Rotorua

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua sits atop a geothermal wonderland where the Earth bubbles, steams, and occasionally erupts. The distinctive sulfur smell—"the Rotorua aroma"—announces arrival in a town where Māori culture, hot springs, and adventure tourism converge. Te Arawa Māori have called this volcanic landscape home for centuries, and their cultural experiences—from hangi feasts to traditional performance—rank among New Zealand's most authentic. Beyond the cultural and geothermal attractions, Rotorua offers mountain biking in the Redwoods, zorbing (rolling downhill in a giant plastic ball), and zip-lining through ancient forests.