowledgeable and friendly guide. • Highlights • Small group, relaxed atmosphere. •  Informative, outgoing driver-guide. • Breath-taking scenery. • No queues . • Half day tour.

• Travel to Mitai Māori with complimentary round-trip transportation and be regaled with creative storytelling around the history, culture, and traditions of this village.
• After a welcoming ceremony, a traditional meal is unveiled and set to slow cook in an earth oven for consumption at the end of your visit.
• You will be privy to warriors paddling down the Wai-o-Whiro stream by canoe, and cultural performances galore.
• Stroll through nature and see an ancient fortified village, the spring of Te Puna Tapu o Tuhoe, and glow worms illuminating the forest.
• Discover the ways of living, natural resources, and survival techniques used by indigenous peoples.
• Wind down with authentic food cooked in a hāngī pit, and engage in a lively question and answer session.

Enjoy combine massive Kaituna raft and sledge options in to one action packed day and accompanied by your awesome kiwi guides along the way.

Experience an evening of culture at Te Pa Tu that includes performances, dance, and a 4-course fusion feast held in the forest outside Rotorua.

Enjoy the ultimate Redwoods experience in Rotorua - feel the thrill of a high ropes course, get fast pass entry to Redwoods Nightlights, and go on a daytime Treewalk.

• Zip through the trees and over three thunderous waterfalls at speeds hitting 40 km/h on 4 cables. It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’s a whole lot of fun!
• The two expert guides will not only ensure your gear’s tight but also share Maori legends about New Zealand's origins and the Earth's creation.
• With swing bridges and hand-built boardwalks, you get to hover over the forest and peek at the plants from a bird's view.
• Not only will you explore, but you’ll also plant a native tree labeled with your name and discover the rich flavors of ancient Maori teas.
• Fun fact: You'll be zipping right over the top of the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall, Tutea Falls, which stands at a whopping 7 meters!

Join Kaituna whitewater sledging half-day guided tour to experience the unique Kiwi adventures with professional guides and enjoy beautiful native scenery during on tour.

Explore the Hobbiton movie set from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy on this half-day tour from Rotorua. See and hear how New Zealand's landscape was transformed into the famous Hobbit holes.

On our customised Private Tour you'll enjoy a fun and informative tour with an experienced local guide showcasing the iconic Mt Maunganui, gorgeous sandy beaches, affluent homes, then we gradually ascend the central volcanic plateau to Rotorua stopping at a Kiwi farm where you'll be amazed at how this locally economically important plant is grown. In Rotorua we visit the iconic venue - Whakarewarewa Maori village (incl. a slick 30 minute performance of unique harmonious song/dance by members of the local tribe, a walk through a mystical geothermally active wetland, bubbling hot mudpools and springs and view some iconic geysers) Then we drive to the nearby holiday lakes of okareka and tikitapu/blue (and possibly Tarawera if time allows), Stunning photo opportunities abound here, plus we take a quick easy trek into a grove of NZ native forest...tranquil, serene and unique. Redwoods forest and the dynamic rapids at Okere falls are two more options, again if time allows.

• Discover New Zealand’s only living Māori village, where locals use geothermal steam to cook food, heat homes, and bathe, just as their ancestors did.
• Step into a living, breathing Māori community where you witness everyday life up close—without the tourist gloss.
• Walk through sacred burial grounds and an active Marae, a central part of village life where community events and ceremonies are still held today.
• Explore how traditional Māori customs blend with modern living in a village surrounded by bubbling hot springs and steam vents.
• Did you know? Hot pools sometimes pop up overnight in this village, changing the landscape—and occasionally a house!

Discover the unique landscape and history of Mt. Tarawera with the fully guided hiking experience and journey off road 4x4 experience through native New Zealand bush to the craters edge.

Enjoy an evening of culture and connection at Te Puia with a hāngī buffet dinner and Māori cultural show. Take a shuttle to the geothermal valley and sip on hot chocolate at Pōhutu Geyser.

Combine the thrill of landing on Mount Tarawera with a flight that includes spectacular aerial views of our stunning crater lakes, the renowned Tarawera Falls and the vibrant Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal reserves. Leaving Wai-O-Tapu we descend to follow the Waikato River to the hidden valley of Orakei Korako. Once landed, you will ferry across the river and begin your land-based tour. Experience hot springs, gushing geysers and the natural beauty of this geothermal wonderland. Your return flight takes in views of farmland and the Paeroa mountain range before flying over Rotorua City and returning to our lakefront pier.

