Best of Rotorua & Taupo
Best of Rotorua & Taupo
Naomi Lai
Available for hire
My favourite part of the North Island for outdoor adventures in Aotearoa New Zealand! And it's totally underrated. Yes, Rotorua smells like sulphur... but that's because it's like, literally otherworldly.
While it's nice to visit in the summer, I love a winter getaway in Rotorua because it's easy to warm up at one of the hot springs.
Neither Rotorua nor Taupō are culinary destinations - but I've rounded up some decent places to eat and drink when you're in town.
More details about pricing and where to find stuff on my blog: www.runawaytraveller.com/
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Rotorua Activities
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Hell's Gate Geothermal Mud Spa
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Sooo good for your skin! It's worth doing both the mud baths and the geothermal walk on site.
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Polynesian Spa
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Perfect for a little bit of luxurious R&R, and super convenient because it's walkable from basically anywhere in town.
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Kerosene Creek
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Free to visit. A naturally heated geothermal *river* (I had no idea that was even possible, so this really blew my mind.) It's certainly not as luxurious, but it's perfect to replace the expensive spas if you're on a budget.
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Waikite Valley Hot Pools
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A little less rustic and atmospheric than the others, but you can book a private spa for you and up to 4 mates for 25 bucks - not bad! This also includes access to the public pools once your hour is up.
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Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
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You'll learn a little bit about Māori culture & history, and enjoy an extensive walk through bubbling, steaming lands.
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Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
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This is a MUST! There are a bunch of geothermal walks in the area but this is by far my top choice.
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Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ
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More crazy steamy stuff! This one is unique because it's the only geothermal walk you can visit at night.
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Kuirau Park
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Completely free to visit and walkable from the town, so I highly recommend this whether you're on a budget or not. There's lots of cool geothermal stuff, but I'll admit it's not as epic as the places you'd pay to visit like Wai-o-Tapu, Te Puia, or Waimangu Valley.
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Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre
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A fun demonstration and learning opportunity about New Zealand's falcons, and the incredible journey the Australian barn owl made across the Tasman. You get to see a few different birds and they're all rescues.
Make sure you pack a jacket (preferably windproof) even in the summer — it's windy up there!
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ZORB™ Rotorua
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ZORBing was invented in New Zealand, so trying this wild activity in its birthplace is the best way to do it.
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Skyline Rotorua
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A nice relaxing activity to get stunning views of Rotorua. Make sure you try the luge if you're looking for a bit of excitement!
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Rotorua Restaurants and Bars
Pig & Whistle, Historic Pub
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Food & drink-wise? Just another pub.
Vibe wise? An old cover band performs on the weekends and there's something charming and small-towny about it all. Everyone gets up to dance, they play new and old covers and I'd argue they're actually way better than you'd expect. I love it.
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Pataka Kai
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A buffet serving up seafood and Māori dishes like hāngī!
Make sure you schedule your meal here with a visit to Te Puia (see above).
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Rotorua Hotels
Pullman Rotorua
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Amazing central location, walkable to everything. And you'll never forget where your hotel is because the building is so unique!
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Rydges Rotorua
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Close to the Living Maori Village, and many rooms have stunning views of the steaming geothermal wonders just outside! It can be a little sulfur-smelly at times, but like... this is Rotorua so it can always be a little smelly everywhere.
Note: NOT walkable to most attractions in Rotorua. This is a nice hotel if you have a car and don't mind driving to most of your activities.
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Apex on Fenton Rotorua
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The nicest? No. But it IS the cheapest. This is the perfect place to stay when you're traveling on a budget and plan to spend most of your time out enjoying nature! It's certainly not flashy, but it did the trick for a quick weekend trip and the rooms were clean. No complaints.
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Haka House Rotorua
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A nice hostel super close to the weekend market and Kuirau Park. The private rooms are newly renovated and the beds are hotel-level comfy!
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Taupo Activities
Huka Falls
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Free to visit! You can also take a speed boat tour to get closer, but I think the best view comes from the viewing platform/bridge just a short walk from the parking lot.
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Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings
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You can hop on a sailboat or rent kayaks to see it up close.
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Craters of the Moon
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If you didn't get enough cool geothermal stuff in Rotorua, this is the best one in Taupo!
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Huka Honey Hive
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Free to visit! New Zealand's manuka honey is very unique and this is the only country in the world you'll find it.
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Skydive Taupo
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I mean, it doesn't get much more picturesque than falling several thousand feet above a crater lake.
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Taupo Restaurants and Bars
Crafty Trout Brewery & Restaurant
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Perfect in the summer for a flight on the upstairs patio with a view of the lake. OR, in the winter, they’ve got a great cozy little cabin-esque indoor atmosphere.
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McDonald's Taupo
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I'm in no way a McDonalds kinda traveller... but this one is in an old plane so that's pretty cool.
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Malabar Nepalese and Indian Kitchen
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An unlikely gem with tons of vegetarian options if that's your thing!
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Bonus Stops Nearby
Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours
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Worth a stop whether you like Lord of the Rings or not — it's such a fun experience. The tour takes about 2 hours total so make sure you leave enough time if you visit this on your way to/from Auckland or Tauranga.
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Tīrau
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Just a silly little place to drive through if you're coming from Auckland. It has buildings shaped like sheep and a dog!
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Putaruru Blue Spring
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CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Should be reopening soon. Even when they're open, you can look, but you can't swim! It's free to visit.
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Tongariro Alpine Crossing
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The hike is not for the faint of heart and takes about 8 hours, but it's incredibly scenic and worth it. I suggest spending a night in Turangi or somewhere nearby rather than driving from Taupo.
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