Maori spirit and geothermal magic

A steaming, hissing landscape complete with exploding geysers greets you on arrival in Rotorua, along with a tradition of hospitality and warmth more than one hundred years old.

Each and every day is a fresh one in Rotorua, with tourism pumping through the veins of the city. Rotorua knows how to do tourism well - and it should. It was the birthplace of tourism more than a century ago when visitors from foreign shores came to marvel at the awe-inspiring Pink and White Terraces set on the side of Rotomahana. Sadly these terraces were destroyed by the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, but visitors to this unique region continued to grow following the catastrophic event. Many of the guides found at the city’s iconic attractions today are simply following in the traditional of their ancestors and informing people of the area.

Rotorua has it all as a destination. It offers visitors a chance to free their spirit at one of the many spectacular lakes, rejuvenate their spirit at the natural geothermal complexes around the city, challenge their spirit with a burst of adrenalin, experience the spirit of a living culture both in the contemporary and traditional sense and feel the spirit of the earth as it rumbles beneath your feet.

With striking Tudor-style architecture, exquisite scenery and top class attractions, hotels, luxury lodges, backpackers and motels, Rotorua offers a complete package for any traveller on any budget.

Manaakitanga is a deep-rooted concept in Maori culture. It is a challenge for the people of the city and the region itself to offer visitors the best experience possible during their time in the city. Discover the important parts of the culture and land of New Zealand in this exceptional destination.

Key Features

Key Tips

• Located in the central North Island, Rotorua is a leisurely 3-hour drive from the main international gateway city of Auckland.
• Rotorua airport receives daily domestic flights from Auckland (40 minutes), Wellington (60 minutes), Christchurch (1 ¼ hours) and Queenstown (2 ½ hours).
• From Rotorua you can drive to surf beaches (1 hour), a national park (1 ½ hours), ski fields (2 ½ hours) and one of New Zealand’s major wine regions (2 ½ hours

Must-see things in Rotorua

Rotorua is a geothermal city where nature's forces escape bubbling, steaming and hissing from the inner earth.

• Brilliant colours are a feature of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland's Artist's Palette and Champagne Pool. Lady Knox Geyser plays every day
• Visit the amazing Waimangu Volcanic Valley, formed during the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886
• Watch the famed Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. Scalding water shoots 30 metres into the sky as the geyser plays almost constantly
• Hell's Gate is another fascinating thermal park. It features the only hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. It also has an on-site spa complex specialising in traditional Maori massage (Mirimiri) and mud baths
• Enjoy thermal pools for long hot soaks in most of Rotorua's hotels and motels
• Be pampered at the Polynesian Spa. Massage, mineral pools and skin treatments will renew your sense of wellbeing
• Gain a different perspective of Rotorua from the air. Choose a flightseeing excursion to White Island (New Zealand's only active marine volcano) or over the gaping red crater of Mount Tarawera (now dormant)

Rotorua has a rich cultural history.

• Take a journey back in time at the Tamaki Maori Village. In the depths of the forest, you will gain a clear picture of Maori lifestyle and traditions - from pre-European times to the present day
• View, appreciate and learn about the traditional Maori arts preserved at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Speak with expert carvers and weavers and learn the history and processes involved with each art form
• Visitors looking for a 'real slice of New Zealand' should seek out a marae stay, hosted by an extended Maori family (whanau)
• At the Rotorua Museum of Art and History you can watch a film show that brings alive the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption
• Bathe in a crystal clear hot spa at the Blue Baths. A museum in the old changing rooms showcases the building's colourful past. Dine upstairs in the elegant 1930s tearooms, with views over the beautifully manicured Government Gardens
• Visit the excavated sites at Te Wairoa, the village that was buried by the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption
• Enjoy hangi food and a Maori concert on Mokoia Island or at one the city's hotels

Forests, lakes and volcanic cones make Rotorua a brilliant place for walks, bikes and hikes.

• Visit the giant Californian redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest. Walk, jog, bike or horse trek on the forest trails (bikes and horses are available for hire). The forest is a favourite with mountain biking enthusiasts
• Take a half-day 4WD tour to the summit of Mount Tarawera, then take a hike around the crater's edge. A scree run down into the crater is the grand finale
• Explore the region on foot. Tackle the 26 kilometre Rotorua Walkway that circles the city. Other walking options include the Blue Lake, Lake Okareka Boardwalk, Okataina Walkway, Tarawera Falls or Sulphur Point
• Choose from a variety of lake and river excursions - cruise, kayak, raft or go white water sledging
• Fly-fish the rivers and lakes - hiring a guide almost guarantees a catch. Rotorua has 15 fishable lakes, a myriad of crystal clear streams and four different species of trout
• Cruise on the Lakeland Queen, a traditional paddlewheel vessel that offers lunch, morning/afternoon tea and dinner cruises on Lake Rotorua
• Get aboard the 50ft catamaran that cruises Lake Tarawera
• Blast across the Waikato River in a Hamilton jet boat (invented by a New Zealander) and discover the hidden geothermal valley of Orakei Korako
• Get a taste for white water rafting. Brave the thrilling rapids of the Rangitaiki River or New Zealand's highest commercially rafted waterfall on the Kaituna River
• The famous Maori love story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai is brought to life with a day trip to Mokoia Island

Rotorua is a place to expect the unexpected. The region's natural assets provide huge scope for entertainment.

• Experience an action-packed, highly amusing farm show featuring trained rams, sheep dogs, sheep shearing, cow milking and lamb feeding
• Visit Rainbow Springs, where the ponds are full of wild trout. See Kiwi Encounter, the new 'conservation in action' attraction; feed the fish, watch native birds and study the tuatara (a unique prehistoric reptile)
• Catch the gondola to the top of Mount Ngongotaha. Luge down the side of the mountain on one of three purpose-built tracks or scream your heart out on the Sky Swing
• Climb inside a giant inflated ball and roll 150 metres down the side of a hill - it's called zorbing
• Enjoy a family soak at the Polynesian Spa
• See the lions, trout, giant eels, waterfowl, deer and other interesting residents at Paradise Valley Springs