11 Jun Rotorua has something for everyone!
One of the most common comments we hear at the Lakefront is “I wish we had more time in Rotorua!”
Rotorua has so many amazing activities, for all ages and interests. Our top recommendation for anyone planning a Rotorua holiday is give yourself an extra few days – we promise you won’t regret it!!
Two people enjoying the mud pools at Hells Gate
Hells Gate
While Rotorua is renowned for its geothermal spas, Hell’s Gate mud spa stands out as New Zealand’s most unique geothermal experience. We recommend indulging in the full Hell’s Gate experience, starting with a guided or self-guided interactive walk. Try your hand at Māori carving while learning the myths and legends behind Hell’s Gate. Afterward, change into your bathing suit and immerse yourself in a pool of warm mud. Once your skin is rejuvenated, wash off the mud and relax in the sulphur spa!
The healing properties of the geothermal mud and sulphur mineral, used by local Māori for over 800 years, will leave you feeling revitalized and provide an unforgettable experience. For an even more romantic experience, opt for the Twilight experience – watch the sunset and the stars appear while you soak in the warm, soothing waters.
Velocity Valley Adventure Park
Man in the wind tunnel
Man free falling 43m on the Vertigo drop
Rotorua’s home for speed and adrenaline: don’t miss out on a visit to Velocity Valley Adventure Park. Choose your thrill – there is something for everyone! Swoop from 40 meters up with friends on a human swing, or jump into the wind tunnel to fly like a bird and “freefall” for longer than a standard skydive. Challenge your friends to a race in the shweeb pedal racing pods, or go for big air off one of three ramps before landing on the freestyle airbag. And if you are brave enough, try out the brand new Vertigo – leave the bungee cords behind and experience the thrill of a 43 meter drop into the waiting net below!
Two people racing Shweeb pods
The National Kiwi Hatchery
A baby kiwi being held at the National Kiwi Hatchery
Get up close with New Zealand’s national icon at the largest and most successful Kiwi hatchery in the world! Engage with interactive displays to learn about this special bird, see Kiwis in the nocturnal house, and gain deeper understanding about the incubation process. If you’re lucky, you might even see a newly hatched kiwi chick! The National Kiwi Hatchery is at the forefront of conservation and protection, and 100% of your ticket goes back into the kiwi hatching programme. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
https://www.nationalkiwihatchery.org.nz/
Agrodome
Some volunteers helping to bottle feed some baby sheep at the Agrodome Farm Show
Just 10 minutes outside of the Rotorua city center, the world-renowned Agrodome is a must-visit attraction. Great for kids and adults alike, the 350-acre farm is teeming with animal friends. The Farm Show, featuring 19 different breeds of sheep, working dogs, cows, and some surprise guests, has delighted visitors from around the world for over 40 years. The Farmyard Nursey is home to the cutest baby animals, eagerly waiting for cuddles and photos. On the Farm Tour, catch a ride behind a tractor and your guide will stop frequently so you can spend time in paddocks hand-feeding various animals.
Afterwards, enjoy a coffee or a lunch in the Café, and don’t forget to look out for Shaun the Sheep, who spends his days exploring the farm!
ZORB
Rotorua is the only place in New Zealand where you can experience the thrilling fun of rolling down a hill in a giant inflatable ball filled with water! Proudly owned and operated by the inventors of this iconic adventure activity, a visit to Rotorua is incomplete without sharing some laughs with the Zorb team. Choose from four tracks , change into your bathing suit and hop in the shuttle bus up Mt Ngongotaha. While you wait for your turn, relax in the spa and enjoy the epic views of Lake Rotorua.
See who can perform the best superman dive into the ball filled with 40L of water (warm in the winter, cool in the summer) before the team gives you a nudge and the slipping and sliding fun begins! Plan to allow about an hour at ZORB and bring the whole family (children ages 5+).
River Rats
Some stoked passengers pose for a photo while rafting the Upper Rangitikei River with River Rats
Members of TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame for a reason, River Rats offers kayaking and white-water rafting adventures for everyone. Pick your vessel – raft, kayak or sledge – and decide how much energy you want to exert. You can choose from scenic paddling around Lake Rotoiti to reach the hot pools, or tackle grade 5 white water rafting for a big adrenaline rush! A family-owned business operating for 40 years, the River Rats team will take great care of you while showcasing our spectacular natural environment.
River Rats are also foundation members of the Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter, working with over 60 local businesses to achieve environmental, social, and financial sustainability.
Rotorua Rafting
A raft plunges the 7meters over the Tutea Falls guided by Rotorua Rafting
Rafters getting a face full of splash!
We are spoiled for choice in Rotorua, and that includes our rafting companies! Rotorua Rafting is a whitewater rafting company that will send you over the 7 meter Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Established in 2011 by Okere Falls local and four-time Extreme Kayak World Champion Sam Sutton, the company aims to make adrenaline-pumping activities accessible to anyone who is keen.
In addition to navigating thrilling rapids, you can also book a 2.5 hour zip line experience or explore Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti on stand-up paddleboards.
https://www.rotorua-rafting.co.nz/
Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park
Girl hand feeding deer over a fence at Paradise Valley Springs
Male lion lying in the sunshine
Paradise Valley Springs has been in operation since 1939, initially featuring only trout. In 1975, the park began acquiring other animals. Designed to highlight the native New Zealand bush, the park features a freshwater spring and the Ngongotaha Stream winding throughout. All the wildlife in the park is either found wild or farmed around New Zealand, with the notable exception of the African lion pride! Visitors can enjoy Lion Feeding every day at 2:30pm and Kea and Possum Feeding at 3:00pm, getting up close to the animals, seeing them active, and learning more about these spectacular animals.
Rotorua Duck Tours
One of the best ways to see Rotorua is onboard an authentic, amphibious WII landing craft – the only genuine ones operating in NZ! Visit multiple lakes and “splashdown” on at least two while your guide provides commentary about Rotorua’s iconic history and geothermal landscape. Enjoy the tour with the whole family – young and old alike will laugh, learn and quack along. Duck Tours are also rightfully proud to have joined Tipu Waiariki for a native tree planting initiative: $1 from every ticket sold goes toward planting native trees in Rotorua.
https://rotoruaducktours.co.nz/
Two Duck Boats navigate the calm blue waters of Lake Tarawera with Mt Tarawera in the background