Things to Do

Rotorua's main attractions cluster around its geothermal fields and Māori heritage. Most are on or near the southern edge of the city around Whakarewarewa.

Guide

Things to Do

01

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters in Māori) is the most visually spectacular of the geothermal parks near Rotorua, located about 30 kilometres south of the city. …

Sight
02

Te Puia

Geothermal park with Pohutu Geyser and Maori arts

Sight
03

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

A young geothermal valley of steaming lakes, silica terraces, and volcanic craters south of Rotorua
04

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village

Living Māori village built around active geothermal vents

Sight
05

Ohinemutu

Ohinemutu is a lakeside Māori village at the northern edge of central Rotorua, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Bay of …

Sight
06

Redwoods Treewalk

Suspension bridges between century-old redwoods, magical at night

Sight
07

Buried Village

Archaeological village museum telling the story of the 1886 Tarawera eruption.

Museum
08

Polynesian Spa

Lakeside hot springs with dual mineral waters

Sight
09

Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre

A Rotorua conservation centre focused on New Zealand falcons and other birds of prey.
10

Kuirau Park Thermal Pools

Public geothermal park with steaming pools near central Rotorua
11

Agrodome

Working farm attraction near Rotorua with sheep shows and rural demonstrations.

Sight
12

Skyline Rotorua

A gondola takes you up the forested slopes of Mount Ngongotaha, a quiet extinct volcano on the western edge of Rotorua, to a complex …

Sight
13

Government Gardens

The Government Gardens occupy a promontory jutting into Lake Rotorua at the edge of the city centre — a formal park of croquet lawns, …

Sight
14

Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park

Reliable place to see kiwi; runs an active kiwi hatching programme

Sight
15

aMAZEme

Rotorua hedge-maze attraction with gardens and low-key family activities.

Sight
16

Blue Baths

In the Government Gardens, the Spanish Mission-style Blue Baths building dates from 1933 and was one of the most celebrated public bathing complexes of …

Sight