Why visit Rotorua? Jen from the Backyard Travel Family lets us know why!
Rotorua is an absolute playground for families. It is a great place to base yourself and is a mecca of family activities. It is easily New Zealand’s cultural capital and is a great place to get a sense of Aotearoa. There are so many things to do in Rotorua with kids, you would have to spend a couple of weeks to complete them all.
If you love adventure activities, learning about native culture, the outdoors, hot pools and geysers and real kiwi experiences, then Rotorua is a must do on your New Zealand itinerary. If you are wondering whether all these fun things to do, means you will break the bank, don’t worry, there are plenty of free things to do in Rotorua and we will tell you about them below. Our favourite Rotorua family activities are the adventure ones, so if you love mountain biking, waterfall finding, being up high and going fast, then you will love some of these suggestions in this article.
In our things to do in Rotorua with kids guide you will find:
Rotorua has quite a temperature climate, so is good for visiting all year around. Winter temperatures in Rotorua are around 10-16C and Summer temperatures rise to 22-26C. Rotorua has a lot of sunshine hours and clear days over winter. There is a lot of love about Rotorua weather.
Rotorua is located in the Central North Island and is a great base for exploring the region. You could easily stay in Rotorua and take day trips to Taupo, Tauranga and Hamilton. But don’t forget, there are plenty of places to visit in Rotorua so make sure you leave enough time.
This list includes my favourite family activities in Rotorua, and these should be on your Rotorua Must Do List. I will detail them all in the relevant sections below, but I always get asked about my top 10. So here they are in no particular order:
If you are wondering what to see in Rotorua, then geothermal activities MUST be on your list. In fact, Rotorua is part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. This zone runs from White Island in the north to Lake Taupo in the south. You may or may not know that Lake Taupo is in fact a crater lake and the volcano is considered dormant. With the tragic events of the White Island volcanic eruption at the end of 2019, you will understand that the area is still very active.
But don’t worry, all of New Zealand is very closely monitored for any activity. The fun part is that these geothermal areas are very exciting and interesting to visit. All over Rotorua you can find hot pools and bubbling waters. Rotorua Accommodation is also more likely to have a swimming pool as it can be thermally heated, saving owners thousands of dollars on heating.
One of the most famous areas in Rotorua was the Pink and White Terraces. Travellers used to come from all over the world to bathe in the healing waters and admire their beauty, but the volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera in late 1800s destroyed them. You can now take a boat tour to visit the site and learn all about its history
One of the best free things to do in Rotorua is to visit Kerosene Creek and Kuirau Park. It is free to access these Rotorua thermal parks, which makes a great cheap thing to do in Rotorua. We know with families, having some budget friendly options in amongst to splurge activities really helps to create that once in a lifetime holiday.
If you are looking for pampering and relaxing, you can’t go past the most famous of Rotorua hot pools, the Polynesian Spa. This Rotorua spa is full of bathing experiences, from family pool with a small slide, to lakeview spas to alkaline and acidic pools. Combination passes allow you to choose one type of experience, or to try them all.
The Polynesian Spa offers world renowned beauty treatments and massages. It is advisable to book these in advance if you are not too flexible with your timings. To find out the cost of family passes or beauty treatments, click here
How to get to Polynesian Spa: You will find the Polynesian Spa right in the city centre, on the lake at 1000 Hinemoa Street.
Kerosene Creek is a thermally heated stream where you can swim and relax. The water is warm and is heated from the natural spring. There is also a small 2m waterfall, so if you have ever dreamed of bathing in a hot waterfall, this is your chance.
DANGER: Please note, that you should not put your head under the water in any thermally heated pools. It is very rare, but there is a chance of contracting amoebic meningitis. There is a little organism called an amoeba and this lives in geothermal pools and the illness can be contracted through the nose if you put your head underwater.
Kuirau Park is New Zealands only geothermal public park. The great thing about this place is that it is more than just a few bubbling pools. It has beautiful gardens, mud pools, a playground for the kids, BBQs to use for picnics and it even has a food market on Saturday mornings. You cannot swim in these hot pools, but there is an area especially set up for your own free “foot spa”. So take off your shoes, bring a towel to sit on and bathe your feet in the warm waters. If you are doing a Rotorua walk while you are in town, this is a great place to rest those feet. Parents, you will love these free activities in Rotorua. There are some nice walking tracks in Kuirau Park, with boardwalks, making it easy for babies in strollers.
