Things to do in Rotorua, Taupō & Waitomo

Rotorua is geothermal country: at Te Puia see Pōhutu Geyser, the Kiwi Conservation Centre and Māori carvers and weavers, visit Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village, home of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people, walk the colourful tracks of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and soak at the lakeside Polynesian Spa. The Redwoods Treewalk crosses suspension bridges among giant redwoods and is lit by Nightlights after dark. Further afield are the Hobbiton Movie Set, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Huka Falls near Taupō, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Mautohe Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel.

Good to knowHobbiton tours often sell out and Waitomo needs pre-booking, so book both ahead. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a demanding hike of about 9 hours with no summer visitor parking at Mangatepopo, so use a shuttle and check the weather and GeoNet alert level first. Wai-O-Tapu is cashless, and the Cathedral Cove track closes when an orange or red weather warning is issued for Hahei.