2 Days in Rotorua Itinerary

The two-day itinerary at a glance

Day 1: Geothermal south, Redwoods and a cultural evening

Morning: Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland

Start at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, about 30 minutes south of Rotorua and the most colourful of the geothermal parks. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts once a day at 10:15am, and the park recommends arriving by 9:45am to find a viewing spot. Afterwards, walk the trails past the Champagne Pool and the Artist's Palette.

On the way back, stop at the free Waiotapu Mud Pools just off Waiotapu Loop Road. If you have packed togs, Hot 'n' Cold is on the same road, a free spot where a hot thermal stream meets a cold one, so you can move to a comfortable temperature. There are no facilities, and keep your head above the water, since untreated geothermal water carries a small risk of amoebic meningitis.

Swap option: if you would rather see a second geothermal park than soak, Waimangu Volcanic Valley is also south on State Highway 5. It is the world's youngest geothermal system, formed by the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption, and the mostly downhill walk takes 1 to 2 hours past Frying Pan Lake and Inferno Crater Lake.

Afternoon: the Redwoods

After lunch in town, head to Whakarewarewa Forest on the south east edge of Rotorua. The Redwoods Treewalk crosses 28 suspension bridges through the redwood canopy and takes about 40 minutes. The free Redwoods Circuit, a 3.4km loop past tree ferns and a small blue spring, is the no-cost alternative.

Evening: Mitai Māori Village

Finish day one at Mitai Māori Village for a haka performance, a hāngī dinner cooked in an earth oven, and a glow worm stream walk on site. The evening starts at 6pm, or 6:30pm in summer, and runs about three hours. Book ahead, since it fills quickly. Te Pā Tū, formerly Tamaki Māori Village, is the main alternative, with storytelling, haka and a hāngī in a forest village setting and sessions from 5pm.

Day 2: Te Puia, Okere Falls and Eat Streat

Morning: Te Puia

Spend the morning at Te Puia, home to the Pohutu Geyser, which erupts several times a day, and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you can watch carvers and weavers in training. Te Puia also has kiwi. Allow around three hours. Having done Waiotapu the day before, Te Puia adds geysers and living Māori arts rather than repeating the same experience.

Lunch: Okere Falls Store

Drive about 20km north east to Okere Falls. The Okere Falls Store is a café, store and craft beer garden opposite Lake Rotoiti, known for house-roasted coffee and award-winning toasties. It sits right next door to Rotorua Ziplines, so it works before or after the afternoon's activity.

Afternoon: the Kaituna River

The Kaituna River at Okere Falls is one of the best rafting rivers in New Zealand. Choose one of three ways to experience it:

• Rafting: the Kaituna run has 14 rapids, including Tutea Falls, which at 7m is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Kaituna Cascades, on Okere Falls Road, is the original operator and has run the river since 1991. The trip takes about two hours, with around 50 minutes on the water. Adults are $135 and children aged 10 to 12 are $80. You need to be able to swim, and the weight limit is 120kg.
• Ziplining: Rotorua Ziplines has four ziplines crossing the Kaituna River and Tutea Falls, run jointly by Rotorua Rafting and Ngāti Pikiao, and is often sold as a combo with rafting. It takes about two hours. Adults are $169 and children aged 5 to 12 are $119, with anyone under 15 accompanied by a guardian over 18. The weight limit is 130kg.
• Walking (free): the Okere Falls Track is a 3km return walk past three waterfalls, with views of rafters coming over the rapids.

Late afternoon: a soak

Head back toward town for a soak. The Polynesian Spa on the lakefront is the most central option and is open until 11pm. Hells Gate, on the north east side of town in the same direction as Okere Falls, is open until 10pm and has mud baths and sulphur pools at its on-site Wai Ora Spa.

Evening: Eat Streat

Finish on Eat Streat, the covered, pedestrian-only dining strip at the lake end of Tutanekai Street, with around 20 restaurants and bars. The Pig & Whistle, set in a former police station, has live bands Thursday to Saturday. On a Thursday between October and February, the Rotorua Night Market runs from 5pm to 9pm on Tutanekai Street, weather permitting.

If you have energy left, the Redwoods Treewalk becomes Redwoods Nightlights after dark, lit by lanterns through the canopy.

Alternative day 2 plans

For mountain bikers

Spend day two in Whakarewarewa Forest, which has more than 100km of trails through redwood and native forest, free to ride. Hire bikes near the forest rather than in town. Trail Kitchen, at the Waipa Mountain Bike Park car park, serves burgers, wood-fired pizzas and coffee on a covered deck.

For families

Replace the Kaituna River with the National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs, the Rotorua Agrodome farm show, and the luge at Skyline Rotorua. Kids can ride the luge on their own from age 6 and 110cm tall, and children aged 2 to 6, between 85cm and 109cm, can ride tandem with an adult.

For walkers

Walk the Tarawera Trail, around 16km one way along Lake Tarawera to Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own warm pool in the sand. Most people take a pre-booked water taxi back, so book it ahead.

For a rainy day

Eat Streat is covered, and hot pools are just as good in the rain. Swap the Kaituna River for Hells Gate and a mud bath, or a longer soak at the Polynesian Spa.

Where to base yourself

• Central, near the Polynesian Spa and Eat Streat: Millennium Hotel, Novotel Rotorua Lakeside or Pullman Rotorua.
• Near Skyline and Mitai: AWA Hotel on Fairy Springs Road.
• Budget: Haka House, across from Kuirau Park, or Rock Solid Backpackers on Hinemoa Street.

Two days or three?

Two nights covers the essentials, and a third gives you time to explore the wider area. If you can add a third day, use it for the lakes, a longer walk like the Tarawera Trail, or the free hot pools south of town.