25 best things to do in Rotorua: Complete 2025 guide

Quick summary: Epic things to do in Rotorua

The Ultimate Canopy zipline tour is my absolute favourite Rotorua adventure activity!
And the luxe adults-only Wai Ariki Hot Springs is my go-to for a treat yourself experience
Experience Māori culture at Te Pā Tū or Mitai Māori Village
Soak in some geothermal hot pools at Polynesian Spa, Waikite Valley or Hell’s Gate
Do a scenic flight over stunning Mt Tarawera
Roll down the hill in a ZORB
Try whitewater rafting
Do the Redwoods Treewalk and see the forest from above
Catch the gondola to the top of the luge track and race your friends back down
Go kayaking on paddleboarding on Lake Rotoiti, Lake Okareka or Lake Rotomahana

Top travel tip: BookMe is a local website where tourism operators load last minute deals for things like rafting trips, cultural tours, skydives and loads more, with discounts often sitting between 20-50%! So if you’re visiting Rotorua in the next few days, check BookMe to see what deals are available for your travel dates.

The best things to do in Rotorua

1. Zip through gigantic native trees

I’m a bit of a zipline addict myself so I couldn’t start this list of the best things to do in Rotorua with anything else. Rotorua Canopy Tours has a perfect 5/5 Google rating from a whopping 2700+ reviews, and they absolutely deserve it.

They offer two different eco-friendly canopy tours depending on your budget and preferred thrill level. The Original Canopy Tour is three hours with six ziplines totalling 600m, or the Ultimate Canopy Tour is 3.5 hours with 1200m of ziplines.

💰 You can book your Rotorua Canopy Tours experience on Klook and save 10% with the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK!

On your zipline tour you’ll also learn about the native forest and what the Rotorua Canopy Tours team is doing to protect our local flora and fauna. Highly, highly recommended for any active adventure, family holiday, couples’ trip or solo getaway.

2. Treat yourself to a luxe hot springs experience

Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa is New Zealand’s first luxury cultural wellness resort, giving visitors the chance to experience traditional Māori healing practices at a stunning, award-winning lakefront venue. This is one for your New Zealand bucket list!

It’s owned and operated by the local iwi, Ngāti Whakaue, and in my opinion it’s the best luxury Māori experience in the country. Cultural designs are woven throughout the architecture and interiors, warm colours and natural materials perfectly represent the volcanic landscapes of the region, and every aspect of the spa ties back to te ao Māori. I’m obsessed with this place.

Their signature Restorative Journey (Wai Whakaora) is a two hour multi-sensory wellness circuit through waterfall showers, various saunas, an invigorating ice room (complete with a bucket of icy water to tip over your head!), semi-outdoor hot pools with expansive Lake Rotorua views, a plunge pool, hydrotherapy jets, a mud room and finally a steam room.

💰 Save 10% on the Wai Ariki Restorative Journey on Klook too, just use the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK. It’s only valid for your first booking though so try to book multiple activities at once.

For a shorter and cheaper visit, the one hour Restorative Bathing (Wai Whakatā) option offers access to the big pool, ice cold plunge pool, herbal pool and hydrotherapy pool at a lower price point.

And if you’re in need of some serious relaxation, their Spa Sanctuary (Āhuru Mōwai) offers indulgent massages, facials and body treatments.

Wai Ariki opened a couple of years ago and somehow it’s still flying under the radar, so it’s the perfect place to take a breath and enjoy peace and quiet away from the tourist crowds. Highly recommend!

3. Hit Rotorua’s hiking trails

There are a variety of hiking trails and tracks near Rotorua if you’re keen to explore by foot. Lake Okareka, Okere Falls, Lake Tikitapu and Hamurana Springs are some of the top recommended walking areas, you can read more about them in this DOC guide.

If you’d like to do a walk with a local guide, learning about the region and unusual geothermal activity at the same time, you could opt for a hiking tour instead.

