Rotorua
New Zealand
Travel Guide
Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand
Travel Guide 2026
How to use my travel guides
My Rotorua Travel Guide is part of my series of New Zealand Travel Guides, which includes the following:
- Main Page – A written overview of the country
- North Island guide – Including my specific recommendations for the best things to do there (NOW READING)
- Rotorua Travel Guide – (NOW READING)
- South Island guide – Including my specific recommendations for the best things to do there
North and South Islands
New Zealand comprises two main islands: North Island and South Island.
You can fly or get the ferry, which goes to and from Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island).
Rotorua Overview
I love New Zealand (Aotearoa) and especially Rotorua, so much so that this small North Island town warrants a travel guide of its own.
Rotorua means ‘second lake’ in Māori; the language of the native inhabitants of New Zealand. This name is appropriate given the numerous beautiful lakes around the town. This small town has a population of around 60,000 inhabitants and it is located in the north of the North Island. Despite its small size it has LOADS to do and there is also a decent-enough number of outdoor shops for you to buy or rent most of the outdoor gear that you may need to tackle adventures in the area and beyond.
My favourite activities to do in the area are:
- Volcanic vibes – Rotorua and the area around the town are home to geysers galore!
- Māori culture – There is loads of Māori culture and cultural activities in the town
- Redwood Trees – You can stroll through massive Redwood forests by day or night
- Mountain Biking – From beginner to advanced. This was the first place I had done ‘proper’ mountain biking and I loved it!
You can also find these activities within really close proximity to each other, so you can pack a lot into your time here.
Recommended Duration
I would recommend a minimum of two days in Rotorua. There is so much do that any less and you will miss out on awesome things to do or feel crazy rushed. If you’re adventurous you could easily spend more time in the area.
Where is Rotorua
Rotorua is located in the north of New Zealand’s North Island. It is located approximately:
- 45km (28 miles) from the north coast of North Island
- 226km (140 miles)/2.5 hours drive south-east of Auckland
- 110km (68 miles)/1.5 hours drive east of Hamilton
- 450km (280 miles)/ 5.5 hours drive north of Wellington
Accomodation
There are a few options for places to stay in Rotorua. I chose to stay at Rock Solid Backpackers hostel in the town, which was nice enough and also had a climbing wall which could be seen from inside the reception area, which was awesome! Being a climber myself, I couldn’t not stay there for that reason.
Best things to do in Rotorua 2026
I provide star ratings for each of my recommendations so that you can quickly narrow down what appeals to you. Explanations for what these mean can be found here.
I use Google Maps to plan all my trips and it’s a game-changer! I’ve added links to Google Maps for each of the locations below so you can easily add them to your own map. Be sure to copy this web link into the description of each location you save so that you can easily refer back to this guide later. Check out this blog for more tips on how to use Google Maps to enhance your travels!
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Culture
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I was really excited to come to NZ and see some Maori culture. Having grown up watching the All Blacks (NZ Rugby team) do the Haka before each game, I was desperate to see it. I went to one of the Maori culture experiences and I was ok but a bit of a tourist trap.
It was cool to see a Maori performance, but you can tell they get a lot of tourists, so it didn’t feel that authentic. I went to the Te Puia to see them, which also has some cool geysers to the rear. There was some good information about Maori life pre-British Colonisation and how the tribes would war with one another. There are also some cool Maori crafts. If you only get one chance to see something Maori and learn about them, this is a good introduction to their culture. Maybe for me, part of the problem was that I went during the day, maybe check out their website as they do events in the evenings too, which sounds better, where you get to try Maori food, etc., and with more information on Maori rituals. There is another site slightly further from the town at Te Pa Tu, which may be a better option, so maybe do your research on both sites if you are keen to see some Maori culture.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Landscapes
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
There are a lot of different geysers and areas of volcanic activity in the area and in NZ in general and particularly around Rotorua. I’ve given this place 3-stars for uniqueness because, although you can see geysers in many areas of volcanic activity, few places have the variety of Rotorua.
Many have different colours, sizes and of course, that classic eggy sulphur smell, mmm! Quite frankly, there are too many to name them all, but the best in my opinion, are just outside of Rotorua at Wai-o-Tapu – you need to pay to enter here, but it’s worth it. Another good spot is the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which isn’t nearby and has the epic blue-coloured Inferno Crater. If you don’t get time to go here, then you can walk to ‘Rachel Spring Whangapipiro’ or the Kaurau Park Mud Pools, both of which are located in parks near the centre of the town. One final recommendation is in the Polynesian Spa – I didn’t go here, but I had friends who did and they highly recommended it.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Nature Walk
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
California Redwoods were planted here in the early 1900’s and they are epic! Not only this, but walkways have been built up into the trees so you feel a bit like you are in Rivendell (from The Lord of the Rings for those who don’t get the reference). It’s beautiful during the day, but I recommend going late in the day as it’s potentially even better at night, as they suspend lights in amongst the trees and it’s really magical, well-worth doing! Paid entry, but worth it.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Activity
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I had never done mountain biking before, so don’t let the thought of it put you off if you are new. The forests, hills and lake around the town are incredible. I rented a bike from Torpedo7 in the town which was good. I then headed up towards Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
I’d highly recommend this route; it’s a fair bit of climbing uphill to get there, but well worth it, especially on a nice sunny day when you can relax by the lake. Coming back down through the forests around there is also stunning and a bit scary, but doable for beginners (undertake at your own risk) and there are trails for those with different ability levels. If you fancy it you can also push further this way onto Lake Tarawera. Good fun and a great way to see the sights and take in the landscapes. I also recommend cycling and hiking rather than driving everywhere in any country to really experience it, especially nature, which can only truly be appreciated when you are in it.
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I hope that you have found this free Travel Guide useful. It took a lot of time and travel for me to make this, so if you would like to show your thanks by sending a small donation, I would be very grateful. This can be done on my Support Me page. Thank you!
Happy travels!
Andy Argo
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Title image: Geyser just outside Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.