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    Rotorua

    New Zealand

    Rotorua

    CityCulture

    Rotorua smells of sulfur, and that's part of the experience: The city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua lies in the middle of a geothermal area.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. New Zealand
    7. Central North Island
    9. Rotorua
    Rotorua smells of sulfur, and that's part of the experience: The city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua lies in the middle of a geothermal area. Between pavements and front gardens, steam rises from the ground; in Te Puia, the Pōhutu Geyser erupts; and in Kuirau Park, mud pools bubble without an entrance fee.Rotorua is also the center of the Te Arawa and one of the best places in New Zealand to experience Māori culture, whether in the living village of Whakarewarewa, in lakeside Ohinemutu, or at a cultural evening with Hāngī.
    Government Gardens

    District 1 of 3

    Government Gardens

    The Government Gardens are Rotorua's largest city park, located directly on the shore of Lake Rotorua. Its centerpiece is the half-timbered building of the old Bath House, which houses the Rotorua Museum.

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    Ohinemutu Māori Dorf

    District 2 of 3

    Ohinemutu Māori Dorf

    Ohinemutu is an inhabited Māori village on the northern edge of Rotorua's city centre, directly on the lakeshore. Families of the Ngāti Whakaue live here, and steam rises from the ground between the houses.

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    Whakarewarewa (Redwood Forest Area)

    District 3 of 3

    Whakarewarewa (Redwood Forest Area)

    South of Rotorua, two very different worlds lie directly next to each other: the steaming geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa with Te Puia and the inhabited Māori village, and the Whakarewarewa Forest with its tall Californian coastal redwoods.

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    Sights in Rotorua

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Rotorua Canopy Tours
    Attraction

    1Rotorua Canopy Tours

    Guided zipline tours through native woods on the city edge, start at Fairy Springs Road near the Skyline Gondola.
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    Mitai Maori Village

    2Mitai Maori Village

    An evening with a Māori family on the northern outskirts at Fairy Springs: Welcome, Kapa Haka, Waka viewing by the forest stream, and a Hāngī meal cooked in an earth oven. Booking in advance required.
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    ZORB™ Rotorua

    3ZORB™ Rotorua

    Here you roll down a hill on Ngongotaha Road in a large, transparent plastic sphere, with water inside the sphere depending on the run. The operator is located on the northern outskirts of the city near the Skyline Gondola.
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    Te Pa Tu - The Gathering Place

    4Te Pa Tu - The Gathering Place

    A cultural evening with the family-owned business Tamaki, formerly known as Tamaki Māori Village. The programme features a welcome ceremony, singing, dancing, and a Hāngī meal. Meet in Rotorua, advance booking essential.
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    Te Puia (NZ Māori Arts and Crafts Institute)

    5Te Puia (NZ Māori Arts and Crafts Institute)

    Geothermal area in the Te Whakarewarewa Valley, featuring the Pōhutu Geyser, mud pools, and the National Institute of Māori Carving and Weaving, whose workshops you can visit.
    Open in Google Maps
    Polynesian Spa

    6Polynesian Spa

    Thermal baths on the shore of Lake Rotorua, right next to the Government Gardens. It features a family area, adults-only pools, private pools, and spa treatments.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Sabroso Restaurant

    Latin American and Mexican restaurant on Haupapa Street in the city center.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Ali Baba's Tunisian Cuisine

    Tunisian restaurant on Tutanekai Street, near the nightlife hub Eat Streat.
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    3

    Fat Dog Cafe & Bar

    A cafe and bar located in Arawa Street downtown, serving breakfast and lunch.
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    4

    Mac's Steak House

    Steakhouse on Tutanekai Street in the Eat Streat area.
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    Eating and Drinking in Rotorua

    Hāngī

    Meat and vegetables slow-cooked in an earth oven. In Rotorua, Hāngī is often served at a cultural evening.

    Kūmara

    The sweet tuber was brought to New Zealand by the Māori and belongs in every Hāngī, often also as fries or purée.

    Rēwena

    Māori bread made from a fermented potato sourdough, lightly tangy and good with soups and Hāngī.

