Rotorua is a great place to create memories that you’ll be talking about for years to come.
Travelling with your family is exciting and loads of fun – especially when the best attractions, cafés, restaurants and free things to do are all within easy access (think: less time for backseat feuds!).
Feed the animals and your love for adventure
Who doesn’t love to stop and snuggle actual live giant bunnies on a mini golf course? Or feed furry alpaca, sheep and other farm animals at Rotorua Heritage Farm, or visit the small-animal enclosure at aMAZEme (also a great place to lose the kids for a while!)?
If adventure is at the top of your list, roll downhill in a giant inflatable ZORB, race each other on Luges at Skyline Rotorua, and much more.
Get out into nature
Geothermal parks always leave the kids in awe over the steam, bubbling mud, erupting geysers and colourful lakes that look like they’re straight out of a Dr Seuss book. Several hot pools have family zones for a bit of fun. Whakarewarewa Forest (aka “The Redwoods”) as well 14 of our 18 lakes are free to visit year-round.
Rainy day activities
If the weather isn’t cooperating, Rotorua has a number of activities for rainy day fun. Motion Entertainment has ten-pin bowling, mini golf, trampoline park, laser tag, escape rooms, Chipmunks Playland, and electronic games galore, all under one roof! The 3D Trick Art Gallery and a WWII amphibious duck vehicle tour are also on offer to keep everyone entertained.
Finding accommodation
To find the perfect place to stay in Rotorua for your family, we recommend booking through one of our two Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centres for free and expert advice. Ask about Rotorua's range of family friendly places to stay.
For more inspiration or to help make the most of a long weekend in Rotorua check out this three day itinerary. And remember to sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest news from RotoruaNZ.
Fancy Meow Cat Café
Family Fun
Fancy Meow Cat Café is New Zealand's only cat café with pure-bred cats and kittens.
Manupirua Hot Pools with Katoa Lake Rotorua
Family Fun
Enjoy a scenic cruise through the Ohau Channel onto Lake Rotoiti with Katoa Lake Rotorua, and disembark to enjoy a relaxing soak in the rejuvenating waters of the Manupirua Hot Springs.
Paddle Board Rotorua
Family Fun
Paddle Board Rotorua is Rotorua's premium paddle boarding and kayak experience providers, well known for their paddle board and kayak glow worm tours.
Adventure Playground Rotorua - 1-hour 4x4 Self Drive
Family Fun
Adventure Playground is the place to be when visiting Rotorua. Try our new 1-hour 4x4 self drive CanAm Experience, before perhaps some horse trekking, our cultural 4wd buggy tours or claybird shooting. The choice is yours!
Agrojet at Velocity Valley
Family Fun, North
Experience the thrill of a major adrenaline rush on a high-octane jet boat sprint course with Agrojet.
aMAZEme
Family Fun, North
For more than a decade, the Jensen family has been providing good old-fashioned outdoor fun at an affordable price.
Boyes Beach & Park
Family Fun, East
Boyes Beach is one of the largest beaches on Lake Ōkareka and a great attraction during the warmer months, and popular for swimming, fishing and picnicking.
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Family Fun, East
New Zealand’s most-visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption come to life.
Cruise and Fish Rotorua
Family Fun
Some of the best fishing the Central North Island offers is accessed from Rotorua.
DriftKartz
Family Fun, Central
Race on an indoor go-kart drift track and see if you have what it takes to control the out-of-control race karts!