Top Rotorua Outdoor Activities

Setting out from Rotorua, your Hobbiton Movie Set Tour starts with a scenic drive across to Matamata where your local driver guide will provide informative commentary and share stories about the region and its history. Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set and learn how this picturesque farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle Earth. Your guide will show you Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, the Mill, and many other structures from the movies. Then enjoy a tasty lunch at The Party Marquee before making your way back to Rotorua. Construction on the Hobbiton Movie Set: A major and very exciting development project is underway at the Hobbiton Movie Set until December 2023

While in Rotorua, see a cultural performance and take part in a 3-course seasonal fusion feast at Te Pā Tū, featuring lesser-known delicacies. A local guide escorts you by coach to the “marae” (Māori village) for an immersive evening that begins with a welcome ceremony by New Zealand's Indigenous people. Learn about local customs based on the Māori lunar calendar and watch a powerful display of song and dance.

Go on an adrenaline-filled rafting excursion down the Kaituna River during this 2-hour adventure tour from Rotorua. Here, white-water rapids flow past a subtropical rainforest lining a deep canyon. See stunning waterfalls, including rafting over Tutea Falls. Tour operates winter and summer. Wetsuit, booties and helmet are provided. No experience necessary!

This Rotorua zipline tour takes you soaring through a centuries-old forest canopy as you switch between the six zipline cables suspended 72 feet (22 meters) above the ground. Get a bird’s-eye view as two expert guides suit you up with safety equipment and teach you about the forest environment. Bonus: you can later download photos taken of you during your treetops adventure. Round-trip hotel transport is included on this small-group tour, limited to 10 people.

Get an authentic introduction to Maori culture with an evening at the Mitai Maori Village of Rotorua. See warriors in traditional dress paddle in an ancient canoe, and be captivated by the displays of weaponry. You'll watch 'haka' and poi dances and view glowworms in their natural habitat. This 3-hour experience includes round-trip hotel transport and a traditional 'hangi' feast with your admission ticket.

Even on the cloudiest night, the New Zealand glowworm lights up the darkness in a lucky few spots across the country. This short evening bush-walk departing from Rotorua involves a short drive, a walk through picturesque native bush and the chance to see these increasingly rare creatures. Tack this tour onto the end of a thrilling day in Rotorua instead of hiring a car for an almost two-hour drive west to visit the exceedingly popular Waitomo Caves. This is one of the easiest ways to experience Aotearoa’s unique glowworm habitats.

See the awe-inspiring Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on a half-day tour, led by a knowledgeable guide. Follow a well-marked path alongside bubbling hot springs and volcanic craters at Rotorua’s most comprehensive geothermal site. Hear a morning presentation about the Lady Knox Geyser and observe the daily eruption before a short drive through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Numbers are limited to 12 people, providing a more personalized experience with a small group.

Blast around Lake Rotorua on a jet boat tour! An expert driver spins you around on an adrenaline-infused adventure and delivers you at top-speed to all of the iconic landmarks. Experience 30 action-packed minutes of family-friendly fun as you hear live narration on the history of the area. Select from multiple departure times; spray jackets included.

Discover Rotorua on a 1.5-hour duck tour. This sightseeing adventure takes you aboard a World War II amphibious vehicle — able to travel on land and water. Start with a city tour past Government Gardens, the Blue Baths and more before splashing down into Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Okareka. Enjoy family fun along the way with a provided duck caller, and listen to live commentary about Rotorua’s history and local landmarks.

Learn more about local Maori culture and the geothermal science of Rotorua on a family-friendly combo tour to the Whaka Living Maori Village and the Pohutu Geyser. Discover how local people have been harnessing the power of the hot springs and mud pools for centuries, and enjoy eating a corn cob cooked in the thermal waters. Take great photos of bubbling mud, spurting geysers, and cultural attractions.

Enjoy a dose of adrenaline and take in amazing views of native forest with this zip lining experience. For approximately 2.5 hours, fly through the air on ziplines, traverse swing bridges and wander along boardwalks as you get closer to the environment. This operation exists in partnership with a local Māori tribe, Ngāti Hinerangi. As part of their conservation efforts, plant a tree in your name on departure.

Soar through the trees and experience New Zealand’s ancient native forest like never before on this incredible must-do adventure – Voted TripAdvisor’s #11 Adventure Experience in the world! You'll soar across 1200m of ziplines, experience New Zealand’s one and only cliff walk 50m above the forest floor, incredible swing bridges, controlled descent and an impressive 400m long tandem zipline so you can share the experience of our longest zipline together!

