Top Rotorua Likely To Sell Out

Get an authentic introduction to Māori culture the way few tourists do, with an evening at the Mitai Māori Village in Rotorua. See men in traditional dress paddle down the river in a waka (canoe) and be captivated by the displays of weaponry. Watch a haka war dance and poi performance, and spot glowworms in their natural habitat. This evening experience includes round-trip hotel transport and a traditional buffet hangi feast, so you don't have to worry about a thing.

While in Rotorua, the North Island’s heartland of traditional culture, attend an evening event at Te Pā Tū featuring a Māori cultural performance and a 3-course seasonal fusion feast. Learn about Māori customs tied to the lunar calendar while enjoying song, drama, and tradition in a forest village setting. Hotel pickup and return transfers from Rotorua are included for convenience.

Soar through a 1,000-year-old native New Zealand forest on six ziplines reaching speeds up to 37 miles (60 kilometers) per hour. Cross suspended swing bridges and explore treetop platforms while looking out for native birds such as toutouwai and kererū. This half-day guided eco-adventure includes free digital photos, wet-weather gear, and return transport, with every booking supporting forest restoration. Suitable for families and groups of all ages.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the night on a kayaking tour into hidden glow worm caves on a lake near Rotorua. Feel safe and secure paddling a kayak with a guide leading the way. Marvel at the constellations of glowing bugs lighting up the rock formations, and the starry skies outside if the weather’s clear.

Adventurous travelers will love this glowworm-spotting tour with a difference. As the sun gets lower in the sky, paddle in a kayak on Lake Karapiro and along the Pokaiwhenua Stream. You’ll see beautiful native plants and bird life, and rock formations that have been naturally carved over centuries. Once the light disappears, you’ll see thousands of glowworms lighting your way. This tour is a fun way to experience some of New Zealand’s best natural attractions.

Soar through the trees and experience New Zealand’s ancient native forest like never before on an incredible must-do adventure. You'll soar along several ziplines, experience New Zealand’s one-and-only volcanic cliff walk above the forest floor, incredible swing bridges, controlled descent, and an impressive tandem zipline so you can share the experience with a friend or partner.

A diverse range of wildlife calls the calm blue waters of Lake Rotoiti—near Rotorua—home, including many species of local birds. Listen to the enchanting birdsong as you paddle across the lake on this half-day evening kayak tour. Then, set out towards the nearby glowworm cave to see bioluminescent light speckle the dark cave walls before a BBQ dinner at the Manupirua Hot Pools.

Get out of your comfort zone on this challenging bush safari outside Rotorua. This self-drive experience by 4-passenger 4WD vehicle takes you over steep climbs and descents, with guided instruction via 2-way radio as you navigate waterfalls, lunges, and tunnels. Safety briefing and equipment are provided so you can tackle the off-road trails confidently. This is a fun, family-friendly activity.

Gain entry to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia on a guided tour of this geothermal hot spot. Take a walking path up to steaming vents, boiling mud pools and erupting Pohutu Geyser at Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley; observe the emblematic kiwi bird; and discover Maori traditions at the cultural center. Upgrade to include a cultural performance of Maori song and dance, including the warlike ‘haka.’ Showtimes are available several times a day during admittance.

Art, craft, and culture-loving travelers will enjoy this guided tour of a New Zealand jade (pounamu) carving studio. Learn about the cultural significance of jade to the local Maori people, and about traditional and contemporary designs. Get the chance to meet jewelry artists and to see them at work. Choose a piece of jade to string and keep as a memento.

Rotorua’s world-class guided experience and cultural performance. This exhilarating combo extends on from our Te Rā experience by adding a captivating cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It will include a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi and haka. The Te Rā guided experience features a 90-minute tour through our geothermal valley, where you’ll visit the Pōhutu Geyser, the Kiwi Conservation Centre, and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Along the way, our knowledgeable kaiārahi (guides) will share their Māori traditions, heritage, and ancestral stories, offering unique insights into our rich culture.

Experience the majesty of volcanic Mt. Tarawera and gain insight into New Zealand’s rich geology on this half-day guided hike from Rotorua. Travel off-road into the central North Island wilderness and follow winding hiking trails from the base of Mt. Tarawera up to the crater’s edge. Learn about its destructive 1886 eruption. Admire panoramic views over the geothermal Waimangu Valley. Enjoy free hotel pickup and drop-off for added convenience.

Combine Māori traditions and natural wonders on a full-day small-group tour of steaming geysers, colorful hot springs, and local culture in Rotorua. In addition to witnessing the spectacular volcanic landscape, learn about traditional wood carving, arts, crafts, and customs, and see a Māori war canoe. The itinerary includes Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and Te Puia, combining top sites to make the most of your time in Rotorua.

