By air
Rotorua (ROT), ~8 km
Australia & New Zealand · New Zealand
Rotorua, New Zealand
Geysers, mud pools and Māori culture
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March — summer
Don't miss
Te Puia
Wai-O-Tapu
The Redwoods (Whakarewarewa Forest)
Lake Rotorua
Things to do
Te Puia's Pōhutu geyser
A hāngī feast and cultural evening
Wai-O-Tapu's thermal pools
Mountain biking the Redwoods
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear for the hot pools, walking shoes
A quieter corner
Kerosene Creek, a natural hot stream
Questions travellers ask
What are Rotorua's must-see sights?
Te Puia's Pōhutu geyser and the thermal pools at Wai-O-Tapu. Lake Rotorua and the Redwoods (Whakarewarewa Forest), where you can mountain bike, round things off.
How can I experience Māori culture in Rotorua?
Go to a hāngī feast and cultural evening — hāngī is the earth-oven feast.
Is there a natural hot stream near Rotorua?
Yes — Kerosene Creek, a natural hot stream. Bring swimwear for the hot pools, plus walking shoes.
When should I visit Rotorua?
December to March, in summer. Rotorua (ROT) airport is about 8 km away.
About Rotorua
- Lakeside
Where it is
Rotorua is a city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island, in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, where geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pools steam among the streets and forests.
History
Te Arawa, whose ancestors arrived on the Arawa canoe, settled the lakes district centuries ago. In the 19th century visitors came to see the Pink and White Terraces until the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 destroyed them, and the government then developed Rotorua as a spa town, building the Bath House in the early 20th century.
People
Rotorua has one of New Zealand's largest Māori communities, and many residents belong to Te Arawa, whose carving, weaving, kapa haka performance and hāngī cooking are shared with visitors. English and te reo Māori are both widely heard, and at Whakarewarewa families still live and cook with the heat of the hot pools.
Known for
- Pōhutu geyser at Te Puia
- Māori cultural performances and hāngī feasts
- The thermal pools of Wai-O-Tapu
- Mountain biking in the Redwoods
- Lake Rotorua
Did you know?
Pōhutu, at Te Puia in Rotorua, is the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupting up to about 30 m high, often many times a day.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.