Why visit rotorua

That should give you a good indication about its strong reputation in the cycling realm. The Whakarewarewa Forest, just a few minutes outside the city, boasts a kilometre Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the lush forestry and diverse biking terrains that surround it.

The areas has bike hire places, maps, instructors and guided tours available depending on your experience level and immediate needs. Whakarewarewa Forest is also popular among hikers and runners because of its clear paths and wonderful native greenery. Eat Streat is one of the coolest spots in the city. Head to the lake end of Tutanekai Street to find the colourful covered walkway that beckons visitors to explore this delectable foodie destination.

Oh, they spelt 'street' wrong, awks. Rotorua is filled with awesome, kid-friendly attractions. For something with an exhilarating kick, head to Skyline Rotorua for a bit of luging for those unfamiliar with the sport, think of go-karting with bicycle handlebar steering.

During the winter, a two-and-half hour drive will get you to the skiing paradise that is Mt Ruapehu. Tongariro, Waitomo, and Taupo are also close by, and you can even go a 3-hour drive up to Auckland if you want to venture further afield. Needless to say, Rotorua is surrounded by interesting sights. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK".

Sign Up. Travel Guides. Inside, a series of permanent exhibitions tell the story of Rotorua's cultural history, from its pre-European era to the present. The well-collated Nga Pumanawa o Te Arawa gallery focuses on the history of the Te Arawa Maori Tribe, while the rooftop terrace with stunning panoramas across the lake and basement of the museum provide a look at the building's origins, when it was a famed spa resort.

Fascinating ethnology exhibits span the people of the Pacific, and other galleries spotlight the social history of Rotorua and the natural surroundings. Established in by a Christian missionary, Te Wairoa was envisioned as a model Maori village, which could also cater to the many foreign visitors arriving to see the famed pink and white terraces nearby. The village, though, was to have a short history. On June 10, , Mount Tarawera erupted followed by Lake Rotomahana exploding, covering Te Wairoa with a layer of mud up to two meters thick.

Although most villagers were able to escape, 17 lives were lost. Archaeological excavations here began in the s, and the site now reveals the floorplans of the original buildings. The on-site museum displays items recovered from the site during the excavations and also contains a detailed geological exhibit of the pink and white terraces, which now lie under Lake Rotomahana.

A pretty walking trail leads from the archaeological site through native bush to Wairere Falls. This colorful area brims with volcanic activity, with bubbling mud pools formed by a collapsed mud-volcano, water pools tinted fluorescent green, and steaming terraces in shades of bright yellow and lurid orange all creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape.

A series of walkways throughout the Wai-O-Tapu park allows you to traverse the area for good views of all the volcanic sights. Be sure to spend a little time in the visitor center. A great way to ensure you get to see the very best of the attraction is via a Rotorua Eco Thermal small group tour. These fun morning excursions are led by professional guides and include the highlights of the hot springs and geothermal formations, including the Lady Knox Geyser.

Amid the steam vents and hot pools of the Whakarewarewa geothermal area of Rotorua is the Maori village of Whakarewarewa. Hourly guided tours of the village include a performance of the Haka and other traditional Maori songs by the Te Pakira cultural group and a look at how the local residents use geothermal energy for cooking and heating. Those wanting to delve deeper into the rich culture of New Zealand's indigenous people can stay overnight in the village Marae meeting house.

Want to stay a little longer? The facility also boasts a campsite. Te Puia. Located on the outskirts of the town center, Pohutu Geyser is the Southern Hemisphere's largest geyser and sprays water up to 30 meters in the air in eruptions that can last for days on end one eruption lasted for days. However, these days, eruptions are more likely to last a few minutes.

Nearby is another active geyser, Te Tohu , which also has regular, although smaller, eruptions. As well as all the geyser action, there are steaming alkaline springs in the area, which the Maori use for cooking, and bubbling mud pools. When the geothermal sightseeing has finished, the Te Puia park has a kiwi house, where you can see New Zealand's rare and nocturnal national bird up close. It's also home to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you can watch masters and students working on traditional wood and bone carvings and learn about the preservation of Maori artistry.

Hells Gate Geothermal Park. Set amid 50 acres of steaming, boiling geothermal activity-and boasting the Southern Hemisphere's hottest waterfall and some of the most active and violently bubbling hot mud you'll ever see-Hells Gate Geothermal Park certainly lives up to its name. The Kakahi Falls were once used for bathing by Maori warriors, with the plummeting water cascading over the rocks at a steady 40 degrees Celsius, while the aptly named Inferno area is a steamy vision of pools and bubbling mud that heats up to degrees Celsius.

A little less hot, and much less violent, are the neighboring Hells Gate spa facilities, where you can chill out in geothermal mud baths and sulfurous hot springs. This deep limestone cave system, littered with huge stalactites, is home to hundreds of thousands of glowworms Arachnocampa Luminosa who illuminate the rock ceilings and walls in a spectacular display of twinkling, tiny spotlights. Boat tours every half hour head meters into the subterranean passages of these cathedral-like caverns to witness the phenomenon.

As well as the main caves, the Waitomo area has several surrounding caves for more underground adventures. Both Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave can be accessed on foot and allow you to observe the weird limestone formations and stalactites and stalagmites up close, while Ruakuri Cave is also the setting for black water rafting tours deep into the caverns. Fans of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Hobbit films will want to make a beeline to the small town of Matamata for a pilgrimage to the film set of Hobbiton.

The entire village created for the movies directed by Peter Jackson is set on the private Alexander Farm. It has been faithfully preserved by the owners, who now guide tours to the site for movie buffs seeking to revel in a slice of Middle-Earth. With the troglodyte houses of The Shire sitting snuggled into the hillside and the mill and inn standing amid rolling lush green countryside, it truly feels as if you've stepped into Tolkien's fantasy world.

Regular themed events and festivals are also held here check the website for details. Rafters descending Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River. One of the most popular adventures in Rotorua, Kaituna River White Water Rafting is a must-do when visiting this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Fast and furious rapids are the order of the day, and during your three-hour white water trip, you'll be left breathless not just by the pace of the action, but also the jaw-dropping scenery of the canyons and rain forest you pass through. A highlight is the plummet over Tutea Falls, a near vertical drop into the pool below yes, you'll get wet! Welcome to Rotorua. How can we help? Let's Go!

Come share our stunning geothermal landscapes, sparkling lakes and beautiful forests. Visit Rotorua. Do Business. Things to do in Rotorua.