• Enjoy the thrill of rolling down Mt Ngongotaha in a giant inflatable ball promising you fun and laughs to the end.
• This experience has been a New Zealand bucket list adventure ever since Andrew and David Akers invented and developed it back in 1995.
• Choose between four tracks varying in distance and thrill, each crazier than the next, or forget choosing and experience them all!
• Don’t worry about not having enough time on your adventure with flexible duration and flexible entry.

Join the most popular 3-hour water rafting adventure tour over 14 awesome rapids & 3 waterfalls including world-renowned 7 metre Tutea Falls, the Highest Commercially Rafted Waterfall in the World!

Explore Wai-O-Tapu Thermal wonderland with this entry ticket. Witness the Lady Knox Geyser erupt and enjoy all-day access to one of New Zealand’s most popular geothermal parks.

Travel at high speed across scenic Lake Rotorua and through the Ohau Channel, then onto Lake Rotoiti where we will take you to the beautiful and peaceful Manupirua Hot Springs for a 1 hour relaxing soak. This hidden gem is only accessible by boat.

• Enhance your geothermal tour with a dynamic Haka performance, blending Māori culture and storytelling in a thrilling live show.
• Walk through Te Puia’s volcanic landscape, marveling at boiling mud pools and the powerful Pohutu Geyser as it erupts before your eyes.
• Discover Māori traditions as you visit a working Marae and gain insight into ancient customs through interactive cultural displays.
• Spend time exploring the village and learning about Māori crafts at the Arts Institute, where you can interact with the artisans.
• The Haka, performed by warriors in stunning costumes, was once used to prepare for battle and is now a key symbol of Māori pride.

Journey through Rotorua and discover the history of our lakes, volcanic areas, while visiting 4 lakes with a splashdown on 3 including Tarawera.

Combine a relaxing mud bath and sulphur spa experience with an exploration of Rotorua's most active thermal park at Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve.

Fly over New Zealand’s only permanently active offshore volcano, White Island and enjoy amazing aerial views of the island's crater lake and ever-changing volcanic activity. Continue across the Pacific Ocean and further inland to the site of the largest eruption in our living memory, Mount Tarawera.

• Take a geothermal tour through Te Puia’s dramatic landscape, then savor a delicious hangi meal slow-cooked using natural geothermal heat.
• Discover Māori culture up close, with access to the Arts and Crafts Institute where expert carvers and weavers continue age-old traditions.
• Enjoy a guided exploration of the vibrant Te Whakarewarewa Valley, including the erupting Pohutu Geyser and bubbling mud pools.
• Your visit includes a Hangi buffet meal, where you’ll experience authentic flavors of traditional Maori cuisine and New Zealand’s culinary heritage.
• Fun fact: The name "Hāngī" refers to the Maori method of cooking food underground, an ancient practice that adds unique earthy and smoky flavors.

Journey through Rotorua riding New Zealand's only genuine WW2 landing crafts and visit 3 of Rotorua's 18 stunning lakes with splashdown on 2.

Discover thrilling rides with a pass to Rotorua's Velocity Valley Adventure Park. Pick one experience from the iconic Agrojet, Swoop, Freefall Xtreme, and Shweeb Racer.

Take a guided canyon kayak tour in the daytime, on the Waikato River. Learn the history of the submerged village and enjoy the serenity of being on the water. Paddle slowly up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and through the canyon carved out by water over many hundreds of years.

• Enjoy a guided or self-guided interactive tour at New Zealand's most active geothermal reserve.
• These nutrient-filled waters and mud were used by Māori warriors to heal their battle-scarred bodies.
• During your walk, see erupting waters, an active mud volcano, and even a hot waterfall.
• Get your hands and feet dirty in the healing mud foot pool or attempt Māori carving.

See one of the world-famous visitor attractions in one wonderful day on this small-group day tour from Rotorua to Auckland via Hobbiton movie set!

Enjoy the ultimate Redwoods experience in Rotorua with this ticket. Feel the thrill of a high ropes course with zip lines, get Fast Pass entry to Redwoods Nightlights, and go on a daytime Treewalk.

