Experience the best of Rotorua
Rotorua is a geothermal city on New Zealand's North Island, with steaming vents, bubbling mud, a lake and a strong Māori culture.
Read moreShow less
Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua in the centre of the North Island, a city built on a volcanic plateau where steam rises from vents in parks and by the roadside and the smell of sulphur hangs in the air. The Te Arawa people have lived here for centuries, and their culture is visible in carved meeting houses, performances and the living village of Whakarewarewa, where residents cook food in natural steam.
Outside town, the geothermal valleys of Wai-O-Tapu, with its colourful Champagne Pool, and Waimangu, created by the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, show the same forces on a larger scale. The Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa erupts several times a day, and the Redwoods forest has giant trees and walking and cycling tracks. Lakes Tarawera, Blue and Green lie among volcanic hills, and the Kaituna River drops over a seven-metre waterfall that rafts can run.
A hangi, a traditional Māori feast of meat and vegetables cooked in an earth oven or in geothermal steam, is the local speciality, along with kumara, sweet potato, and trout from the lakes. The surrounding Bay of Plenty grows kiwifruit and avocados. Summers are warm and the winters mild and often misty.
- Free cancellation on 94% of experiences
- 4.7 across the top 24
Top 10 attractions in Rotorua
Special offers in Rotorua
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
![Rotorua Highlights Tour: Waiotapu, Hot Tubs & Lunch from Auckland]()
10% offFree cancellation
Day trips from Rotorua
6
10% offFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Walking and bike tours in Rotorua
6
Free cancellation
Outdoor and adventure activities in Rotorua
42
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Nature and wildlife tours in Rotorua
18- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Signature experiences in Rotorua
![Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation![Lake Rotoiti Evening Kayak Tour including Hot Springs, Glowworm Caves and BBQ Dinner]()
Free cancellation
Go beyond Rotorua
![]()
Tauranga · 51 kmWaimarino Adventure Park
![]()
Taupō · 77 kmMine Bay Māori Rock Carvings
![]()
Taupō · 77 kmLake Taupo
![]()
Waitomo · 100 kmRuakuri Cave
![]()
Napier · 161 kmMission Estate Winery
![]()
Napier · 161 kmChurch Road Winery
![]()
Coromandel · 167 kmMercury Bay
![]()
Coromandel · 167 kmCoromandel Forest Park
![]()
Hastings · 175 kmTe Mata Peak
![]()
Hastings · 175 kmSileni Estates
![]()
Waiheke Island · 180 kmStonyridge Vineyard
![]()
Auckland · 194 kmAuckland Harbour Bridge
Questions about Rotorua
- What is there to do in Rotorua?
- We list 122 experiences in Rotorua. The largest groups are attraction tickets (12), city tours (6), day trips (6).
- What are the top attractions in Rotorua?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Rotorua are Lake Rotorua, Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Whakarewarewa Forest (The Redwoods).
- What is the most popular experience in Rotorua?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Rotorua Canopy Tours: 2.5Hour Native Forest Zipline Adventure", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 4,685 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Rotorua take?
- The typical experience in Rotorua lasts about 2.5 hours; the middle half run between 1.5 hours and 4.5 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Rotorua?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 94% of the 122 experiences we hold for Rotorua. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
Why book here
Compare before you buy
Every ticket, tour and pass we carry for a city, side by side on one page.
Free cancellation on most experiences
Where the operator offers it, the card says so before you click.
Real reviews, real photos
Ratings and reviews are collected from travellers by our booking partner and Tripadvisor; nobody pays for placement.
Secure checkout on our partner’s site
Card details are entered on our booking partner’s site, never on ours.