What to do in Rotorua, New Zealand (North Island)
While the larger cities like Auckland and Wellington are central hubs for flying in and out of New Zealand, Rotorua is worth the extra effort to see. If you’re looking for what to do in Rotorua, New Zealand to make the most of your time in this special spot on the North Island, I’ve got you covered. From geothermal pools to rolling down a mountain in an inflatable ball (yes you read that right), Rotorua has something for everyone.
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How to Get to Rotorua
You have a couple of options for getting to Rotorua. The first is to drive – from Auckland, it’s about a 2 hour and 40-minute drive southeast to Rotorua. Alternatively, you can take a quick 45-minute flight.
We chose the latter and caught a flight out of Auckland’s domestic terminal right after landing in the country. Once we arrived, we picked up a rental car at the airport. There is a public bus system in Rotorua if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to get around, but you will be subject to the limited routes and times. For more information on the Rotorua CityBus system, click here. There are also Ubers, taxis, and Super Shuttle.
For maximum flexibility, I recommend renting a car so you can fully explore Rotorua and the surrounding area (but remember, they drive on the left in New Zealand!). The rental car counters are conveniently located by baggage claim in the small Rotorua airport.
Where to Stay in Rotorua
We stayed at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, which was perfectly located walking distance to the main restaurant street. This room was on the older side, but the hotel has its own geothermal mineral pools at the spa and a delicious breakfast buffet.
For a more upscale hotel, I recommend the Pullman Rotorua. This luxury hotel is also centrally located with contemporary rooms, a spa, fitness center, onsite restaurant, and more.
Here are some more midrange and budget accommodations:
- Rotorua Downtown Backpackers (hostel)
- Fairway Cottages (standalone apartment further outside the city)
- Rydges Rotorua (hotel in town with a pool)
- Jetpark Hotel Rotorua (hotel in town)
Best Things to Do in Rotorua
Hell’s Gate Geothermal Pools and Hot Springs
Possibly the most famous attraction in Rotorua are the geothermal pools. This geothermal activity is a result of volcanic activity in the region and it produces some spectacular results, from boiling sulfurous pools to mud volcanoes to hot waterfalls!
Hell’s Gate is one of the most popular places to see the geothermal pools. You can follow the path to view them on your own or jump in one of the guided tours (which I highly recommend!). Walking around the bubbling pools, it’s easy to see why George Bernard Shaw named the area “Hell’s Gate.”
In addition to the walk, Hell’s Gate also has mud baths and sulfurous hot pools (+ a cold plunge) for you to enjoy. There is also a carving station where you can learn tradition Māori carving techniques and take home a hand-carved souvenir coaster of your own.
Sulfur Spa Warning
The hot springs are full of sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs. If you go into the hot springs, your swimsuit and the clothes you change into afterwards (even after rinsing off because your body will continue releasing sulfur through your pores. Unfortunately, your clothes will continue to smell like sulfur. We tried countless techniques to wash the sulfur smell out of our clothes and ultimately threw away everything we wore that day. Hell’s Gate does rent swimsuits, which is a good option if you don’t want to ruin yours.
ZORB Rotorua
ZORB is where you go inside a giant inflatable ball and roll down the hillside. The ball is filled with water, so it’s somewhere between a hamster ball and a water slide. There are very few places in the world that offer zorbing, so be sure to check it out while you’re in Rotorua. In fact, it was created here in Rotorua, New Zealand in 1995. Between this and bungee jumping, the Kiwis come up with some crazy activities!
There are 4 different tracks to pick from and the facility also features hot tubs, Wi-Fi, and coffee to enjoy between rides down the hill. It is open year-round except for Christmas Day.
National Kiwi Hatchery
In New Zealand, Kiwis are the fruit, the bird, and the people. The kiwi bird is endangered and there are numerous hatcheries and conservation centers around the country working to prevent kiwis from going extinct.
If you want a chance at seeing the iconic kiwi birds, I recommend visiting the National Kiwi Hatchery while you’re in Rotorua. The 1 hour guided tour goes in depth about the kiwi’s evolutionary history to modern threats. We got to see a baby kiwi that had just hatched that day!
