Rotorua’s got it all – waterfalls, geothermal areas, hot springs, culture, unique forests, and some pretty delicious cuisine. We’ve put together a small list of essential ‘must do activities’.
Make sure you don’t leave Rotorua until you have:
Join the Kaituna Cascades crew for an unbeatable grade 5 white-water experience on one of New Zealand’s most exciting and beautiful rivers! Experience the thrills and spills of the Mighty Kaituna River as we take on the world famous 7 metre Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall. Together with your expert guide, your team will enjoy a 50 minute action packed ride down 14 epic rapids in a tight and twisting warm water jungle canyon. This is a white water enthusiasts dream and is a must do for adrenaline junkies and 1st time rafters alike.
There are many volcanic landscapes, and geothermal wonders in Rotorua. From the champagne pools at Wai Tapu to the mud baths at Hells Gate, Rotorua will have you in awe of its incredible variety. If you’re into history and geology we highly recommend Waimangu Valley. The classic free-bees in the area to check out are Kuirau Park & Sulphur Point.
Enjoy the Rotorua Lakes with, Paddle Board Rotorua, as the sun sets at twilight hour on an amazing stand-up paddle board scenic tour. Then get adventurous as night falls as you paddle your way to a secret glow-worm cave. Have an amazing time stand-up paddle boarding on the lake ensues as you soak in the natural surroundings as the sun goes down before venturing into the unknown to be amazed by secret hidden caves that are home to a galaxy formation of glow-worms. [
With over 100 restaurants to choose from you are literally spoilt for choice! If you’re lucky enough to be around on a Thursday night be sure to check out the Rotorua Night Markets, and sample the many dishes from local restaurants, and get a taste of what Rotorua has to offer.
If you’re hanging out for great coffee, and a seriously good lunch head on round to Ciabatta Bakery.
If your after some amazing food, and hosts full of character, The Factory Smokehouse and Grill have you covered. This hidden gem is well worth the visit!
This is a variety in the area, the best free ones are Kerosene Creek and Hot & Cold. Our personal favourite in the area is Waikete Valley. With naturally boiling hot water straight out of Te Manaroa natural hot spring, Waikete Valley is a 100% pure natural geothermal water hot pool park. With multiple pools, and private spa options, there is a hot pool to suit all travelers.
With so many differing walks in our beautiful forests check out our page on The Best Day Hikes in Rotorua for a full range of what Rotorua has to offer! Feeling more adventurous?
Rotorua is surrounded by 140km of purpose built single mountain biking tracks right on the doorstep of our beautiful lakes and spectacular geothermal areas. Check out Planet Bike for the best deals for guided tours, mountain bike hire, trail information, and shuttles.
There is plenty of fun to be had in Rotorua and a plethora of natural wonders to explore and enjoy. Whether you’re looking to relax in the hot springs, go on a wild white water rafting adventure or just enjoy some good food – Rotorua has it all.
The seven-metre-high Tutea Falls on the Mighty Kaituna river is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world.
Go on a thrilling 50-minute grade 5 white-water rafting experience down 14 awesome rapids on the twisting jungle canyon river.
The secret hidden caves that can be accessed on a scenic paddleboarding tour of the Rotorua Lakes are a wonder to behold once the sun goes down because they are covered by a twinkling constellation of glow-worms.
Not only can you enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lakes from your paddleboard, but the experience of the secret caves and the galaxy of glow-worms inside will become one of your favourite memories.
Rotorua is home to a range of volcanic landscapes and geothermal wonders, including the Wai Tapu champagne pools and the Hell’s Gate mud baths. Be sure to check out the Waimangu Valley if you’re a geology and history enthusiast, while Kuirau Park and Sulphur Point are also well worth visiting.
Lots of hot springs pepper the area, with the free-to-visit Kerosene Creek and Hot & Cold being some of the most popular. The Wiakete Valley hot pool park is one of our favourites, featuring natural hot water from the Te Manarola natural hot spring and multiple pools and spa options to enjoy.
The Rotorua forests are gorgeous and lush expanses of tranquil nature that are a wonder to explore. You can either enjoy one of the many hiking trails or, if you’re more adventurous, you can try mountain biking on the Whakarewarewa forest track. Various mountain biking trails are available for different levels of skill, as well as numerous hiking trails that cater to a range of competencies.
There are more than 100 different restaurants to discover in the Rotorua area, with a range of cuisines to enjoy. With so much to choose from, you will never go hungry. Moreover, the Thursday evenings feature the Rotorua night markets, where you can sample dishes from many local restaurants and get a feel for the atmosphere and personality of the area.
There are many more and best things to do in Rotorua, New Zealand and the greater Bay of Plenty area, from ziplining and luging to surfing and chilling on the beach.
This was a great couple bonding experience that took us both to the edge of our comfort zones. Could not speak highly enough of the professionalism of the guiding team - yet making the whole experience one of such fun.
MY FAVOURITE EXPERIENCE IN NZ SO FAR. TOOK THE 9AM TOUR TODAY AND ALREADY CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK. THE RAFTING WAS SO MUCH FUN AND THE TOUR GUIDES ARE HILARIOUS. NEVER FELT IN ANY DANGER JUST ENJOYED THE RIDE! WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYBODY. I WENT AS A SOLO TRAVELLER AND IT WAS STILL REALLY ENJOYABLE.
Brilliant! We had heaps of fun. Guides were friendly and made us feel safe and comfortable. Highly recommended to all!
Fantastic outfit. The crew were cheeky as but super professional. We felt safe throughout the entire experience. 11/10 and a big shoutout to Rob for being a GC.
White water rafting at its best. Wonderful guides. A must do when in or around Rotorua. Felt safe, but had the best time.
Great experience! Made me feel safe when I was scared!! You the m san Owen! So glad I did it. It is beautiful!
The guide, Sam, went out of his way to make the trip as fun and exciting as possible. The whole team were friendly and inclusive.
Cole was a really good guide, talked us through everything and had a good laugh. The water was nice, not cold at all. They provide wetsuits, footwear, helmets, life jackets and polo fleeces. Worth the money and would do it again. Recommend going in a group so that you can split the cost of photos.
Unbelievable experience rafting the 7m waterfall this morning! Even more fun when the boat flipped!! Highly recommend! Great fun and great instructors!! Shout out to Pete From the Irish girls.
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