How to get to Kuirau Park: If you are staying in Central Rotorua, it is likely you can walk there. It is located on Ranolf and Pukuatua Street. If you are staying at the Rotorua Top 10 Holiday Park or YHA Backpackers, it is just next door.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley is particularly famous as this is where the Pink and White Terraces (once the 8th wonder of the world) used to be, however they were destroyed in a Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption in the late 1800s. Now you can explore the Waimangu Volcanic Valley by self guided walk, and also visit the site of the terraces via a boat cruise on Lake Rotomohana.
Visiting the volcanic valley is a half day experience and it is suggested to allow at least 3 hours. It is stroller and wheelchair accessible. The highlights walk is 1.5km and takes around an hour, or allow 1.5 hours for the 4km Waimangu easy walk.
The best part of these walks is that you can walk one way and catch the shuttle bus back to the start. Great for tired little legs and to keep it interesting. They also have a Waimangu app that gives you all the history and information for your self guided walk (free)
Click for a great deal on your walk and boat cruise
Rotoruas famous geyser, the Lady Knox Geyser can be found at Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. Every day the geyser erupts at 10.15am, reaching heights of 10-20m in the air. It is very impressive, so make sure you organise your day to be here at this time.
One of the things we loved the most about the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland was the different colours of the water. From pastel blue, to lime green, to hues of orange, it was so interesting to see how the different geothermal areas led to these crazy colours. You will probably recognise the “Champagne Pool” from photos as it bubbles up like a glass of champagne and has a distinct orange colour.
Kids will love seeing the largest mud pool in New Zealand as it bubbles, pops and explodes to the surface. No touching though, it is extremely hot!
It is worth noting that Wai-o-tapu is a cashless site, so make sure you bring a card with you for payments. Or make it easy by booking your discounted tickets in advance here. Children under 5 are free.
Te Puia is a great place to visit to combine learning about maori culture, visit kiwis and visit a geothermal area. If you are short on time, having all of these Rotorua attractions in one place will definitely appeal to you.
There are two types of passes, a day pass (Te Ra Experience) and night pass (Te Po Experience).
This is great if you are arriving in Rotorua in the afternoon and still want to make the most of your day, or if you have a busy schedule. I love fitting in extra experiences in the early evening, especially if I don’t have to cook. There is an early option on certain days (4.30-7.30pm) which is great if you have young kids, or the regular daily option starting at 6.15pm
The night experience includes
Visiting Te Puia in the day is another great option as you have a guided tour included in your pass, and can explore the whole attraction at your own leisure
The day pass includes
With your day pass, there are options to add on a cultural show or hangi steambox lunch.
Click here for the cheapest day pass for Te Puia
Hells Gate is another beautiful geothermal reserve which includes a 2km geothermal walk, a sulphur spa and mud spa. It also has the largest hot waterfall in the whole Southern Hemisphere.
For me the mud spa has to be one of the highlights of visiting here. The mud spa is great for exfoliating the body and it just feels amazing. Then use the mineral rich sulphur spa to relax and heal your body. This Rotorua mud spa is one of my favourite sights and the photos you get of your kids covered in mud from head to toe will be a memory you keep for a lifetime.
The minimum age for the sulphur spa is 6 months old and children must be 2.5 years or older to enter the mud spa.
Click here for discount offers at Hells Gate – cheaper than booking direct.
The Redwoods Treewalk, located in the Rotorua Redwoods Forest, is an incredible nature experience that is accessible to most people. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Rotorua with kids. The Treewalk is a collection of platforms and high bridges, suspended above the forest floor. You can walk the track during the day, taking about 40 minutes to complete or experience at night, where it is lit up by 30 beautiful lanterns (designed by world famous designer David Trubridge) Kids under 5 are also free!
The walks is 700m long, has 28 suspension bridges and 27 platforms. I can’t decide if it is better by day or night, so thankfully there is a pass so that you can do both!
Rotorua Duck Tours use amphibious vehicles to take you on a tour around Rotorua. What makes these vehicles unique is that they are able to go on road and water. You can take a tour of Rotorua City and Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Okareka or a 2 hour Tarawera and Lakes Eco Tour. Rotorua Duck Tours recommend the city and lake tour as best for families. To find out the latest prices of the Rotorua Duck Tours, click here
My kids love getting out on the water. Anything with a boat and they are in. So take the kids out on Lake Rotorua on the Lakeland Queen. They have numerous cruise options, some including meals, tea and coffee. Can you imagine a full buffet breakfast as the sun rises?Check prices and book a Lakeland Queen Cruise here
Now I have to admit, I haven’t been to the 3D Trick Art Gallery Rotorua, but even since I saw a friend post about it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how fun this would be to do with kids.The Trick Art Gallery is a collection of 2D paintings, which transform into 3D when you take our picture. It totally looks like you are in the scene. They even have helpful footprints to guide you where to stand and where to take the photos so your images will be mindblowing. We think this would be a great thing to do in Rotorua on a rainy day, or if you are looking for indoor activities. So bring the whole family and get yourself some unique photos.Click here for more information and to book tickets
The Rotorua Museum is the perfect way to start learning about the local area and Maori culture. Unfortunately it is closed for repairs from earthquake damage but should be on your list if you are planning a trip in the future. (photo credit: Vaughan Brookfield).
