Rotorua Tours & Activities

New Zealand has a unique culture and story to tell, and you can't truly visit without experiencing it firsthand. Rotorua is one of the best places in the country to do just that.

Rotorua is home to a range of Māori villages and experiences, where you can step back in time — before the days of European settlement — and explore the traditional Māori way of life. Listen to ancestral stories, watch a powerful traditional Haka performance, and taste a Hangi dinner prepared by your Māori hosts.

For a full experience, visit Te Pā Tū, which includes a Māori-fusion evening feast, traditional performances, and more. Or head to Te Puia for a range of cultural experiences, or Mitai Māori Village for another unforgettable evening of storytelling and tradition.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland truly is a wonderland. It's so commonly featured on New Zealand postcards, and you'll soon see why.

Located just 20 minutes from Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu is known as the most colourful volcanic area in the country. Shaped over hundreds of thousands of years, this active geothermal field spans 18 square kilometres. It truly is Mother Nature at her finest.

While you're there, don't miss the Lady Knox Geyser presentation, where the geyser can erupt up to 20 metres into the air.

Head underground and take a magical boat ride beneath thousands of tiny glowing lights. Located around 2 hours from Rotorua, the famous Waitomo Caves have been amazing visitors for years.

Waitomo Caves is an ancient cave formation home to thousands of glowworms — tiny bioluminescent creatures found only in New Zealand. On a guided boat tour, drift silently beneath the Glowworm Grotto's ceiling and learn all about these tiny stars of the cave, which turn the caverns into a magical wonderland. Discover ancient cave formations and chambers as you explore this one-of-a-kind experience.

Have you ever wanted to step into a movie? Well, now you can. Explore the magical world of Middle-earth on the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, located just over an hour's drive from Rotorua.

Discover iconic filming locations from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies as you wander through the rolling hills of the Waikato countryside. This tour not only takes you into the famous films that put New Zealand on the map, but also shows off some of the country's most beautiful scenery.

Fly through the forest with Rotorua Canopy Tours! Named the World's #1 Nature Experience in 2020, and New Zealand's number one tourism activity multiple years running, it mixes nature and adventure together perfectly.

Join either the Original Canopy Tour, made up of six incredible ziplines through the treetops, or the Ultimate Canopy Tour, which includes 1,200m of ziplines, an 18m abseil, three suspended swing bridges, a 400m zipline, a 50m-high cliff walk and spiral staircases.

Learn about New Zealand's unique ecosystem while flying through the forest, and on the Ultimate Canopy Tour you can even race a friend on the tandem zipline to see who can fly through the forest faster.

After a day of adventure, or whenever you're in need of a relaxing day, come to Polynesian Spa — known as one of New Zealand's best relaxation and wellness experiences.

Polynesian Spa is located right on the lake in Rotorua, with multiple options to choose from to suit everyone's needs. The Family Pools provide the perfect space for families to relax and enjoy pool time together. The Deluxe Lake Spa offers a premium hot pool area set right on the lakeside, with access to five naturally heated pools. Or unwind in the historic Pavilion Pools, an area designed for relaxation and rejuvenation, with a selection of eight hot pools. If you're after something more private, the Sky View Private Pools at Polynesian Spa are perfect for you.

Hell's Gate is New Zealand's most active geothermal reserve, also known by many as a geothermal paradise.

The geothermal mud is enriched with minerals and renowned for its therapeutic and exfoliating properties — cover yourself in it, then move on to the soothing sulphur spa, known for its natural healing benefits. This natural experience will leave you feeling completely relaxed.

The experience also includes entry to the geothermal reserve, where you can join a guided tour or explore at your own pace.

Hell's Gate is a great mix of relaxation, culture, and natural environment.

Looking for a fun day out with the whole family, or keen to race your friends? Skyline Rotorua is the perfect thing to do. Located in the heart of Rotorua, it's a fun day out for everyone.

Ride the Gondola up and enjoy 180-degree panoramic views of Rotorua and the lake. Grab lunch at the restaurant, also with panoramic views over Lake Rotorua.

Then get ready to race your friends on the one-of-a-kind luge rides, home to some of the longest luge tracks in the world. This thrilling, gravity-driven ride will have you filled with excitement and adventure — have a go on a range of different tracks.

Ready for an adventure? Take on the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world on the Kaituna River.

White water rafting in Rotorua is an incredible adventure — 14 epic rapids and 2 waterfalls will have your adrenaline pumping. Not only is this an adventure of a lifetime, but it's set among some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery.

Suitable for all rafting abilities, this is an adventure you cannot miss.

Ready to get muddy? Get behind the wheel on the 4WD Bush Safari with Off Road NZ, who have been running off-road adventures in Rotorua since 1992.

After a briefing from your guide, suit up and take on steep climbs, sharp turns and big muddy puddles in a self-drive 4WD. Safety and wet weather gear is included, plus return transfers from your Rotorua accommodation, and you'll get a certificate at the end to prove you did it.