This half-day Mount Tarawera guided walk has excellent reviews, this guided hike through Whirinaki Forest will teach you about Māori culture and history while you enjoy unspoilt native bush, and this Sanctuary Mountain Ancient Forest tour takes you to a protected nature reserve with the chance to see the rare kākā parrot.

4. Take a scenic flight

Volcanic Air is a local Rotorua tourism operator that offers helicopter and floatplane flights around volcanic craters, over thermal valleys and past waterfalls.

Pack a camera, choose your aircraft (keep in mind that the heli lets you land on the mountain!) and experience Rotorua from the sky.

5. White water raft over the world’s highest commercially-rafted waterfall

Reckon you’re up for an adventure? Tick the world’s highest commercially-rafted waterfall off your bucket list with a Kaituna white water rafting tour, where you’ll navigate 14 Grade 4 and 5 rapids before conquering a 7m waterfall 🤯

I’ve done this rafting trip three times and it’s such a rush, an experience you’ll never forget!

Book on Klook | Book on GetYourGuide | Check BookMe for last minute discounts

*Rafting the epic Kaituna River is one of the most thrilling Rotorua activities on offer*

6. Trust the ropes with a bungy jump

You don’t have to go all the way to Queenstown or even Taupo to get an adrenaline rush from jumping off something with a rope tied to your ankles 🙃

Velocity Valley in Rotorua has a number of thrill activities available, like Rotorua’s only bungy jump at 43m high, a zero gravity wind chamber, the famous Agrojet jet boat and more.

7. Roll downhill in a giant ball

Invented right here in little ol’ NZ, a ZORB is an inflatable ball that you jump into before rolling down a hill, often with water sloshing around inside. Sounds crazy? Crazy fun!

There are four tracks to choose from (the straight tracks, a Big Air track with a jump, the Mega Track and the Sidewinder) and they have deals for multiple rides and tracks.

They’ve got changing rooms, hot tubs at the top or bottom, and if you don’t want to get wet you can opt for a DRYGO ride outside of the summer season.

8. Race your travel buddies on the Luge

After riding the Skyline Gondola up Mount Ngongotaha for panoramic views across the lake and city, grab a luge cart (like a go-kart/toboggan hybrid) for the ride down.

Take the scenic track to enjoy the ride and the views, then kick off a bit of competition between you and your friends with a go on the intermediate or advanced tracks.

Just don’t do what I did when I was a kid and put my hand out to try and stop, because someone will run over it 😭

9. Paddle on the lake and into hidden caves

Go for a daytime kayak on Lake Rotoiti (and enjoy a soak in the lakefront hot tubs afterwards) or opt for a sunset kayak or paddle boarding trip on Lake Okareka complete with an adventure into a glow worm cave.

10. Go sledging down white water rapids

If you’ve tried (and loved) rafting and want to take your water skills to the next level, give sledging down the Kaituna River a go.

You’ll get decked out with a warm wet suit, some flippers and your very own vessel that you’ll captain down white water rapids and flowing rivers.

11. Try a swing instead of a bungy

I’m not scared of heights but I reeeeally don’t enjoy anything involving a massive freefall (big yes to paragliding, big no to skydiving) so instead of a bungy jump, I prefer something like the Sky Swing or Sky Swoop!

After being secured into position, you’ll get hoisted up to a 90 degree angle before being released to a short drop and then a huge swing.

You can try the Sky Swing at the Skyline Gondola or the Sky Swoop at Velocity Valley if you’re keen for a thrilling ride.

12. Learn about Māori culture

Rotorua is home to some incredible Māori culture experiences, like Te Pā Tū (previously known as Tamaki Māori Village, Mitai Māori Village, Te Puia (they have day passes and an evening tour) and Whakarewarewa Māori Living Village to name a few.

Witness traditional ceremonies, taste test classic Māori kai (food) and try your hand at some woodcarving or weaving.

