If there's one place to make your base for a stay on the north island of New Zealand, it's Rotorua. Located on the lake it's named for, Rotorua is a waterside city with a diverse range of activities nearby. Read below for our recommendations on how to spend one day in the Rotorua New Zealand to make the most out of your trip.
Things to do in Rotorua New Zealand?
First and foremost, enjoy a stroll through the city itself. There are plenty of storefronts, restaurants, and parks to explore. I personally would recommend checking out one of the ice cream shops along the lake and grabbing a cone by the water. Then when you're ready to venture out of town, check out the following.
Read more for how to spend one day in Rotorua for the best Rotorua day trip
*Please note that this list creates a PACKED day - doable, but full. If your travel style is a bit more laid back, I recommend spreading these activities across two days.
1. Take a Guided Tour of Whakarewarewa (the "Living Maori Village")
Rotorua Travel Guide - stop one:
One of my absolute favorite things to do while traveling is learn about the culture and history of the area I am in. My other favorite thing to do is see cool stuff. In a tour of Whakarewarewa, you get to do both. Things to do in Rotorua New Zealand!
Whakarewarewa Village (the "wh" is pronounced how "ph" is in the United States) is also commonly known as the "living Māori thermal village." The Māori are the aboriginal people of New Zealand, and the term māori may refer to anything related to them, their culture, or their language. More specifically, the Whakarewarewa village is home to the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people.
Rotorua and Whakarewarewa (Whaka for short) are located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone and sit atop active fault lines. As a result, there is an abundance of geothermal activity in the area. Throughout the tour you will learn how the Māori harnessed this geothermal energy for heating. Some of the demonstrations include heating the central communal bath and creating an oven from a steam vent.
Rotorua activities and Rotorua tourist attractions, full travel guide!
Towards the end of the tour, your guide will take you to the village's closest viewpoint of the Pōhutu geyser (pictured above). On average, the geyser erupts about twenty times a day - so you are sure to see the spectacle no matter what time you visit the village. Before parting ways, our tour guide left us with a traditional Māori proverb, that roughly translates to the following: "What is the most important thing in the world? It is people."
A ticket for the tour will also gain you access to the Māori Cultural Performance. It includes a demonstration of the chant that the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people would historically use to attempt to intimidate their opponents prior to battle (and therefore to avoid having to go to war). The performance also includes a traditional Māori love song (waiata) and a poi dance (haka). Things to do in Rotorua New Zealand: travel guide and tips.
As far as Rotorua family activities go, this is one of the best.
Guided tours through the village are offered three times a day and last about an hour. An adult ticket costs $35 New Zealand dollars. The best things to do in Rotorua New Zealand!
2. Explore the Whaka Geothermal Trails
Things to do in Rotorua NZ, stop two:
Before you leave Whakarewarewa, take the opportunity to hike the geothermal trails. Having the ability to go at your own pace and unaccompanied, this is a great way to take photos of all of the natural geothermal sites in the village: get up close to the boiling mud pools, take in the geyser and steaming lakes from a higher vantage point, and walk right across the sulfur pools on a boarded wooden path. Things to do in Rotorua New Zealand:
You do not need any tickets to access the trails. As long as the village is open, you may walk freely. Just be aware that all of these geothermal sites are, of course, extremely hot.
3. Take a Guided Tour through Hobbiton
Things to do in Rotorua, stop three:
While I have nothing against The Lord of the Rings, I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a fan - simply because I haven't actually seen the movies or read the books. We did make an attempt to catch up on the films before our visit, but unfortunately the wifi at our campground wasn't strong enough to get the job done. Nevertheless, our visit to Hobbiton was one of my favorite things to do on the north island.
This is another great Rotorua family activity.
Hobbiton is situated on picturesque farmland amid miles of rolling hills covered in grazing sheep. When it is time for your tour, you will board a bus that will drive you through the pastures and to the Shire. There you will begin your walking tour of the hobbit holes all the way to the Green Dragon Inn. Meticulously detailed and adorably cute, each hobbit hole is decorated to show the occupation of the hobbit that lives there. The best things to do in Rotorua New Zealand!
Even if you are not an avid Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton is well worth adding to your trip's itinerary. An adult ticket to the Hobbiton Movie Set tour is $89 New Zealand dollars. Be sure to book this one in advance as the time slots do tend to fill up. (Hobbiton is an hour's drive from Rotorua, so be sure to factor the time into your plans.)
4. Visit Redwood Park
Rotorua travel guide, stop four:
For a quiet way to end the day, take a walk through Rotorua's Redwood Park. The trails are mostly flat and would be a good fit for beginner hikers.
The park is full of Californian Redwood trees and free for entry.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What can you do for free in Rotorua? Rotorua is a good sized town with plenty to walk around and explore for free. Most notably, it's positioned on Lake Rotorua which is free to visit. If you are not interested in the guided tour, you should also be able to hike the geothermal trails of Whakarewarewa for free. The Redwood Park mentioned in this guide is also free for entry.
2. Is Rotorua worth visiting? Absolutely! Rotorua was one of my favorite places to visit on the north island of New Zealand. Not only is it located on a scenic lake with lots of shops to explore, it is a relatively central location to make your base while visiting Mäori villages and Hobbiton - both of which are must-dos of the north island.
Check out our travel guide for Queenstown, Milford Sound, and the Catlins to complete your kiwi adventure in New Zealand!
One day in Rotorua New Zealand! Things to do in Rotorua New Zealand.
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We hope you enjoyed these fun things to do in Rotorua! Please let us know what you thought the best places to visit in Rotorua were in the comments.