    Corn from the Thermal Spring

    In Whakarewarewa village, corn on the cob is cooked directly in a hot spring and sold to visitors.

    Te Arawa and the Spa Town

    The Iwi of Te Arawa have lived for centuries by the lakes around Rotorua and use geothermal energy for cooking, bathing, and heating. In Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa, families still live today amidst steaming springs, and their carved meeting houses (Wharenui) display the ancestors of the Iwi.At the end of the 19th century, the government transformed Rotorua into a spa town; the Bath House in the Government Gardens is a reminder of this era. Today, you can experience Māori culture at cultural evenings featuring Haka, Waiata, and Hāngī or in the carving and weaving workshops at Te Puia.

    Nightlife

    1

    Pig & Whistle, Historic Pub

    Pub in a historic building on Tutanekai Street with draft beer, pub food, and live music.
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    2

    Brew Craft Beer Pub

    Craft Beer Pub on Eat Streat in Tutanekai Street.
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    3

    The Beer Garden

    Beer garden with bar & grill on Eat Streat, often with live music evenings.
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    On the road in Rotorua

    The city centre with Eat Streat, the lakefront, and Government Gardens is easily accessible on foot. Local buses connect the city centre and suburbs, though services are infrequent.Te Puia, the Redwood Forest, and the Skyline Gondola are best reached by bicycle, while trips to Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu, or the surrounding lakes require a car or a booked tour. Rotorua Airport is on the lake's east side; long-distance buses stop downtown.

    Accommodations in Rotorua

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    Nearby

    Central North Island

    Central North Island

    The Central North Island is New Zealand's volcanic country. Between Rotorua, Lake Taupō, and Tongariro National Park, the ground steams, mud pools bubble, and geysers erupt into the air. Also in the west are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.Here you'll find hiking trails over volcanic craters, thermal baths, lakes for fishing and paddling, as well as places where Māori culture, especially that of the Te Arawa in Rotorua, is visible in everyday life.
    Government Gardens

    Government Gardens

    The Government Gardens are Rotorua's largest city park, located directly on the shore of Lake Rotorua. Its centerpiece is the half-timbered building of the old Bath House, which houses the Rotorua Museum. Surrounding it, you'll find lawns, rose gardens, bowling and croquet greens, and steaming earth in several spots.The Ngāti Whakaue provided the land in the 19th century for the establishment of a health resort. Right next door are the Polynesian Spa and the lakeside path to Sulphur Point.
    Ohinemutu Māori Dorf

    Ohinemutu Māori Dorf

    Ohinemutu is an inhabited Māori village on the northern edge of Rotorua's city centre, directly on the lakeshore. Families of the Ngāti Whakaue live here, and steam rises from the ground between the houses.Highlights include the carved meeting house Tamatekapua and the Anglican St. Faith's Church, whose interior is adorned with Māori carvings and woven artworks. Please remember you are visiting a residential community here.
    Whakarewarewa (Redwood Forest Area)

    Whakarewarewa (Redwood Forest Area)

    South of Rotorua, two very different worlds lie directly next to each other: the steaming geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa with Te Puia and the inhabited Māori village, and the Whakarewarewa Forest with its tall Californian coastal redwoods.In the forest, you can hike short and long trails, go mountain biking, or cross the suspension bridges of the Redwoods Treewalk. Early morning is the quietest time here.
    Bay of Plenty

    Bay of Plenty

    The Bay of Plenty stretches along the North Island's northern coast from the foot of the Coromandel Peninsula to Cape Runaway. Long sandy beaches, the port city of Tauranga, and the volcanic cone Mauao in Mount Maunganui characterize its western part; inland, mainly kiwifruit and avocados are grown. Off the coast near Whakatāne lies the active volcanic island Whakaari (White Island); tours have not taken place there since the December 2019 eruption.When engaging in activities in volcanic and geothermal areas, as well as when swimming in the sea, always adhere to local warnings and restrictions. General information can be found in the travel and safety advisories of the Auswärtiges Amt, linked on the New Zealand page.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI