5 Reasons to Put Rotorua on Your New Zealand Bucket List

Ribboned with lakes, adorned with snow-capped mountain ranges and brimming with buzzy cities, New Zealand is a destination packed with incredible opportunities to encounter both natural beauty and exciting urban experiences. One particular hotspot for wild adventures is Rotorua, three hours by car from Auckland, where a volcanic environment has resulted in singular sights, from technicolour hot springs to picturesque crater lakes. Whether you’d rather wander through an ancient forest or enjoy a traditional Māori feast, here are the best things to do in Rotorua.

Discover ancient hot springs

Thanks to its location within the Taupō Volcanic Zone, Rotorua is rich with wild hot springs, drawing local and international visitors reaching back centuries. A 25-minute drive south of the city will land you in Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, a site which spans over 18-square-kilometres of bush and rainbow-hued pools, naturally coloured by local minerals. The best way to explore is via the set walking trails – there are three, ranging from 45-90 minutes long. Be sure to arrive before 10:15am to watch the Lady Knox Geyser shoot plumes of water up to 20 metres into the air, then amble down to the rust-orange-ringed Champagne Pool and fluro-green Devil’s Bath. Water temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Celsius, so there’s no swimming here. If you’re keen to bathe, however, head back to town and check into the recently opened Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa beside Lake Rotorua, where five geothermal pools, including an ice plunge pool naturally cooled to 12 degrees Celsius and a 40-degree Celsius hot geo pool, beckon.

Zoom through the tree canopy

Whizzing along a 236-metre zipline at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour has to be one of the most adrenaline-pumping ways to experience New Zealand’s glorious wilderness. Nestled in the Ōkere Falls forest, a 20-minute drive north of Rotorua, Rotorua Ziplines have created an eco-conscious network of four ziplines (as well as a dual line that allows two to glide at the same time), swing bridge and elevated boardwalks that weave over thundering waterfalls and through the lush tree canopy. At its highest point, you’ll float 30 metres above the Kaituna River although it’s not all heart-pumping action: a steaming cup of traditional Māori tea awaits at the finish line, as does the opportunity to join the Rotorua Zipline team’s reforestation efforts by planting a native tree.

Enjoy a Māori feast 

The timing of the cultural and culinary experience at Rotorua’s Te Pā Tū (formerly known as Tamaki Māori Village) may vary  depending on the maramataka Māori lunar calendar but no matter the time of year you visit, you’ll be treated to a unique and insightful experience. In winter, you’ll receive an Aha Tuku (fire ceremony) welcome, while in summer, a Haka pōwhiri war dance greeting awaits. Afterwards, settle into the natural amphitheatre formed by giant Tawa trees and indulge in seasonal canapes using native ingredients (think candied apple and crispy pork wrapped in kawakawa leaves), tea and broth while your Māori hosts share traditional songs, legends and games by firelight under the stars. You’ll follow a torch-lit trail and arrive to receive a three- or four-course feast prepared by Māori chef Irihei Walker, which utilises local ingredients and techniques, including a Hangi – where the lamb is gently steamed in an underground pit. A Poroporoaki (farewell ceremony) will send you off and pick-up and drop-offs to your accommodation are included in the ticket.

Get a bird’s-eye view

Seeing Rotorua’s various natural wonders up close is bucket-list worthy in its own right but seeing them from above in a seaplane or helicopter is a different kind of impressive. Volcanic Air’s Mount Tarawera Landing and Guided Walk lands you directly on the dormant Mount Tarawera volcano – which last erupted in 1886 – via helicopter, delivering panoramic views over almost the entire North Island. If walking on volcanoes sounds too adventurous, opt for the Mount Tarawera and Wainangu Volcanic Valley seaplane experience instead. You’ll glide over the world’s youngest geothermal park and countless vividly coloured lakes before landing at Lake Rotoiti to spend 90-minutes floating between seven steamy hot pools.

Chase waterfalls (literally)

If you’re a thrill-seeking traveller, don’t go past the opportunity to go white water rafting – Rotorua is within easy reach of several of North Island’s mighty rivers, including the 50-kilometre long Kaituna, which links Lake Rotorua to the Bay of Plenty. Gliding down Tutea Falls – the world’s largest commercially rafted waterfall – with Kaitiaki Adventures is particularly bracing. Over three thrilling hours, you’ll be guided through 14 powerful rapids and three waterfalls but don’t fret if you’re a beginner to the sport – Kaitiaki’s guides are on hand to teach you everything you need to know while also sharing Māori legends and the history of the region.

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