Top Rotorua Outdoor Activities

Treat yourself to a relaxing spa experience at adults-only Lake Rotorua hot pools, where pre-booking admission gets you access to acidic and alkaline pools, a reflexology walk, and a hot pool with views across the lake. It’s a serene and soothing alternative to the all-ages Rotorua spas, and includes plenty of spa time to ensure you never feel rushed.

Gain entry to the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua with this guided tour and ticket combo. Learn about New Zealand's renowned conservation program as you take a tour of the hatchery which has successfully hatched over 2,500 kiwi chicks. After a guided experience, explore the interactive kiwi burrow where you can see the life cycle of a kiwi from egg to burrow. Children under 5 years old cannot participate in this experience.

Go on an adrenaline-filled rafting excursion down the Kaituna River on a half-day adventure tour from Rotorua. The river tumbles past a subtropical rainforest lining a deep canyon. Raft over Tutea Falls—a thrilling experience for first-time or experienced rafters. The tour operates in all seasons and there are several departure times daily so you can choose one that suits your schedule.

While in Rotorua, take a wild and wacky ride in an inflatable ZORB ball. Enjoy the thrill of rolling downhill inside an inflatable ball with water to make things more slippery and fun. After instructions from the knowledgeable team, experience the world’s longest zig-zag Sidewinder Track and the smooth-and-fast double Straight Track.

Learn more about local Maori culture and the geothermal science of Rotorua on a family-friendly combo tour to the Whaka Living Maori Village and the Pohutu Geyser. Discover how local people have been harnessing the power of the hot springs and mud pools for centuries, and enjoy eating a corn cob cooked in the thermal waters. Take great photos of bubbling mud, spurting geysers, and cultural attractions.

Gain admission to your choice of several heart-thumping activities at Velocity Valley, an adrenaline-inducing theme park located just minutes from central Rotorua. Not for the faint-hearted, each extreme ride provides non-stop blood-pumping action. Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, this adventure park has something for (almost) everyone. Choose from various handy admission packages to suit your time, needs, and budget.

Travelers in Rotorua don’t need to travel all the way to Waitomo to see twinkling glow-worms: there are groves in forests near the city, but you have to know where to look. Take an evening bush walk to see these increasingly rare creatures, and avoid getting lost as your guide leads the way. The evening timing means you can easily fit the tour into other daytime activities in and around Rotorua.

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.

To us, It’s about an experience. It’s about the welcome on arrival and departure, it’s about the unexpected joys, the feel good music, finding the fairy doors, walking under an 80 year old kiwifruit vine tunnel, patting a friendly giant rabbit while you putt around it, a sudden explosion of bubbles flying overhead, the world class native garden, the light shows, tranquil and serene in parts, and swarm techno lights in others, it’s a journey of experiences. It’s about standing on large volcanic rocks and admiring the 2,000 year old Rata stump from which water cascades into the pond as smoke billows out from within. This is why it is not unusual to have repeat visits of up & over 3 times while visiting, each experience is different and people leave feeling good!

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.

Slip into steaming water and cold pools at the Rotorua Deluxe Lake Spa, where pre-booked admission gets you access to premium changing rooms, an indoor lounge, mineral pools, and heated poolside recliners. The all-ages facility is a family-friendly alternative to Lake Rotorua’s adults-only options, and with four hours of spa time, you won't feel rushed as you relax, soak, and pamper sore traveling muscles.

If there's one thing people associate with New Zealand, it’s sheep, so make your trip to Rotorua complete with a visit to the Agrodome. Interact with the wooly animals during and educational and family-friendly farm tour experience that includes sheep-shearing, wool-spinning, and sheep dog demonstrations.

Explore the geothermal landscape of Rotorua at your own pace on this self-guided Waimangu hiking tour. Follow winding hiking trails through Waimangu — the world’s youngest geothermal system — and marvel at the scenery you find. Admire unique geothermal features including Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake and Lake Rotomahana, and enjoy breathtaking views over hot springs and steam vents throughout the forest and grasslands. Along the way, gain insight into the geothermal activity from your guide sheet and watch for the native plant and animal life for which Waimangu is famous. Enjoy a much needed rest and take advantage of the shuttle bus to return you to the start at the end of your hike.

Enjoy a dose of adrenaline and take in amazing views of native forest with this zip lining experience. For approximately 2.5 hours, fly through the air on ziplines, traverse swing bridges and wander along boardwalks as you get closer to the environment. This operation exists in partnership with a local Māori tribe, Ngāti Hinerangi. As part of their conservation efforts, plant a tree in your name on departure.

After exploring Rotorua’s volcanic attractions, hover above Mt. Tarawera for a different perspective on a helicopter tour. Soar above the Northern Lakes district as you take off from Rotorua. View the geothermal landscape of crater lakes and domes from the air and learn about geologic history from your guide. Land for a short, guided exploration of the volcanic terrain on foot.

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.

Enter a world of bubbling mud and powerful geysers with admission to Hell's Gate geothermal park in Rotorua. Once you’re inside the gates, follow a self-guided walkway through this active geothermal field, pausing to explore interactive exhibits along the way and listen to the native birdsong, or take one of the free guided tours, which depart regularly.

Explore the picturesque countryside of Rotorua on a guided one-hour horse trek, where rolling hills meet breathtaking views of Lake Rotorua. This experience is ideal for riders of all levels, as each horse is carefully matched to your skill. Your local guide will share insights about the stunning landscape and wildlife as you ride at a relaxed pace through serene trails. Enjoy the tranquility of the foothills of Mt Ngongotaha while creating unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.

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.

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.

Cruise through bays, hot sand beaches, glowworm caves, and historic Māori sites aboard a one of a kind, handcrafted vessel packed with adventure or relaxation at your pace: twist your feet into the hot sand stream, swim in crystal clear waters, leap from overhanging trees, or wade into glow worm caves to catch their gentle daytime glow, or simply unwind amid scenery so close you can almost touch it. Savor complimentary morning tea as you glide past ancient Māori food storage caves and breathtaking landscapes.

Discover the geothermal wonders of New Zealand's North Island on this full-day guided tour. Starting from Rotorua Central, traverse through lush forestry and farmland to reach the stunning Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Experience the spectacular eruption of the Lady Knox geyser and explore vibrant hot springs and bubbling mud pools. Continue to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, where you’ll learn about the dramatic landscape shaped by the Mt Tarawera eruption. Enjoy a scenic boat trip on Lake Rotomahana, taking in breathtaking views of steaming cliffs and geysers. - Full-day guided tour from Rotorua Central to geothermal sites - Explore Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and witness Lady Knox geyser - Visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley with insights into volcanic history - Scenic boat trip on Lake Rotomahana included

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.