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.

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.

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.

• Sink into mineral-rich mud baths and soothing sulfur pools at Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve for a Māori healing tradition passed down for generations.
• Explore New Zealand’s most active geothermal reserve, home to bubbling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and the Southern Hemisphere's largest hot waterfall.
• Wander past steaming vents, mud volcanoes, and the famous Kakahi Falls.
• Shuttle transfers from Rotorua Central make getting to this legendary spa experience easy and convenient.

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

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.

Challenge yourself with New Zealand's largest and most diverse range of mazes, mind-bending puzzles, and game attractions! Navigate Rotorua's famous 1.7km 3D Maze, explore our NEW glow in the dark Neon Cave experience, plus try New Zealand's tallest wall maze. Keep the family entertained for hours with the ultimate maze experience with so much to do - colour maze, puzzle path, arrow maze, Tui's Tangle maze, children's playground, tilt maze, giant games and rope maze. Wonderworld has been an icon in Rotorua’s family entertainment and tourism industry, bringing fun and happiness for over 40 years. We're conveniently located 12 minutes from Rotorua & 3 minutes from the Airport making it a perfect thing to do in Rotorua!

• Travel to Mitai Māori with round-trip thotel transfers from Rotorua 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.

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.

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.

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.

• Step into New Zealand's most active geothermal reserve with steaming mud pools, erupting geysers, and the country's largest hot waterfall.
• Try your hand at traditional Māori carving, an interactive, creative experience unique to Hell’s Gate.
• Join a guided tour to uncover ancient legends and geological wonders, or explore at your own rhythm with a self-guided map.
• Complimentary shuttle makes getting to and from Rotorua’s central area effortless and stress-free.
• All ages can enjoy the geothermal walk, while the carving experience is open to guests aged 12 and above.

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 cultural performance, hāngī buffet dinner and hot chocolate near 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.

• This ticket is the full-access pass to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve, with access to mud and sulfur pools, and Māori carving activities.
• Pick your path through three different walking tracks. You'll pass through mud pools, steaming cliffs, and pockets of native bush.
• Visit the Kakahi Falls and the constantly shifting mud volcano, plus join a Māori carving session to learn the stories and techniques that bring wood to life.
• Bathe in nutrient-rich geothermal mud and sulfur pools, a tradition enjoyed by Māori warriors for centuries.
• Every visit supports the preservation of Māori heritage and Rotorua’s geothermal environment.

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 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.

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.

• 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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

Step into a jade carving studio in Rotorua for an up-close look at this Māori craft. Meet local artists, see a live jade carving demonstration, and select your very own piece of New Zealand jade.

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.

• 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!

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!

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. Finish the experience in our free sauna!

We are proud to be the first in New Zealand to pioneer the integration of the latest audio-visual technologies with the world of art 7 Immersive Exhibition Rooms Each room at 3 Mirage is designed to evoke emotion, spark imagination, and transport you to another world. Tree of Life – The Source of Creation Vast Starry Sky – A Cosmic Journey Exotic Landscape – Worlds Unknown Ocean of Flowers and Waterfalls – Flow of Nature Forest Exploration – Secrets of the Wild Journey of Discovery – Path to Self Dreamlike Clouds – Floating Between Worlds Be among the first to experience the future of art and technology! 360-Degree Immersion – Surround yourself in a panoramic world of color, light, and sound. 4D Experience – Engage all your senses with dynamic visuals, spatial audio, and tactile elements. Interactive Technology – Step into the art and become part of the story. Multi-Sensory Impact – Experience art through sight, sound, and movement like never before.

• No better way of taking in Okariki forest’s unparalleled beauty than going on this zipline adventure on a 220m zipline at a whopping 50 km/hr. 
• With two expert guides that will ensure your safety is a given, soar over the rimu trees and swing bridges and stop to feed some native birds.
• Step up your adventure game with the ultimate canopy tour, which includes a 2.25-hour zipline experience and access to a cliff walk among others. 
• Did you know? Modern ziplining as we know it was first popularized by wildlife biologists who studied Costa Rica’s forest canopies in the 1970s.

Our most popular daytime experience - Te Rā + Haka. Enjoy a 90-minute guided tour of our geothermal valley, New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and kiwi house, plus a cultural performance.

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.