Kiwis are nocturnal birds, so it’s difficult to spot them in the wild. On the tour, we walked through an enclosure lit with red light to try to spot some adult kiwis, but it was incredibly difficult. Due to the nocturnal nature of the kiwis, no photos or videos are allowed.
Finding Glow Worms
If you’re looking for a unique nighttime activity, the experiencing the glow worms near Rotorua is for you. At night, they light up the darkness like stars in the night sky.
There are a few different ways to experience the glow worms, from kayaking to paddle boarding. Most people join a tour to see them, allowing you to take your mind off the logistics and just enjoy the glow worms.
However, if you’re wanting to save money or explore independently, there are a couple places you can access the glow worms without a tour. Check out this blog for details on that.
If you’re also going to be visiting the South Island, there is also a glow worm cave in Te Anau.
Māori Cultural Experience
Experiencing local culture is an important part of traveling, and the Māori culture is an important part of both New Zealand’s past and present. The Māori people first came to New Zealand around 1300CE and over 700 years later, their culture has a huge influence on the country.
As a tourist, one way to learn about the Māori people is to visit the Mitai Māori village where you’ll learn about customs and rituals, as well as be treated to a traditional hāngī (earth oven) feast.
Treewalk
Located just on the edge of town is Treewalk, a series of bridges suspended in 75-meter-tall redwood trees. This is both a daytime and nighttime experience, but at night it’s extra mesmerizing because of the colors and lights that enrich the forest in the darkness.
If you’re looking for even more adventure, they also offer a ropes course with ziplines.
Prices vary by activity but start at around $40NZD for adults.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours (Day Trip)
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you can’t visit the North Island of New Zealand without visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set! Located an hour outside of Rotorua (about halfway between Rotorua and Hamilton) is The Shire where Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies were filmed.
There are day trips that will take you round trip from Rotorua, or you can drive yourself. It is open year-round except Christmas Day.
Bonus: once a year, Hobbiton celebrates International Hobbit Day and welcomes fans to join in the festivities. In 2025, it’ll be on September 22, so mark your calendars if that’s up your alley.
Hikes
There are plenty of easy to moderate hikes (or “walks” as the New Zealanders call them) in the Rotorua area if you’re looking to stretch your legs and explore nature. Click here for the best trails in Rotorua.
If you’re up for more of a challenge, I recommend making the journey 2 hours south to National Park, New Zealand and taking on Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It’s ~13 miles and takes 6-8 hours to complete, but well worth it for some stunning lakes and out-of-this-world volcanic scenery. At the time, this was the hardest hike I’ve ever done and it was so rewarding!
[RELATED: How to Conquer Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand]
Where to Eat in Rotorua
If you get the chance to eat a traditional hāngī feast in Rotorua, take it. It’s a great way to connect to the culture and very cool that they use the geothermal features of the earth to cook food underground!
As far as regular restaurants in Rotorua, Eat Street (aka Restaurant Row) is a great central hub for dining. This pedestrian-only street was walking distance from our hotel and we ate at two different restaurants here during our stay. There is also live music and great people watching. I recommend just taking a stroll down the street and browsing the various menus to see what speaks to you. Atticus Finch is probably the most popular spot on the street.
Does Rotorua stink?
Time to address the elephant in the room. Rotorua has a reputation for its smell due to the sulfur coming out of the geothermal vents. Personally, I only noticed the smell while we visited Hell’s Gate and once or twice in the car while driving. It wasn’t noticeable in town, the National Kiwi Hatchery, etc. However, if you’re sensitive to smells, consider yourself warned.
Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting the North Island of New Zealand, you have to work Rotorua into your itinerary! There’s such an incredible variety of things to explore here, so you’ll never be bored. I may have had to throw out my sulfur-infused clothes, but it was well worth the experience. We didn’t have enough time here, so I definitely hope to come back one day!
Be sure to pin this post for future planning!
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