Things to do in Rotorua
Top Things to Do in Rotorua - Rotorua Attractions
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Things to Do in Rotorua
Check out must-see sights and activities:
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest, Nature and Wildlife Tours, Hot Springs & Geysers. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest, Nature and Wildlife Tours, Hot Springs & Geysers. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Rotorua.
Likely To Sell Outfromper adult$169
Raftingfromper adult$125- fromper adult$399
Cultural Toursfromper adult$48
Dining Experiencesfromper adult$270- fromper adult$189
Spasfromper adult$90- fromper adult$199
Attractions & Museumsfromper adult$45- fromper adult$185
Hot Springs & Geysers
Geothermal park with colourful pools, geysers, and mud baths amidst easy trails and picnic spots. Daily geyser eruption and scenic opportunities for nature enthusiasts.
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Redwood forest with tranquil trails for all ages, night tree walks with lit paths, diverse plant life, and ancient trees. Enjoy walking, mountain biking, and a treetop experience.
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Historic Sites
Cultural hub with interactive workshops on traditional Maori crafts, performances, and geothermal wonders, including an active geyser and kiwi conservation.
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Historic Sites
Authentic Maori cultural immersion through guided tours of a living village, complete with traditional performances, geothermal wonders, and historical insights.
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Nature & Wildlife Areas
Hot Springs & Geysers
Geothermal park with maintained hot springs and mud pools for a relaxing foot soak amid steam vents and sulfuric landscapes. Includes thermal attractions and a children's play area.
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Wineries & Vineyards
Scenic gondola ride leading to a winery set against Lake views, showcasing a selection of New Zealand wines and a luge adventure amidst picturesque landscapes.
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Bodies of Water
Geothermal pool and stream with warm water and scenic waterfalls set in a natural environment, presenting a tranquil spot for relaxation.
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Nature & Wildlife Areas
Nature park with a tranquil ambiance, home to diverse wildlife including playful lion cubs for interactive experiences. Features picnic areas and educational displays amidst natural beauty.
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Neighbourhoods
Covered pedestrian promenade by the lake, lined with a diverse mix of eateries and atmospheric lighting, including a themed restaurant and famed ice cream parlor.
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Other Top Attractions around Rotorua
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Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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What travellers are saying
- tumbleweedchrisRichland, WA1,048 contributionsWai-O-Tapu is a good thermal choice in that it has a lot of dramatic features concentrated in one small walk. Out of all the geothermal attractions in the Rotorua area, I felt this one had the most that it delivered on. Yes, it is a little touristy, but it's popular for a reason. The walk has three different lengths you can choose from. I recommend doing the longest one or the shortest one. The middle one doesn't really add much to the short walk, but the longer has some interesting features not part of the shortest. The thing you have to factor in with your walk is if you are going to the geyser presentation or not. I arrived at 8:30a and did the long walk and made it over to the geyser by 10:15, but it was quite rushed. I recommend either starting with the geyser then doing the walk or doing the short walk followed by the geyser.
As for the geyser, it's kind of a ridiculous attraction. They put soap in it to make it erupt. When it does erupt, it also spits out soap bubbles. As a lover of roadside attractions, I appreciated how ridiculous this was, but this is anything but a natural wonder. Note that there is also a mud feature that is free and comes before the geyser. This is worth stopping at as you are coming or going. Overall, this is worth seeing despite the touristy nature. It packs a lot of sights into a short walk, which is why it is such a popular destination.Written 9 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Brent81Auckland, New Zealand258 contributionsAfter doing the treetops walk we came back the next day to do the forest walk - absolutely beautiful location and such a lovely easy loopWritten 7 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jack WNepean263 contributionsOur family went on the Te Po Experience which began with a brief tour, a buffet dinner which was excellent, a cultural show, and time to do a bit of sight seeing of the geysirs. Everything was well done, but the cost was pricey. In fact the cultural show at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds north of Auckland offers a comparable presentation of Maori culture for considerably less cost. However, we are told the cost of the programming is to help fund training for young adults in Maori arts and if that is truly the case I don't begrudge the cost as much.Written 1 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sam clarkeCanada1 contributionThe combination of geothermal activity and cultural history created such a unique atmosphere. Watching the geysers erupt and hearing about how the land is used by the local people was both educational and inspiring. Kerosene Creek was a hidden gem—the warm water was so soothing after walking around all day. A truly enriching and relaxing day!Written 25 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- davidhughtaylorMelbourne, Australia622 contributionsAs a geothermal geologist i have visited all the commercial geothermal tourist sites. Waimangu is my favourite. It has a beautiful natural setting walking for about 90 minutes down thru forests with a bus return back uphill. Along the way there is steaming lakes, bubbling sulfurous hot water vents, mini geysers and waterfalls and some nice silica sinter terraces. Many tourists site in NZ very expensive but Wiamangu is one the cheapest also.Written 20 December 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jack WNepean263 contributionsFree and accessible public park with bubbling mud pools. Coordinate a visit here with a walk to Sulphur Point. Appreciated the geothermal foot baths.Written 1 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lockie HAsheville, NC2,634 contributionsA five-star experience. The view alone is five stars, but our server, Carmen, curated a delightful experience from start to finish! Carmen clearly knew her wines; she was patient, and her smile radiated genuine warmth.
I lived in San Francisco for many years and we frequented the wine country. I am now trying to lean into the Australian and Zealand wines (whites, Pinots and other offerings) rather than the big bold Cabernets of California that defined the wine education in my youth.
Carmen and I had a big discussion about Chardonnay oak and stainless, and again, it was clear that she knew her wines and especially the Volcanic Hills wines that she was serving. We also overheard her at the other tables educating other patrons and even trying to navigate some language barriers. She remained unflappable. All tables received a great deal of attention from her. This was no mere “pour and go” tasting. Carmen really took the time to educate every table about her wines. Kudos Carmen for such an incredible experience!
We ended up taking home a few bottles. One of them never quite made it back to the states, because we still had a few days in New Zealand, and I opened it up in Wellington!
Our next excursion after the tasting was at one of the Maori cultural centers, and Carmen told us a bit of history of the folks there and how she was related. What a great way to prep for our next experience and dinner. I was also really enchanted by one of Volcanic Hills whites, which is unusual. Those bottles make it home to the states!Written 26 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Alissa DOttawa, Canada220 contributionsIf you want a free hot spring that isn’t too busy, come here. It’s lovely. Water does smell a bit but it comes with the territory. Waterfall was cool and the water isn’t too hot. You can go upstream too and hang out.Written 26 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AshwiniNew Zealand12 contributionsWe got to pat the cub.
This park currently has 2 of the 2 month old cub.
Saw lions and lionesses.
Was a great experience.
My son loved it and could not stop talking about it.
What an experience.Written 19 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