13. Spot glow worms

Real Rotorua offers a Nocturnal Adventure tour that will take you on a two or three hour night-time experience to see thousands of shiny glow worms, with a perfect 5/5 rating on TripAdvisor from 790+ reviews.

14. Explore the geothermal valleys

Rotorua’s geothermal activity is the gem in its crown, and what makes it stand out from the crowd of epic places to visit in the North Island.

There are geothermal hot spots all throughout the area, you’ll see bubbling hot pools and steam coming off the lake’s shore, but there’s a few major geothermal experiences I’d recommend visiting.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers walking tracks through native bush, a lake cruise past lakefront geysers, and a stunning bright blue pool that you’ve probably seen on Instagram.

things to do in rotorua waimangu — Waimangu Volcanic Valley

waimangu rotorua things to do — Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Te Puia is a multi-activity park with 60 hectares of geothermal landscape, along with mud pools, an arts and crafts centre, a kiwi sanctuary and more.

Wai-O-Tapu on the other hand is home to the multi-coloured Champagne Pool with a bright orange border, as well as the Lady Knox Geyser which erupts daily at 10.15am (with the help of a little human intervention).

15. Go up the Rotorua gondola

Rotorua visitors of all ages will love a quick trip up the Skyline gondola, giving you sweeping views over the city and lake.

Once you’re at the top you can choose to try out the luge, the Zoom ziplines, or treat yourself to a delicious buffet lunch or dinner at the Stratosfare Restaurant.

16. Soak in the geothermal hot pools

Rotorua is the natural hot pool mecca of New Zealand, and if the aforementioned Wai Ariki is out of your budget, the good news is that there are a few other options that are easier on the wallet.

The best known Rotorua hot pools would have to be Polynesian Spa, who have kids pools, private pools and lakefront adults-only pools to choose from.

💰 Get a discount with the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK when you book on Klook!

polynesian spa rotorua bucket list new zealand — The lakefront pool at Polynesian Spa

Waikite Valley is another one of my top picks, they’re a bit out of the city so less busy and they are surrounded by lush native bush. They’ve got a campground onsite too so you can park up here for the night if you’re exploring the North Island by campervan.

Secret Spot Hot Tubs and Manupirua Hot Pools are other options with brilliant views, or you can go for a free hot pool (and hot waterfall) at Kerosene Creek.

things to do in rotorua hot pools — Waikite Thermal Valley

waikite valley hot pools rotorua attraction — Waikite Thermal Valley

17. Or have a mud bath

Hell’s Gate offers a hot pool experience with a twist, in the form of a hot mud bath!

Choose some cheap togs and cover yourself with silky mud filled with unique healing properties.

18. Take a lake tour on an amphibious boat

Discover Rotorua and its surrounds in a different way with a duck boat tour, riding on land and water in a genuine WWII landing craft.

This 90 minute tour will show you the best bits in the city as well as take you for a cruise on the lake, learning about local legends as you go, or opt for the two hour Tarawera and Lakes tour for something more nature-focused.

19. Get on ya mountain bike

Mountain bikers rejoice, Rotorua has a couple of different spots for you to hit the trails.

The Redwoods/Whakarewarewa Forest has over 130km of trails ranging from beginner to absolute expert, or you can take your bike (or a rental from Mountain Bike Rotorua) up the Skyline Gondola and ride down one of the epic downhill tracks that make up their 12km network.

20. See the forest from up high with the Redwoods Treewalk

Whakarewarewa Forest (also known as the Redwoods) is a Rotorua must-do.

The Redwoods Treewalk is a network of eco-suspended bridges connecting gigantic Redwood trees, giving you a spectacular view of the forest. It takes about 30 minutes to do the loop. They often have last minute discounts available through BookMe so check that if you’re hoping to go in the next few days.

You can visit during the day, go at night to see the forest lit up with an incredible light show for Redwoods Nightlights, or zip through the trees at 25 metres high with the Redwoods Altitude zipline experience.

