Things to do in Rotorua – New Zealand’s best ‘hot’ spot

Rotorua is the tourism capital of the North Island. With so many things to do in Rotorua I thought I’d share some of my favorites to make things easier for you. I know that everyone has different hobbies and things that they like so I’ve split the activities into categories. You can click the links to see a more in depth description of the activities in my other blogs. Simply find what fits you best and I’ve got you covered!

Things to do in Rotorua for Families

If you’re exploring Rotorua and you have kids in your party it sometimes takes a lot to keep them engaged and having fun. Don’t fear! There are SO many family activities to keep both the adults and kids smiling from ear to ear. From high octane activities for the older kids, to Maori culture and all points in between I promise you Rotorua is the perfect place for a family trip!

You can see some of my favorite family activities here
For family activities in the rain click here
For those who have toddlers check out some awesome options here

Don’t just take my word for it. Check out this awesome article on the Rotorua NZ official website:
https://www.rotoruanz.com/visit/see-and-do/family-fun/

Eco-Tourism in Rotorua

Our city is located inside of an extinct super volcano. Not only that but it’s surrounded by another super volcano and other smaller volcanoes. Needless to say that makes for a very unique geothermal landscape. Over hundreds of years and countless eruptions this geothermal landscape has made stunning lake and land formations as well as geysers, geothermal rock formations and of course that famous smell! We are also home to stunning bird life and other flora and fauna.

For some of the best ways to see our amazing ecology check out my blog here.

Walking, Running, Biking and Hiking

Our country is full of people who love to have a walk, run, bike or hike. Luckily Rotorua has each and every one of these people covered! We have the Whakarewarewa Forest which is full of walking trails for all ages and abilities as well as being home to some of the best mountain biking trails in the world! We also have stunning lake walks and scenic reserves for those nature lovers who love to get off the beaten track.

For those who want to see the best forests to explore on foot click here
For a more in depth hiking guide click here
Mountain bikers check out the guide on Rotorua NZ’s website here

Hot Springs and Secret Spots in Rotorua

When people think of things to do in Rotorua, one of those things should always be a soak in one of our natural hot springs. There are many options available depending on how much you’d like to spend, how much time you have and the availability of your own private transport. I’ve spend the last decade exploring the area and I have written up about some of the best spots.

For a hot spring guide click here
For a look at some Rotorua secret spots click here

Eat and Drink

The passion of many (including myself). Some people like to grab some food from the supermarket but if you’re like me and like to wine and dine Rotorua is the place for you! As I mentioned I have spent the last decade exploring the area and that includes some of the amazing eateries and bars in the area. If you want to see some of my favorites take a look here.

Let me plan your Rotorua holiday!

For a cheat sheet on planning your trip I have written a couple of blogs on ways to spend your time here. You can check out or blogs page or have a look at the links below.

For a 3 day Rotorua Itinerary click here
For tips on planning your own Rotorua holiday click here
For those couples who want a romantic weekend away click here