Rotorua

Famous for its geothermal features including bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and geysers, Rotorua offers a unique natural spectacle combined with Maori cultural experiences. The city is essential for experiencing New Zealand's volcanic landscape and indigenous heritage.

Things to do

• Pohutu Geyser — Watch New Zealand's most active geyser erupt up to 30 metres high multiple times daily in the geothermal valley of Te Puia.
• Champagne Pool — Soak in naturally heated thermal pools with mineral-rich waters at this popular geothermal bathing destination.
• Redwoods Treewalk — Navigate suspended bridges and platforms through a canopy of giant Californian redwood trees in an adventure course.
• Te Wairoa Buried Village — Explore the excavated remains of a 19th-century Maori village buried by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera.
• Rotorua Museum — Discover Maori art, artefacts, and exhibits documenting the region's volcanic and cultural history in a historic bathhouse.
• Lake Rotorua Cruises — Take a scenic boat tour across the geothermally active lake to view natural hot pools, islands, and volcanic landscapes.
• Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland — Walk through vibrant geothermal features including coloured hot springs, bubbling mud pools, and the striking Artist's Palette.
• Maori Arts and Crafts Institute — Watch master carvers and weavers at work creating traditional taonga (treasures) using ancestral techniques at Te Puia.

Food to try

• Geothermal-cooked hangi meal — Experience a traditional Maori feast where food is slow-cooked using natural steam and heat from geothermal vents in underground ovens.
• Trout from Lake Rotorua — Sample fresh-caught rainbow and brown trout, a local delicacy often grilled or pan-fried and served at lakeside restaurants.
• Maori bread (rewena) — Try sourdough-style bread traditionally made using fermented potato starter and baked in wood-fired or geothermally-heated ovens.
• Huhu grubs — Taste this traditional Maori protein source of large wood-boring beetle larvae, often roasted and enjoyed as a delicacy.
• Geothermal hot spring corn — Enjoy corn cobs boiled directly in naturally heated geothermal pools, infusing them with mineral flavours unique to the region.

Local customs & good to know

• Learn basic Te Reo Maori — Respect local Maori culture by learning simple words like 'kia ora' (hello) and 'whānau' (family) commonly used throughout Rotorua.
• Remove shoes at marae — If invited to a Maori meeting ground (marae), always remove your shoes as a sign of respect for the sacred space.
• Respect geothermal areas — Stay on marked paths and never touch or enter hot pools or mud pools without permission, as they are both dangerous and culturally significant.
• Attend a cultural performance — Experience traditional Maori haka, poi dances, and waiata (songs) performed nightly at venues to gain authentic appreciation of living culture.