Travel Rotorua Itinerary:5 days Must-do list in Rotorua

Day 1 | Morning

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Ticket Price: 49 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Waitomo, New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a limestone cave in the western mountainous area of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is also a scenic spot in New Zealand. Waitomo in Maori means "surrounded by green water". On the wall of the cave, dotted green light dots are layered upon layer upon layer. These green lights flicker on the black water, and the light and shadow are doubled. This is a wonderful world belonging to the green elves. 1. Three caves with different characteristics make up the Glowworm Cave The Glowworm Cave is mainly composed of three caves with different characteristics, Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Ruakuri Cave and Alanui Cave. The Glowworm Cave is a stalactite cave with a history of more than 10,000 years. There was a small ice-covered lake on the mountain of this cave. After the ice and snow melted, it flowed into the cracks in the rock formation below, and gradually eroded into the current cave. Cathedral Cave inside the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, this huge cave is known for its echoes of space. Ruakuri Cave is a legendary underground cave where the sound of water from an underground waterfall can be heard. The entrance of Alanui Cave is the visitor center, and the vaulted greenhouse with membrane structure is very imposing. 2. Thousands of glowworms enter the cave for a tour. You need to take a boat to enter the depths of the cave. After getting on the boat, the guide will pull the guide rope above to push the boat forward. The strange spot of light in the cave is the light emitted by thousands of fireflies. You will find patches of green and white light on the rocks. Looking closely, there are jagged translucent filaments hanging from the ceiling of the cave under the light and shadow. The silk has clear water droplets like a curtain of crystal beads. These beautiful filaments with slime are the firefly's fishing tool to attract and prey on light-following insects. This firefly has only been found in New Zealand and Australia. 3. Black Labyrinth Tour, Abyss Tour and Odyssey Tour In addition to the "black water rafting" in the Glowworm Cave, if you are brave enough and your endurance is good enough, you can also experience the Black Labyrinth Tour organized by the legendary black water rafting company , Journey to the Abyss and Journey to the Odyssey. These three journeys will take 3-5 hours respectively, and will involve rock climbing in caves, abseiling, and rafting on tires. Of course, if you participate in these tours, you can not only enjoy free hot showers, but also delicious hot soup and local New Zealand pancakes for you to enjoy. Plus, get a free visit to the Waitomo Caves Museum.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Agrodome next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Agrodome

Opening Hours: Open from 8:30am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 36.5 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-0.5 Days

Location: 141 Western Rd, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand

The Agrodome Farm in Rotorua, North Island, is New Zealand's largest, state-of-the-art tourist farm with an area of about 150 hectares. Here you can meet red deer, turkeys, ostriches, alpacas, cows, lambs and many other animals you have never seen before. The farm has performances such as shearing and milking every day, which are very exciting and fun. The iconic sheep shearing bronze statue and the ancient carriage frame are displayed at the entrance of the farm. The Agrodun Farm covers a large area. To visit the pastoral area, you need to take a sightseeing tractor and set off on the tractor. You will see groups of people along the way. Cows and sheep grazing leisurely by the roadside. The tractor will stop in an open meadow, and nearby sheep will come running to surround you. In the alpaca area, the tall alpaca has a very docile temperament, and you can interact and take photos with them. In addition to getting up close and personal with various animals, you can visit the farm orchard, see the kiwi fruit trees, and taste the unique taste of kiwi honey. After the farm tour, go to watch the farm show. There are demonstrations of sheep shearing, sheep auctions, shepherd dog performances, etc. The host will also invite tourists to come on stage to milk the cows and compete for feeding lambs and drinking goat milk, which is very interesting. Visitors to the farm show can also visit the animal pup nursery. Before leaving, check out the WoollenMill, ShearingShedMuseum and DogandWhistle souvenir shops.

Day 1 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Peppers on the Point Lake Rotorua is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Peppers on the Point Lake Rotorua

Ideally located in the prime touristic area of Kawaha Point, Peppers on the Point - Lake Rotorua promises a relaxing and wonderful visit. The hotel offers a high standard of service and amenities to suit the individual needs of all travelers. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, express check-in/check-out, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park are on the list of things guests can enjoy. Internet access – wireless (complimentary), internet access – wireless, wake-up service, whirlpool bathtub, non smoking rooms can be found in selected guestrooms. Take a break from a long day and make use of fitness center, sauna, spa, massage, tennis courts. A welcoming atmosphere and excellent service are what you can expect during your stay at Peppers on the Point - Lake Rotorua.