• Enjoy a 1-hour guided tour in our state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility.
• Go behind the scenes to witness the hatchery operations, from egg incubation to hatching.
• Observe adult and juvenile kiwi in our specially designed nocturnal enclosure and explore the immersive kiwi burrow experience.
• If you're lucky, you might see kiwi chicks being weighed, fed, or receiving a health check. 
• Fun fact: The National Kiwi Hatchery has successfully hatched and raised over 2,500 kiwi chicks, making it the leading kiwi conservation facility in the world!

Explore the Rotorua Lakes in the evening on an amazing scenic kayak tour. Follow your guide along the shorelines to small caverns home to a galaxy formation of glow-worms illuminating the night.

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

• Experience the perfect blend of history, culture, and humor with an expert English-speaking tour guide. • Enjoy traveling in 'The Duck', a World War II vehicle able to travel on land and water. • Discover the customs and culture of Rotorua by touring Lakes Titikapu and Ōkāreka. • Explore the contemporary life of the city while sightseeing its iconic buildings, million-dollar homes and gardens. • Journey through the natural landscapes and historically significant sites, getting a complete picture of the Lakes District.

Learn all about New Zealand’s national icon at the world’s leading kiwi hatchery in Rotorua and discover the conservation efforts dedicated to protecting and preserving the precious Kiwi bird.

We will host you and share this amazing park with you. Your expert guide will point out the unique geology, flora and fauna and cultural history that makes Tongariro special. The full day option involves; - Pick up/meet in Rotorua 8.00am / Taupo 9.00am (One-hour travel time from Taupo or 1 hour 45 minutes from Rotorua) - Start the day with the Taranaki Falls walk (2 hours), take in stunning views of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe, continue on to the Tama Lakes if fitness allows (4 hours) or add Lake Rotopounamu if group is less fit). Lunch will be on route as day allows - Return to Taupo / Rotorua

• Experience the Hobbiton Movie Set’s magic in person and learn about the Maori culture at Te Puia during this guided tour. • Enjoy a guided tour of the set, starting with a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to the town of Matamata. • Gorge yourself on a hefty meal at the Green Dragon Inn after you visit Hobbit Holes, the Party Tree, the Mill and other iconic structures. • Take in the Maori culture at Te Puia as you visit the wood carving and weaving schools. • Walk past forceful geysers and bubbling mud pools at the end of your full-day guided tour.

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.

Travel along scenic railway lines in a self-drive rail car, offering a unique perspective of Rotorua’s breathtaking landscapes, 1000 year old virgin native forests, rolling farmland and views over Lake Rotorua. With space for up to four passengers, these petrol-electric rail cars provide comfortable seating and clear views through waterproof sides, allowing you to savor the sights as you cruise at a leisurely 20km/h. Listen to the audio tour and delve into the rich history of New Zealand’s railways while enjoying stunning views of Lake Rotorua and Mount Tarawera. This innovative experience is perfect for families and adventurers alike, making it a must-do when in Rotorua.

• 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.

Soak in your own cedar hot tub beside the forest and listen to the soothing sounds of the nearby stream and native birds.

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!

• 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.

Discover the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves on a day trip from Auckland. Enter the world of Tolkien on a walking tour of Hobbiton and admire the glowworms in the world-famous Waitomo Cave.

7 Immersive Exhibition Rooms Each room at 3 Mirage is designed to evoke emotion, spark imagination, and transport you to another world. Tree of Life – The Source of Creation Vast Starry Sky – A Cosmic Journey Exotic Landscape – Worlds Unknown Ocean of Flowers and Waterfalls – Flow of Nature Forest Exploration – Secrets of the Wild Journey of Discovery – Path to Self Dreamlike Clouds – Floating Between Worlds Be among the first to experience the future of art and technology! What Makes 3 Mirage Revolutionary? 360-Degree Immersion 4D Experience 中文this attraction is a must-visit for anyone looking to make the most of their time in New Zealand. This is a family ticket, which allows entry for 1 Adult + up to 3 Children.

• Go sightseeing around the Rotorua Lakes District with entertaining commentary from your tour guide. • Journey through indigenous Maori history as you visit Lake Ōkāreka and Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). • Ride through Lake Tarawera, considered to be one of the most sacred lakes in the region. • View Mount Tarawera and listen to the enthralling story of its history-changing volcanic eruption. • Travel by land and by water in New Zealand’s only genuine World WarII military vehicle.