In the volcanic heart of North Island, the earth is alive with geothermal activity. The lakeside city of Rotorua – Aotearoa New Zealand’s birthplace of tourism and still a cultural stronghold – serves as a launchpad to these legendary lands that breathe and belch clouds of mist through vents and geysers.
GEOTHERMAL GROUND ZERO
Rotorua’s landscapes are shaped by heat and upheaval, a result of its position on the Taupō Volcanic Zone. The scent of sulphur often hangs heavy in the air, and the ground bubbles with energy. Numerous geothermal parks allow visitors to wander among steaming mud pools and discover how this volatile land has been woven into Māori life for centuries. Even the earth feels like it’s telling stories.
MOUNTAIN BIKING MECCA
With over 180 kilometres of world-class trails, Rotorua is a global hotspot for mountain biking. The famed Whakarewarewa Forest – home to the iconic Redwoods – draws riders of all abilities, weaving through towering trees and past geothermal features. It’s hosted world championships and continues to lure thrill-seekers with its mix of flowy tracks, technical challenges and stunning scenery.
MĀORI CULTURE AND STORYTELLING
Rotorua offers one of the richest windows into Māori culture in the country. Venues like Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village enable guests to witness kapa haka performances, explore traditional carved buildings, and share in a hāngī meal cooked in natural steam. The sense of manaakitanga runs as deep as Rotorua’s thermal springs.
BIG ATTRACTIONS, BIGGER VIEWS
Rotorua is packed with family-friendly and thrill-heavy attractions and everything in between. Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic lake views before zooming back down via luge. Zipline through native forest canopies, test your courage riding a ZORB, or meet kiwi birds up close at Rainbow Springs. For something slower-paced, soak in steamy hot pools such as Hell’s Gate where the raw power of Earth is on full display – this is home to New Zealand’s only hot-waterfall, used by Māori warriors to soothe their bodies after battle, and provides the opportunity bathe in volcanic mud.
YOU BEAUTY
The Rotorua region is dotted with 18 beautiful lakes and a host of waterways perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding or white-water rafting – including the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall, Tutea Falls, a thundering seven-metre drop that’s not for the faint-hearted. For something a little more serene, just minutes from the city centre, you can wander the Redwoods Treewalk – an elevated forest trail that becomes even more wondrous come nightfall when strung with gently glowing lanterns.
