So, you've got a little time up your sleeve before or after your event. That's great! Whether it's a few days or a few hours, there's a range of experiences to fill in your time.
Is a hot pool or massage your cup of tea? What about enjoying one of these 10 wonderful walks amongst giant trees or zooming down a zipline? With these and so many more options, Rotorua will not let you down.
Spa & wellness (minimum 45 minutes)
Our geothermal treasures have soothed voyagers for centuries. By making the most of our natural thermal spring waters and mineral rich mud, they have been healing people for over a century. Our spa and wellness experiences are the perfect way to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Indulge yourself with our signature spa therapies, relax in natural hot pools and discover the healing properties of mineral waters that have attracted people to the area since the 19th century.
New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (minimum 45 minutes)
New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) at Te Puia is the home of the national schools of carving (including pounamu and bone) and weaving. Discover one of New Zealand’s most magnificent geothermal wonderlands – featuring dramatic geysers, bubbling mud and beautiful native bush.
Come face to face with the biggest, active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere Pōhutu Geyser, jumping mud pools, and live kiwi in the Kiwi Conservation Centre. Watch master carvers and weavers at work, and hear our guides share stories passed down from their ancestors.
Guided tours run throughout the day. This is a great way to learn the stories of the area.
Running and walking trails (30 minutes to 5 hours)
Slap on your running shoes and hit the forest! We are fortunate to have a diverse variety of forest trails to choose from, whether a meander through breathtaking California redwoods or hike the back country if it’s your preference. Rotorua Trails Trust has developed a network of running and walking trails that start from a 30-minute loop to more demanding 11km-plus trails that offer stunning views across the city, forest and lakes.
To see the forest from great heights, Redwoods Treewalk is a firm favourite. A network of swing bridges will take around 30 minutes (depending on how many photos you stop to take!).
If you’re up for something more unique, walk up Mt Tarawera, a dormant volcano, and run down a scree slope into the crater. This unique option takes about five hours.
Mountain biking (1-3 hours depending on the trail)
The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) has reconfirmed Rotorua’s status as one of the world’s best mountain biking destinations by renewing the city’s gold-level Ride Centre™ status. The Whakarewarewa forest is a quick five-minute drive from the city centre and has more than 200km of trails to choose from. The forest has mountain bike trail options ranging from Grade 1 (if you can ride on a footpath, you can ride a Grade 1) right up to Grade 5, which keeps even the world’s most experienced competitive riders pumped. Grab a rental bike from town or at the forest, choose a full suspension, hard tail or e-bike and explore in your own time, or jump on a private shuttle with a guide. The shuttle will drive you at the top of the trail, and you roll down for the pickup. Easy as!
Ziplining (2-3 hours)
Do you like the sound of ziplining amongst a thousand-year-old untouched forest at 50km/hr or between 100-year-old redwoods? Then, these options will get your heart pumping and give you something new to chat about at your event or something awesome to experience with your family.
Whitewater rafting (3 hours)
Rafting in Rotorua is spectacular. Not only do we have a magical river to float down, but the Kaituna River has the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, Tutea Falls, a smooth seven-metre drop. If you only have a short time available, whitewater rafting a Grade 5 river with 14 Rapids and three waterfalls is a must-do. Allow three hours in total from leaving the city centre.
Fishing
Rotorua Lakes District is a fisherman’s paradise that attracts anglers from all over the planet keen to experience our famous lakes. There are fishing options for the expert angler or for a first-timer keen to hook a trout. There are 14 fishable lakes and some fantastic river fishing to be had, when the season is open, a trophy fish is waiting to be caught in any of our lakes.