As passionate conservationists we'll take you out of our way to discover birds you have never seen. A full day birding adventure checking out a few sites to maximize your chances to see a range of endemic New Zealand birds. We explore arguably New Zealand's finest forest, stunning estuaries, amazing wetlands and seek out rare birds in their natural habitat.

• Soak in a mud bath and sulphur spa at Rotorua's most active thermal park.
• Admire views of the famous Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve.
• Later, cool off in a fresh spring waterfall.

The Kaituna River is ranked the number 1 Travellers Choice Experience in NZ. It doesn't get much better than whitewater rafting through this river.

Sustainability ‘Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua - Care for the land, care for people, go forward’ Wonderworld is bordered by a protected strand of Kihikitea forest of significant natural value, being one of the last remnants of the towering Kihikitea forest that used to surround Lake Rotorua. Wonderworld LOVES this forest. The birds and insects singing that come with it. The fresh air. The natural greenery. We are committed to nurturing the forest and supporting the future prosperity of the wildlife that lives here. We do this through - eradicating introduced pests that damage the forest, planting over 500 native plants to rejuvenate the land and eradicating noxious and invasive weeds.

• Join a full-day small-group day tour from Auckland to see Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Te Puia’s geothermal wonders, and Rotorua’s city highlights.
• Explore Waitomo Glowworm Cave on a 45-minute guided tour with stalactites and stalagmites, then enjoy a serene boat ride beneath the glowworm-lit grotto.
• Explore Te Puia Geothermal Park with a guide, seeing geysers, hot springs, Māori arts, and the unique Kiwi bird up close.
• Drive through Rotorua’s most iconic sights, including Lake Rotorua, Rotorua Museum, Government Gardens, Rachel Spring, and the Blue Baths.

Journey through steep, lush New Zealand canyons as you conquer 14 rapids and 3 waterfalls, including the world’s highest rafted fall. Experience thrilling rafting infused with rich Māori culture.

Join us to view Rotorua beyond the crater rim. Enjoy spectacular views of our hidden lakes district, distant volcanoes and local geothermal activity. In this captivating overview of this stunning area and continue your experience on your floatplane scenic flight towards lake Rotoiti. Landing on the lake we’ll taxi to the pier where you disembark, your Eden awaiting. Only accessible by water, the hot pools are in a secluded bay on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Seemingly disconnected from the world, this is where you’ll spend 90 minutes, with your only concerns being which pool to experience next. Take your time soaking, cool off in the lake, rest a bit on a lounger and repeat before returning to the Rotorua City Lakefront

• Explore two of New Zealand’s best sites in one tour: the Hobbiton film set and the geothermal and Māori cultural treasures of Te Puia.
• Enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Hobbiton film set, with behind-the-scenes stories and a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.
• Visit Te Puia to see the famous Pohutu Geyser, bubbling mud pools and the National School of Māori Arts where you’ll see traditional carving and weaving.
• This tour offers great flexibility, with return transfers from Auckland and the comfort of a small group with personalized attention.
• Did you know? Te Puia’s Pohutu Geyser is the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupting up to 20 times a day!

Embark on a culturally infused 4-hour adventure at Mount Tarawera from Rotorua. Discover breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and local myths with an expert guide in this unforgettable experience.

Raceline Karting is NZ’s premier karting adventure it is New Zealand's newest and longest state of the art outdoor KartSport circuit.Situated at the Rotorua International KartSport Raceway the track is 1.2km long, 8 metres wide, and includes a 150 metre straight, you will also take on 11 corners and 6 hairpins. We are operating Sodi 390cc 4 stroke karts imported from France, they can reach speeds close to 100km/hour.

• Experience Rotorua’s Agrodome, where you can feed alpacas, watch sheep shearing, and explore 350 acres of farm life.
• Watch the renowned farm show where 19 breeds of sheep take center stage, showcasing the diversity of the nation's sheep farming. 
• See talented farm dogs keep the sheep in line and try your hand at farming traditions like sheep shearing or milking a cow.
• Climb aboard a cozy tractor trailer for an all-terrain tour through a 350-acre farm and stop to pose with cute animals for great photos.

Discover the magic of Rotorua on a small group tour from Auckland! Explore vibrant Wai-O-Tapu, see the mighty Pōhutu Geyser, experience a powerful haka, and dive into rich Māori culture at Te Puia.