Day 2 | Morning

Te Puia

Ticket Price: 56 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Hemo Road, Rotorua, New Zealand

Rotorua not only attracts tourists from all over the world with its rich geothermal landscape, but also with its strong Maori culture. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and are the early masters of the land. Rotorua is the epicentre of Maori culture. Visitors from all over the world can enjoy unique and breathtaking Maori song and dance performances, watch Maori or simple or exquisite carvings, and learn about Maori history, culture and traditions in the Maori Cultural Village. Te Puia Maori Cultural Village is the birthplace of the world's Puhutu Geyser, mud pools, hot springs, New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi and wood carvings. The Maori Cultural Village is a collection of ancient Maori houses after renovation, with early buildings such as conference halls, housing and storage rooms. The houses of the early Maori were made of rushes and palm branches, which were simple and low, and could not straighten their waists. All kinds of storage rooms are supported by high feet. The tool room is similar to the bamboo building of the Dai people in Yunnan, my country, but it is shorter. There is an exhibition hall in the center of the village, which displays unique Maori carvings, which is a good place for tourists to learn about Maori culture. There is not only a world-renowned indigenous culture, but also an amazing geothermal culture. Hot springs and mud are numerous; steam is everywhere, and there is a strong smell of sulphur. Being in the geothermal area, the letter is like flying through the clouds.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland nearby is the top choice before you leave Te Puia and hit the road.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Ticket Price: 32.5 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 201 Waiotapu Loop Road | Rd 3, Rotorua 3073, New Zealand

Wai-o-Tapu, which means "holy water" in Maori, is one of Rotorua's most famous geothermal areas. The most famous ones in Wonderland are the beautiful Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Geyser, which starts spewing water at 10:15 am every day. This geothermal wonderland is centered on the volcanically active Taupo Volcano area, and about 3 kilometers of walking trails lead you to interesting attractions, including the boiling and extremely photogenic Champagne Pool, the thick but always in Boiling mud, mineral-rich hot springs, and Lady Knox's geyser, which spouts water at mysteriously timed and fixed points - every day at 10.15am, it starts spewing energetically, often for an hour at a time. The water column is as high as 20 meters. In addition to watching all kinds of wonderful and magnificent natural landscapes along the walking trails (please be careful not to walk into areas with warning signs to avoid danger), you can also take a helicopter to get a bird's-eye view of the entire steamy fantasy world. This is a well-developed scenic spot, equipped with a large-scale shopping area and cafes. If you are tired from walking, you can go to the cafe to have a cup of hot coffee and take a break. Before leaving, you may wish to buy a mud mask, which can represent Rotorua. Oh special product.

Day 2 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland? Treetops Lodge & Estate is one of your top choices.

Treetops Lodge & Estate

Situated in the heart of an eco and wilderness park, Treetops Lodge & Estate offers luxurious suites and villas with views of the forest and lakes. The Treetops Spa combines modern products and techniques with indigenous and therapeutic Maori treatments. Guests can enjoy the outdoor mineral hot tubs which are surrounded by New Zealand ferns and are open 24/7. All accommodation at Treetops Lodge features a spa bath and satellite TV. The villas have a kitchenette and a lounge area with a fireplace. All suites and villas boast picturesque views of the surrounding nature and wildlife. The game room features an antique billiards table and memorabilia from the pioneering days. There is a timber-panelled library offering guests a cosy place to read beside a fireplace. Treetops Lodge’s restaurant serves authentic New Zealand wines and gourmet food prepared with local game and produce. The terrain surrounding Treetops Estate Horohoro includes 7 trout streams, 4 lakes, and over 70 km of hiking trails. Rotorua Regional Airport is 25 km away.

Day 3 | Morning

Polynesian Spa

Ticket Price: 20 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 Hours

Location: 1000 Hinemoa Street ， Rotorua 3010

When you come to the "hot spring town" Rotorua, soaking in hot springs is an essential good program. Because Rotorua is located in a geothermal area with strong volcanic activity, the city is full of hot springs, and the air of the whole city is filled with a good and charming sulfur smell. Rotorua is a wonderful natural tourism in the whole South Pacific region. resort. Overlooking Lake Rotorua, relaxing in thermal mineral hot springs and setting your sights on the serene but not-so-quiet volcano in the distance! A mist on the lake envelopes you, and you often suspect that you are in a dream world. Polynesian Hot Springs, located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, is one of the top ten hot springs in the world. For 130 years, people have come here to try the thermal mineral spa. Two hot springs fill 26 hot springs: Priest's acidic hot spring is amazing for improving muscle fatigue and relieving pain; and Rachel's alkaline hot spring, thanks to the antibacterial effect of sodium silicic acid, is almost unsatisfactory after washing. Confident smooth skin, people here believe that Rachel hot spring water is the secret of eternal youth. If you don't want to soak in the hot springs in a swimsuit, rent a private pool and soak it naked without fear!

Day 3 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Skyline Rotorua.

Skyline Rotorua

Ticket Price: 32 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: 178 Fairy Springs Road, Fairy Springs, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand

The Rotorua Skyline Skyline Cable Car takes you to the mid-mountain of Mt.Ngongotaha, which is 487 meters above sea level. As the cable car climbs, the city of Rotorua and the beautiful Lake Rotorua, It's getting smaller and smaller under your nose, and the scenery is getting perfect. A well-known play item here is the scooter. After you put on a safety helmet, sit on a tricycle with a very low chassis and sprint down by gravity, which will make you scream! The scooters are divided into slow, intermediate and sprint roads, with a total length of 5 kilometers, enough for you to play, right? If that's not enough, play a few more times! In fact, many people are so addicted to this scooter that they will never let go until they play three or four times. If you have a premonition that you belong to this kind of human being, remember to buy the cable car +3 rides (or + 5 trips) combined tickets can save a lot of money for fun! If you still don’t like it, then I can only recommend the Sky Swing project with very heavy taste to you! Put on a special seat belt and rush down the mountain at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The degree of fear is comparable to bungee jumping! Perhaps in this extreme stimulation, you have no time to take into account the beautiful scenery of lakes, mountains and cities! The food and coffee served by the cable car restaurant are very well received. After the tour, you might as well go in and soothe your over-excited body and mind with delicious hot drinks!

