Rotorua Things to Do Tips by kiwigal_1

This is a major attraction in Rotorua and in my humble opinion a must see on anyone's trip to Rotorua. There are three main parts to the place and all have the same admission price. There is the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where you can see young maori training in the art of carving - a sacred art. There is a Marae where you can participate in a traditional powhiri welcome (daily at 12am) and maori concert (one of the best in Rotorua) with poi dancers, the haka and other traditional songs and dances. Finally there is the geothermal part of the park where you can see boiling mud pools and the infamous Pohutu Geyser erupting throughout the day. There is also a kiwi house and a few walks around the various mud pools. It is possible to come here in the evening also for a hangi and concert.

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Phone: 0800 494 252
Address: PO Box 334, Hemo Road , Rotorua, New Zealand
Website: www.nzmaori.co.nz
Other Contact: reservations@maci.co.nz

The Polynesian Spa is one of the more modern facilities in which to enjoy the hot springs around Rotorua. Many motels and hotels in the area will have private spas but the Polynesian Spa is the largest public facility. There is a family pool and private pools available for hire. The main part of the pools are the adult pools which consist of several smaller pools of varying temperatures and minerals. The Spa is open from 6.30am to 11pm everyday. The cost is $12 for an adult (unlimited time in adult pools and half an hour in private pools).

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Phone: 07 348 1328
Address: Hinemoa Street, Rotorua
Website: www.polynesianspa.co.nz

Paradise Valley is one of two places to see the Rainbow Trout that the Rotorua and Taupo areas are famous for (amongst other things!). There is also a Lion Pride that has a feeding time at 2.30pm daily. The Valley is a nice place to walk around leisurely looking at the fish and other animals. I recommend buying the little pellets at the reception desk before you head off if you do want to feed the animals.

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Phone: 07 348 9667
Address: 467 Paradise Valley Road
Directions: ABout 10 minutes from Central Rotorua.
Website: www.paradisev.co.nz
Other Contact: info@paradisev.co.nz

The museum is a beautiful old building located within the government gardens. The Polynesian Spa is located very close by. The museum building itself is the old bathhouse and is a fantastic photo opportunity in itself. Inside the museum offers plenty of information on the history of Rotorua and the volcanic region it is built on.

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Phone: 07 - 349 4350
Address: Government Gardens, Rotorua.
Directions: 3 mins walk from Visitor Information Centre.
Website: http://www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz

Another fun activity (great for families!) to do in Rotorua is the Gondola and Luge. There are three tracks in total to take down the side of Mt Ngongotaha.

It costs $7 for one ride but I recommend getting the $35 pass ($25 for children) which includes a gondola ride and 5 luge rides.

If you aren't adventurous enough to want to luge then you can just take the gondola ride which offers fantastic views across Rotorua. The cost is $18 for adults and $8 for children.

There is a restaurant up the top that has buffet lunches and dinners available.

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Phone: 07 - 347 0027
Address: Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua.
Directions: Main road out of town to Auckland direction.
Website: http://www.skylineskyrides.co.nz

I have been to The Buried Village twice in my many trips to Rotorua, once when I was 13 and again when I was 26. In that time there was the welcome addition to the village excavations of a museum which explains more about the history of the area and the famous volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 which is the eruption responsible for burying the village of Te Wairoa.

Once you have walked through the museum and read up on all that fascinating history you can walk outside around the various excavations. I recommend you also take a walk on the Te Wairoa Falls track. It is very scenic and not too difficult to walk on.

I would say that this is personally one of my favourite attractions in Rotorua (but then I love anything to do with volcanic history!)
Speaking of which - a great website for more information on the Tarawera Eruption visit http://anheizen.com

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Phone: 07 - 362 8287
Address: Tarawera Rd, R.D.5 Rotorua.
Directions: 15 mins drive out along Tarawera Road.
Website: http://www.buriedvillage.co.nz

The Agrodome is an excellent opportunity for visitors to New Zealand to learn more about New Zealand farming, in particular about our sheep. As you enter the large tin shed you'll see all of the sheep lined up along the side. I will never forget the face of my American friend when one of them moved and he realised they were real!!!

The shows run three times a day at 9.30, 11 and 2.30. The cost is a minimum of $18 per adult.

Nearby there are also Bungy and Zorb activities!

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Phone: 07 - 357 1050
Address: Western Rd, Ngongotaha.
Directions: On the main road to Auckland, just out of town.
Website: http://www.agrodome.co.nz

Zorb you say? Yes well until recently I had never heard of it either!! The Zorb is a New Zealand invention which was recently on show to the world via "The Amazing Race" (which I would LOVE to be in!!!).

The Zorb is a big plastic ball which you pop inside and roll down a hill in. It is the latest adventure sport to spring up in New Zealand and is really fun to try!

Rotorua is actually home to the first ever Zorb site (although franchises are popping up in other parts of the world now) and is located right next to the Agrodome.

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Phone: 07 - 332 2768
Address: Western Road, Ngongotaha
Directions: Take the road heading north out of Rotorua.
Website: http://www.zorb.com
Other Contact: rotorua@zorb.com

Rainbow Springs and Farm is quite a good family activity especially if you have young children. The Farm show is typical of most farm shows - shows the dogs chasing the sheep into a pen, sheep shearing, a bull and then a few kids get to feed the lambs. They offer headsets with translations too.
Rainbow Springs is a lovely bush walk with pools of trout of different ages and other animals that you can look at.

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Phone: 07 - 347 9301
Address: Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua.
Directions: Main road north to Auckland.
Website: http://www.rainbownz.co.nz