Rotorua is where you can smell the earth working. Steam drifts up from parks and gardens, mud pools bubble and geysers erupt. It is also one of the best places in New Zealand to learn about Māori culture, and the forests and lakes around the city are made for walking and biking.
Getting there
Rotorua is about three hours’ drive south of Auckland and about an hour from Tauranga. Rotorua Airport has domestic flights. A car makes it easier to reach the geothermal parks outside the city. See transport and hire for rental options.
Geothermal parks
- Te Puia: home of the Pōhutu Geyser, one of the largest active geysers in the Southern Hemisphere, and the national schools of carving and weaving.
- Whakarewarewa, The Living Māori Village: a village where people live alongside the geothermal activity and share their way of life.
- Wai-O-Tapu: about 30 minutes south, known for the bright Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Geyser.
- Kuirau Park: a free public park in the city with steaming lakes and mud pools.
Māori culture
Rotorua is the home of Te Arawa. An evening cultural experience usually includes a pōwhiri (welcome), kapa haka performance and a hāngī meal cooked in the earth. Choose experiences run by local iwi or hapū where you can.
Forests, lakes and bikes
The Whakarewarewa Forest, with its towering redwoods, is minutes from the city. It has easy walks, a treetop walkway and a large network of mountain bike trails. Lake Rotorua and the smaller lakes nearby are good for kayaking, fishing and swimming in summer.
Hot pools
Soaking in mineral water is a Rotorua tradition. The Polynesian Spa on the lakefront is the best known, and there are smaller hot pools around the region.
Nearby
Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata is about an hour’s drive away, and Taupō is about an hour south. Both pair well with a Rotorua stay.
Find Rotorua businesses
See checked places to stay, tours and activities and attractions in Rotorua on Big Red, and book directly with the business.