Day 3 | Evening

After visiting the glorious Skyline Rotorua, Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel nearby is the best place to stay.

Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel

Located in Kawaha Point, Black Swan Lakeside Lodge Boutique Hotel is a perfect starting point from which to explore Rotorua. The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience. All the necessary facilities, including family room, meeting facilities, are at hand. The well-appointed guestrooms feature coffee/tea maker, mini bar, bathtub, shower, desk. Recuperate from a full day of sightseeing in the comfort of your room or take advantage of the hotel's recreational facilities, including fitness center, spa, outdoor pool, sauna. No matter what your reasons are for visiting Rotorua, Black Swan Lakeside Lodge Boutique Hotel will make you feel instantly at home.

Day 4 | Morning

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village

Opening Hours: Open from 8:30am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 40 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: 17 Tryon Street,Whakarewarewa Village,Rotorua

Whakarewarewa Geothermal Reserve is a hot spring wonder. The area is full of smoke. Pohutu, the largest geyser in New Zealand, spews water up to 30 meters, usually 20 times a day. landmark. Here you can also visit the Maori Traditional Culture Center, there is a typical Maori village at the entrance, and there is a traditional Maori song and dance performance in the Great Hall at noon. Next to the village is the Maori Arts and Crafts Association display and Maori textiles and sculptures.

Day 4 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, you can head to Hells Gate, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Hells Gate

Ticket Price: 39 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Hell's Gate, State Highway 30, Tikitere, Rotorua

There are a total of 22 hot spring attractions in the Hell Gate. Among them, the "Devil Hot Spring" is a 6-meter-deep geyser. The spring water with a temperature of up to 95 degrees is constantly gurgling, and the large hot spring waterfall in the southern hemisphere pours out mightily. , stunned! Hell's Gate, which means "my young daughter was taken away by water" in Maori, commemorates a young girl who drowned in a geothermal pool; its English name was taken by Bernard Shaw, who visited the site in 1934. This impressive geothermal resource reserve covers more than 400 acres, with 2.5 kilometers of walking trails leading to various attractions. The scene of geothermal steam eruption can be seen everywhere here, and the rock surface has also turned yellow due to the influence of sulfur, and it is desolate everywhere, like purgatory on earth. Don't throw rocks into mud or hot spring pools at will, to avoid all kinds of accidents. It is said that if you do bad things to the various natural landscapes of the gate of hell, you will be punished. The degree of punishment and the duration of the punishment vary depending on how bad you do things, so be sure to be in awe when you are inside the gate of hell. !

Day 4 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Ramada Resort By Wyndham Rotorua Marama in advance, because all the tourists head to Hells Gate love staying at it.

Ramada Resort By Wyndham Rotorua Marama

Nestled in 10 acres on the northern edge of Lake Rotorua, along the Ohau Channel, this idyllic location is just 15 minutes drive from central Rotorua and 8 km from the airport. If you are looking for lake edge accommodation set in spacious surrounds, with plenty of room for families then the Marama is perfect. There are 22 modern, spacious, well appointed 2 and 3 bedroom fully self contained apartments, some dotted along the private waterways, others are set within the grounds. Convenient resort facilities include a jetty, boat ramp, pool, gym, tennis, petanque court, BBQ.

Day 5 | Morning

Rotorua Museum

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: 18 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Oruawhata Drive |Government Gardens, Rotorua, New Zealand

The museum is located in the middle of the government garden and was used as a bathhouse in the past, hence the nickname "bathhouse". The exterior is designed with a white checkered design, which is quite eye-catching. In 1886, due to the eruption of Mount Talavera, the village of Tewairua was buried, and the cultural relics buried under the ash of the volcano have been excavated and displayed in the South Pavilion on the right of the lobby. Maori carvings can also be admired in the South Pavilion. The North Pavilion retains a variety of bathhouses such as mud baths at that time, which shows that Rotorua people have a very close relationship with hot springs.

Day 5 | Afternoon

Tamaki Maori Village nearby is the top choice before you leave Rotorua Museum and hit the road.

Tamaki Maori Village

Opening Hours: Open from 6:15pm-9:45pm

Ticket Price: 110 NZD

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-0.5 Days

Location: 1072 State Highway 5, Tumunui 3073

Tamaki Maori Village is a cultural highlight in Rotorua. There are ancient Maori houses, sacred stones, totems, simple and exquisite carving and weaving handicrafts, as well as wonderful Maori song and dance performances. Visitors have the opportunity to participate in the daily life of the Maori people, learning war dances, games and more. The dinner part shared the cooking methods and ingredients of the Maori people on weekdays. You can experience and feel the Māori culture up close.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.