Combine the top sights of Rotorua and Te Puia in a single comprehensive day tour from Auckland. Traveling with a guide and following a carefully curated itinerary means you won't miss any of the important sights. Visit the Maori cultural landmarks and geothermal spots of Te Puia, as well as the city sights in Rotorua, accompanied by insightful guided commentary. Round-trip transportation from Auckland means you can focus on the scenery and the experience instead of driving and directions.

Learn more about Rotorua’s culture and natural history when you visit the Hell’s Gate geothermal park. Simplify your visit by pre-purchasing your entry ticket. Take advantage of the included guided tours, which includes a self-guided option if you’d prefer to go at your own pace. Try Maori carving in the carving house and soak in the geothermal waters, if you like.

Explore the New Zealand countryside on horseback on this 1-hour horse trekking tour from Rotorua. Climb onto your horse and head into the foothills of Mt Ngongotaha with a guide. Follow winding trails over working farmland and through native bush, and admire beautiful views over Lake Rotorua. Stop along the way to capture the views on camera, then descend back through the green paddocks to base. This horse trek is suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike, with horses and ponies to match all riding abilities.

Challenge yourself against the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall and enjoy outdoor adventure in New Zealand on this 3.5-hour Kaituna white-water rafting adventure from Rotorua. Hop into your raft in the Kahikitea Forest and take to the waves with a guide. During your tour, navigate steep canyons through native forest, and test your nerve over 14 challenging rapids. Splash, paddle and roll through New Zealand’s spectacular scenery and make the most of this North Island outdoor adventure. A full briefing and all safety equipment are included.

Adventurous travelers will love this glowworm-spotting tour with a difference. As the sun gets lower in the sky, paddle in a kayak on Lake Karapiro and along the Pokaiwhenua Stream. You’ll see beautiful native plants and bird life, and rock formations that have been naturally carved over centuries. Once the light disappears, you’ll see thousands of glowworms lighting your way. This tour is a fun way to experience some of New Zealand’s best natural attractions.

Enter a world of bubbling mud and powerful geysers with admission to Hells Gate, a geothermal park in Rotorua. Once you’re in the Hells Gate park, you can follow a self-guided walkway through New Zealand’s most active geothermal field, pausing to explore interactive exhibits along the way. After the geothermal walk, take time to visit Hells Gate's native forest on a bush walk, listening for the sound of tropical birdcalls as you pass silver ferns and thick foliage.

Complete your trip to Rotorua with a visit to the Agrodome. If there's one thing people associate with New Zealand, it’s sheep, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with the gentle creatures at the Agrodome Sheep Show, Farm Tour or both. This educational and family-friendly experience lets you join in on farming activities as you meet the farmers and their sheep.

Explore the geothermal landscape of Rotorua at your own pace on this self-guided Waimangu hiking tour. Follow winding hiking trails through Waimangu — the world’s youngest geothermal system — and marvel at the scenery you find. Admire unique geothermal features including Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake and Lake Rotomahana, and enjoy breathtaking views over hot springs and steam vents throughout the forest and grasslands. Along the way, gain insight into the geothermal activity from your guide sheet and watch for the native plant and animal life for which Waimangu is famous. Enjoy a much needed rest and take advantage of the shuttle bus to return you to the start at the end of your hike.

Ride along dirt tracks and trails on a 30-minute or 1-hour 4WD adventure in Rotorua, and experience New Zealand off-roading. You’ll explore rolling farmland and scenic native forests with an professional guide who will drive you to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island. This small-group 4WD tour is limited to five participants per buggy.

Make the most of your trip from Rotorua to Auckland with a tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a fascinating network of flooded caverns lit by bioluminescent glowworms. You’ll travel by comfortable minibus from your hotel in Rotorua to your centrally-located Auckland hotel, pausing in Waitomo for a boat tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. This 6-hour tour includes all transport and entrance fees, and it’s limited to 15 people for a more personal experience.

While in Rotorua, take a wild and wacky ride in a ZORB ball. You’ll love ‘orbing’ downhill as you slide around inside an inflatable ball. Choose from three different runs — a straight slope, a multipoint harness or a curvy water ride — and get instruction before enjoying twists and turns.