💰 Get a discount on the zipline with the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK when you book on Klook!

21. Try a hangi dinner

Hangi is a traditional Maori cooking style where meat and veges are cooked with heated rocks in an underground pit oven.

Te Pā Tū (previously named Tamaki Maori Village) or Mitai Maori Village have evening experiences which include hangi meals.

22. Visit the 3D Trick Art Gallery

If you need a rainy day activity for Rotorua, the 3D Trick Art Gallery is a worthwhile stop, particularly for families with young kids.

It’s a cheap and cheerful interactive art gallery with loads of Kiwiana-themed artworks and Instagrammable rooms.

23. Treat yourself to a high tea

Looking for things to do in Rotorua to celebrate a special occasion? Prince’s Gate Hotel serves up a delectable high tea from $49 per person with finger sandwiches, scones, sweet patisserie treats and a range of fancy tea and coffee to choose from.

24. Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery

The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa is located in Ngongotahā, and you can visit them for a tour of the hatchery and a peek at baby kiwi.

25. Get lost in a maze

Another one that’s perfect for Rotorua with kiddos, aMAZEme has a 1.4km hedge maze where you can test your directional skills! It’s even wheelchair-accessible and there’s a walk-in rabbit enclosure on site too.

Epic things to do near Rotorua

Lake Taupo

Taupo is a one hour drive from Rotorua, so it’s a super easy addition to any Rotorua itinerary or a natural next stop if you’re continuing your NZ adventure. Some of the best things to do in Taupo are:

Hire a funky Doughboat and play captain while driving it around the lake
Visit the famous Huka Falls, you can walk around the falls for free or do the iconic Huka Falls jet boat ride
Watch the Aratiatia Dam release
See the famous Maori rock carvings

Tauranga

It’s about 50 minutes from Rotorua to Tauranga. Some fun things to do in Tauranga and the Mount are:

Climb Mount Maunganui for sunrise (super popular but for good reason)
Skydive over one of the most beautiful coastal regions in the country
Swim with wild dolphins
Get a surf lesson
Kayak into glow worm caves at night

Whakatane

Just over an hour’s drive will take you to Whakatane, home to some of New Zealand’s best beaches, including the stunning Ohope Beach!

The best places to stay in Rotorua

If you’re looking for where to stay in Rotorua, here are a few of the city’s best-rated hotels, Airbnbs and camping spots.

Camping in Rotorua

There are some great freedom camping spots in and around Rotorua if you’re in a certified self-contained vehicle, including a coveted spot right outside Polynesian Spa. You can find all the freedom camping info on the Rankers app.
For an actual holiday park, I love Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park (out of the city but great facilities) and Tasman Holiday Parks (ideal city centre location), and All Seasons Holiday Park is perfect for kids, with 20 lifesized dinosaur models on site!

Budget accommodation in Rotorua

Haka House has a slightly lower rating than I’d usually recommend (7.8/10 from 1500+ reviews) but many of those reviews are from when it was the YHA, before Haka House rebranded and renovated. It looks really decent with pod-style dorms with privacy curtains, comfy common areas and private rooms available too.
Rotorua Downtown Backpackers is a back-to-basics cheap hostel option with decent reviews (8.2/10 from 630+ reviews)
Crashpalace is another cheap and cheerful place to stay for backpackers (8.5/10 from 800+ reviews)
Malone’s Spa Motel and BK’s Motor Lodge both offer affordable studios in good locations

Mid-range accommodation in Rotorua

Geyser Lookout B&B has good value rooms with top-rated hosts (9.3/10 from 670+ reviews)
Aura Accommodation is right in the centre of town with affordable studios and apartments (8.7/10 from 1330+ reviews)
Quest is a serviced apartment chain throughout New Zealand, and their Rotorua location has great reviews (8.6/10 from 1000+)

Luxury accommodation in Rotorua

Ngamihi Lodge is a charming upmarket B&B on Lake Okareka (9.7/10 from 70+ reviews)
Solitaire Lodge is a bit further out, a proper luxury lodge experience on Lake Tarawera with full board and epic views (4.9/5 on Google from 90+ reviews)
The Pullman Rotorua is a decent centrally-located 5* hotel (8.3/10 from 2200+ reviews)

rotorua glamping spot with fire and hot tub

Things to do in Rotorua FAQs

How many days do you need in Rotorua?

It really depends on how much you want to do, but I’d recommend at least 2-3 days to experience the best of Rotorua. This gives you time for the major geothermal attractions, one or two cultural experiences, and some downtime at a hot pool location of your choice. But if you have more time you could easily fill a one week itinerary!

What’s the best time to visit Rotorua?

Rotorua is a year-round destination, summer brings warm weather for outdoor adventures and the hot pools are dreamy in winter. I personally prefer visiting in the shoulder months to avoid the crowds, so March-May and September-November (but check NZ school holidays to avoid high prices and busy attractions).

How far is Rotorua from Auckland/Wellington?

Rotorua is 236km from Auckland, it’ll take about 2h 40m by car without traffic or rest stops along the way. If you’re driving from south to north, Rotorua is 452km from Wellington which would be about 5h 30m with no stops.

Both cities also have direct flights to Rotorua if you prefer to fly, although domestic flights in New Zealand can get very expensive if you’re not booking well in advance.

Is Rotorua worth visiting?

Absolutely! As someone with family ties here I’m probably biased, but Rotorua offers experiences you literally can’t find anywhere else in New Zealand, even in the entire world. The 7 metre waterfall that you can raft over, lush geothermal hot springs with mineral-rich water bubbling from underground, epic ziplines and the opportunity to learn about Māori culture in an authentic and respectful way.

What should I budget for Rotorua?

Budget varied depending on your travel style and priorities.

Backpackers could get by on $80-100NZD per day for hostel accommodation, supermarket meals and free or cheap activities.

Mid-range travellers should budget $200-250NZD per person day for nicer accommodation, private transport, some iconic activities and a mix of self-catering and restaurant meals.

Luxury travellers could spend upwards of $500NZD per person per day for fancy accomm and all the epic things to do, like bungy jumping, scenic flights, massages at the spas and eating out for every meal.

What is Rotorua famous for?

Three main things: geothermal activity (bubbling hot pools and geysers), outdoor adventures (white water rafting, bungy jumping, ZORBing) and Māori cultural experiences.

Can you swim in Rotorua’s hot springs?

In some of them you can, but you need to make sure it’s safe before you dip a toe in!

Commercial hot pools like Wai Ariki, the Polynesian Spa and Waikite Valley are totally safe and the water temperature is managed, but public hot springs like Kerosene Creek can have germs in the water (fine to soak but don’t put your head under) and bubbling water on the lakefront can be scalding hot.

Does Rotorua smell bad?

I’ll be honest, Rotorua’s eggy sulphur smell isn’t exactly pleasant, but you honestly get used to it after a short stay and it’s not bad enough to avoid the city!

Is Rotorua safe for tourists?

Rotorua had a bit of a rough time from 2020-2023 due to COVID lockdowns and closed borders With tourism completely halted, the city’s empty motel rooms were used for emergency housing, which unfortunately did result in increased crime and antisocial behaviour in certain areas, particularly Fenton Street in the city centre.

However, some fixes were implemented in late 2023 which has helped the situation, with 2024 crime rates significantly lower than the year before. 2025 info isn’t out but I’ll update this when I have it.

Personally I’ve never had any safety concerns in Rotorua, even as a solo female traveller, but it’s the kind of place where I would take typical common sense precautions like ensuring valuables are kept somewhere safe, sticking to well-lit areas at night and staying aware of my surroundings.

Can you do Rotorua as a day trip from Auckland?

Technically yes, but it’d be a longggg day without much room for movement. The one way drive is 2h 40m without any stops or traffic, so you’d be on the road for 5-6 hours minimum and would only have time for a couple of major experiences anyway.

If you’ve only got a day then you’d be best to book an organised tour from Auckland which takes all the hassle out of it and means you can sleep on the drive back, rather than risking driving unfamiliar roads at night after a hectic day of adventures.

Rotorua really is what you make of it, and you can DIY the perfect trip to suit your travel tastes.

Keen adventurers will love the nature trails, ziplines and thrill activities on offer, families have plenty of kid-friendly experiences to choose from, luxury travellers can stay at remote lakeside lodges and enjoy fancy wellness spas, and everyone who visits should take the opportunity to learn about Māori culture in authentic and iwi-led settings.

There’s nowhere else in the world like Rotorua, it’s got a super unique combo of adventure opportunities, cultural richness and otherworldly natural landscapes, and it’s well worth carving out at least 2-3 days of your Aotearoa adventure to experience its magic.

Have you been to Rotorua? Do you think I’ve missed anything vital of the list? Let me know in the comments!

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I received some of these Rotorua attractions as a freebie or for a discounted rate in exchange for content. As always, all opinions are my own and are based on my own personal experience. Big thanks to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Skyline Gondola & Luge, Rotorua Canopy Tours and Polynesian Spa for hosting me.

MY GO-TO TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES

Flights ✈️ I use Skyscanner to find the best flights for my trip and then I’ll always book direct with the airline to protect myself from having to deal with dodgy third parties if anything goes wrong.

Trains 🚂 If I’m travelling through Europe, I try to travel by train wherever possible! For an extended trip (2+ weeks) I’ll calculate if a Eurail Pass is worth it, or I’ll book point-to-point tickets through RailEurope or the local train operator.

Accommodation 🛎️ I book almost all of my accommodation through booking.com, they have a user-friendly website + app and many of their options are free cancellation, easily cancelled with a simple click of a button.

Activities 🗽I use GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator to look for activities in the places I visit, or I just Google ‘things to do in [city]’! P.S. If you book anything on Klook you can use the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK to get 10% off

Travel cards 💳 I’m a Wise gal through and through, they’ve been my chosen travel card for more than five years now. You can easily top up your card from your bank account or through Apple Pay, convert your money to local currency, and spend money with minimal fees and the best exchange rates around.

Travel insurance 🩺 I use Cover-More NZ travel insurance for my own trips, I have a comprehensive policy and I’ve only had good experiences with them. Cover-More also has an Australian company, but if you’re from elsewhere then two popular insurance options for global travellers are SafetyWing (cheaper policy, lower coverage) and World Nomads (more expensive but significantly better coverage).

Luggage 💼 I travel with Samsonite Cosmolite suitcases, one 75cm check in bag and a 55cm carry on bag, and I absolutely adore them and will never travel with anything else! They are SUPER lightweight (2.8kg and 1.9kg respectively) so I have much more space for my actual stuff.

Camera gear 📸 I use a iPhone 15 Pro Max for phone photos/videos, and my camera kit includes a Lumix S9 (incredible lightweight full-frame camera, a game changer for travel creators!) with a 20-60mm lens, a Lumix G9 with an 8-18mm and 12-60mm lens, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone and a GoPro Hero 10. I do all my writing and editing on my ASUS Zenbook 14, it’s lightweight but powerful enough for photo editing and intense blogging sessions.

Written by:

Alexx

Alexx is the human behind the keyboard and camera here at Finding Alexx. She’s a full-time solo traveller with a passion for finding bucket list experiences, unique stays that are worth writing home about, and those meals you’ll think about for the rest of your life. Having visited more than 60 countries (50 of them solo!), she shares super detailed itineraries and travel guides on the blog, as well as providing an authentic behind-the-scenes look at all her adventures (and misadventures) on Instagram.