I always think the best way to get a sense of a place is to check out the local markets. The Rotorua Night Market is a popular event with both the locals and tourists. You will find it every Thursday night from 5-9pm on Tutanekai Street (between Haupapa and Hinemoa Street) There are plenty of tasty treats and cuisine from all over the world, so perhaps a great spot for your Thursday night dinner. Where to find it: Tutanekai (between Haupapa and Hinemoa Streets).
The aMAZEme maze is a great Rotorua family attraction that even the little kids will love. The 1.4km maze will keep you busy for a while, then check out McGregors garden to cuddle some bunnies and other small animals. They also have a butterfly house. Also good to know that it is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. How to get here: 1335 Paradise Valley Road, Ngongotaha – not far from the Agrodome and Velocity Valley Adrenaline Park.
It is not often that I put a restaurant on my things to do list, but Cobb & Co is a kiwi institution. There are a lot of places to eat in Rotorua, but this is absolutely the best place for kids. All kids growing up in the 80s and 90s had special family dinners at Cobb & Co and the kid friendly restaurants have been making a bit of a resurgence. What makes Cobb&Co unique, is the indoor play space so the kids can play while waiting for their meals, or while parents enjoy their own meal in peace. There are toys, videos, and games for your big and little kids. I love that the kids menu is segmented by age, from sausage, mash and veges for 1-3 year olds, to teenage sized meals for the growing kids. It’s all priced according to age, so you are no longer paying $15-$20 for a 3 year olds meal. All meals also include dessert. Go check out the menu and try out the best Rotorua family restaurant.
If you are here to sightsee in Rotorua and check out the uniquely New Zealand things to do, then skip this place. But if you are looking for fun things to do in Rotorua on a rainy day, this indoor entertainment mall will definitely keep the kids busy all day. Motion Entertainment includes the following fun activities
If you are looking for indoor activities in Rotorua, when it does happen to rain, the Rotorua Aquatic Centre is a family favourite. They have a splash pad which is great for kids, a lazy river, pool toys, indoor and outdoor pools. Click here for more information.
One of most unique places to visit in Rotorua, Railcruising is travelling in on the old Rotorua Railway line by self drive RailCruiser car. You get stunning views across Lake Rotorua and the New Zealand countryside, all while driving your own railcar. The car seat up to 2 adults and 2-3 children, and you get the car all to yourself. They’ve thought of everything as there are even blankets to keep you warm in the winter, and rail carts have a roof for rain. The track is 19km return and runs from Mamaku Railway Station to Tarukenga Station and return. Children under 6 are free and this whole experience will take about 90 minutes.
How to get here: Head to Mamaku Railway Station, 11 Kaponga Street, Mamaku (From Rotorua, head towards the Agrodome, turn left on Dansey Road, opposite Agrodome/Zorb and continue 10km down this road where you will find the railway tracks and Kaponga Street.
Escape rooms are very popular at the moment and Rotorua has its own unique escape room. There are 3 rooms to choose from, including an R18 room if you are having a parents night out. In general, escape rooms are recommended for people 14 years and old. A great thing to do in Rotorua with teenagers. For more info, click here
Rotorua is such a popular place for events and festivals. From Tarawera Ultra Marathons, to the Crankworx Rotorua Mountain Biking Extravaganza or family friendly local festivals, there is always something to do in Rotorua. So if you are wondering “What's on in Rotorua today ” or when you are in town, click here for all the up and coming Rotorua events.
Wow, if you made it to the end, then well done and thank you! There seriously are so many fun things to do with kids in Rotorua. Whether you are looking for cheap things to do, or are indulging in adventure activities or a bit of relaxation, we know that you will have such a ball. Please come and chat with us about your favourite places to see in Rotorua over on Instagram or Facebook. And if there are any Lake Rotorua activities that we have missed on this list, make sure to tell us so we can share with other families.
Jennifer
This article was originally published on backyardtravelfamily.com and was written by Jen. Jen is a super organiser when it comes to travel. Having travelled extensively in Europe and Africa, has lived in London and the USA and holidayed in many parts of Asia, she is not a newbie to the travel space. Jen has three young children, 5 and under and travels around New Zealand with them.
Photos courtesy of Rotorua Tourism, Hannah Wright at Unsplash, and Railcruising Rotorua.
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