An unforgettable adventure from start to finish! This guided Māori cultural walking tour through a stunning Jurassic podocarp rainforest was truly one-of-a-kind. The journey began with a comfortable and fun bus ride from Rotorua, where we met our friendly Māori guides. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a traditional Mihi Whakatau and Karakia, which set a deeply meaningful tone for the day. The rainforest itself is breathtaking—towering 1,000-year-old Totara trees, lush native plants, and the chance to spot rare birds in their natural habitat. The guides shared fascinating stories about the forest’s history, Māori traditions, and the medicinal plants known as Rakau Rongoa. We even got to experience 'Forest Bathing,' a peaceful moment of connection with nature, accompanied by beautiful Māori chants and music. The packed picnic lunch, infused with traditional flavors, was delicious, and hot Kawakawa tea was the perfect ending. A must-do for anyone visiting Rotorua!

• Enjoy a guided tour through Te Puia, home to New Zealand’s largest active geyser and extraordinary geothermal wonders.
• Visit the renowned Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, watching skilled artisans create intricate wood carvings and delicate woven art.
• Explore the Kiwi Conservation Centre, where you'll see New Zealand’s iconic bird up close and learn about ongoing conservation efforts.
• Upgrade your experience with options including a live Haka performance or a traditional Hangi buffet dinner for deeper cultural immersion.
• Pohutu Geyser erupts up to 20 times a day, shooting water as high as 30 meters into the air—don’t miss this natural wonder during your visit.

Watch glow worms light up the darkness on a guided tour from Rotorua. Take an evening bush walk through a native forest and keep an eye out for Morkporks, Weta, and other nocturnal creatures.

Tour Highlights: Start your journey with a convenient pickup from iSite Rotorua Visitor Center, 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua, and enjoy a scenic drive to Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Created by the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption, Waimangu is the world’s youngest geothermal system. Upon arrival, explore a breathtaking landscape filled with unique geothermal features, including Frying Pan Lake, the world’s largest hot spring, and the mesmerizing blue Inferno Crater. Wander through steaming craters, bubbling pools, and vividly colored terrain, witnessing the powerful forces of nature and the vibrant regeneration of the valley. This tour allows you to experience Waimangu’s stunning blend of geothermal wonders and lush greenery at your own pace. Please complete your walk by 12:30 pm for a convenient return to Rotorua, bringing back unforgettable memories of this extraordinary place.

• Escape city life to experience the wonders of Rotorua's geothermal reserve featuring a self-guided interactive geothermal walk, a mud bath, and a spa.
• Go on a guided or self-guided interactive geothermal walk to witness a magical hot waterfall and get your hands dirty with a Maori carving.
• Enjoy a soak in the geothermal mud bath at the reserve, a practice used by the local Maori for over 800 years.
• Cleanse yourself off in a sulfur spa and a cold plunge pool for some much-needed TLC.

Take six ziplines up to 50km/h through a rare, ancient forest. Cross suspended swing bridges in the canopy and get close encounters with birds on this 2.5 or 3.5-hour guided, multi-award-winning adventure.

Experience “Volcanic Extremes” flying over the active crater of “Whakaari” White Island before landing on the now dormant but extremely spectacular summit of Mount Tarawera. Both of these volcanoes are of significance, Whakaari more recently for the devastating 2019 eruption and Mount Tarawera for the much larger 1886 eruption considered to be the largest in New Zealand’s living memory. Different in the extreme, Whakaari is an active marine volcano and changes its activity on a daily basis while far inland Mount Tarawera stands impressively above its central North Island landscape. The mountains now dormant but no less impressive craters and domes are evidence of the massive eruption that shaped this area. Views from the Mountains summit are breathtaking, not only for the volcanoes deep craters but also for commanding vistas of the surrounding region.

• Discover the art of jade carving and New Zealand pounamu's heritage in Rotorua on a 40-minute guided tour.
• Witness local artists in action as they showcase the step-by-step process of jade carving and engage with them during the live demonstration.
• Delve into the rich history of pounamu, uncover its significance for Māori culture, and select your unique piece to string into a necklace for a take-home souvenir.
• Fun Fact: Pounamu is the Māori name for New Zealand jade. It is found only in New Zealand’s South Island, which is why the island is also known as Te Waipounamu, meaning ‘the greenstone waters’.