Make the most of your trip from Rotorua to Auckland with a tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a network of flooded caverns lit by bioluminescent glowworms. Travel by comfortable minibus from your Rotorua hotel to your centrally located Auckland hotel, pausing in Waitomo for a boat tour of the caves. This transfer includes all transport and entrance fees, and numbers are limited, for a more personal small-group experience.

Spend a magical evening kayaking on Lake Rotoiti, where you visit glowworm caves and have plenty of time to soak in natural hot springs before a barbecue picnic dinner. Paddle with an expert guide into lakeside caves only accessed by boat to see glowworms and crayfish, then revel in the sunset reflected on the tranquil waters. Instruction, equipment, and round-trip hotel transport from Rotorua are all included.

Thrills, geothermal wonder, and Māori culture — experience the essence of Aotearoa in one extraordinary day.

Your Glow Worm Adventure Kayak tour begins with a friendly pick-up from the Rotorua Information Centre. We stop at our base to gear up, then head out to the lake where the kayaks await! As you paddle into twilight, the lake reflects the shifting colours of dusk, creating a striking backdrop for your journey. Your first stop is a secluded lakeside beach accessible only by vessel, where you’ll step ashore to enjoy kiwi snacks and hot tea while taking in the quiet of the night. Back on the water, you’ll paddle toward hidden glow worm caverns that come alive after dark. Thousands of tiny lights illuminate the walls like a starry sky, giving you time to drift beneath their shimmering glow for an unforgettable, intimate encounter. If the night is clear, the magic continues outside the caves as milky-way shines overhead, guiding your serene paddle back across the lake.

Join us to view Rotorua beyond the crater rim. Enjoy spectacular views of our hidden lakes district, distant volcanoes and local geothermal activity. In this captivating overview of this stunning area and continue your experience on your floatplane scenic flight towards lake Rotoiti. Landing on the lake we’ll taxi to the pier where you disembark, your Eden awaiting. Only accessible by water, the hot pools are in a secluded bay on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Seemingly disconnected from the world, this is where you’ll spend 90 minutes, with your only concerns being which pool to experience next. Take your time soaking, cool off in the lake, rest a bit on a lounger and repeat before returning to the Rotorua City Lakefront

Soak in the thermal spring-fed pools of Lake Rotoiti and paddle into a glowworm cave on a morning kayak tour from Rotorua. With an expert guide, explore the tranquil waters of the lake as you take in the scenery. Paddle to caverns and hot springs that are accessible only by water. Kayaking equipment, hot spring entrance, and snacks are included.

Explore one of New Zealand’s finest forest trails on this 7-hour hiking tour in the Whirinaki Forest from Rotorua. Travel from your accommodation in Rotorua into the Whirinaki Forest, widely considered among the world’s greatest rainforests. Follow your guide along hiking trails beneath the leafy canopy and marvel at mighty native trees such as ‘kahikatea’, ‘matai’, ‘miro’, ‘rimu’ and ‘totara’. Along the way, discover rich flora and fauna for which the forest is famous, and hear birdsong from the many different species of birds flying among the branches above.

Unveil the enchanting private journey from Auckland to Rotorua's geothermal marvels. Witness Auckland's sunrise, traverse scenic countryside. Delve into the surreal landscapes of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland New Zealand's premier geothermal wonderland! Explore vibrant hot springs, bubbling mud pools, and erupting geysers. Learn about Maori legends and geological wonders in this immersive and unforgettable journey. Indulge in a delicious lunch in Rotorua before rejuvenating at the renowned Polynesian Spa for ultimate relaxation. Immerse yourself in therapeutic hot springs overlooking Lake Rotorua, and rejuvenate your body and mind. Bid farewell to Rotorua's charm as we return to Auckland, hearts filled with cherished memories. Join us on this captivating full-day private tour inclusive of transport, guided tours, and entrance fees. Reserve your spot now and immerse yourself in New Zealand's geothermal wonders!

View Rotorua’s network of lakes from above with this flight. Float over a landscape wrought large and dramatic by millions of years of eruptions. A pilot–guide tells you what you’re seeing—gain greater knowledge of geothermal activity in the air. Gain an aerial perspective on a spectacular region of New Zealand’s North Island.

Enjoy one of New Zealand’s very best one-day walks in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. Meet your guide in either Rotorua or Taupō and then head straight to Tongariro where you will begin your walk. See Taranaki Falls, amazing views of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe, and then either the Tama Lakes or Lake Rotopounamu, depending on group fitness levels.