Rotorua: Days 8–9 — Steam, Glowing Forests, and Stepping Into Another World

From the coast, we continued inland to Rotorua. From the moment you arrive, you can tell this place is different. There’s a smell of sulfur in the air, and in many spots clouds of steam rise from the ground.

Rotorua is known for its geothermal landscapes, but also for forests, lakes, and some of the most famous attractions on the North Island.

Redwoods Forest – A Walk Among Giant Trees

Our first walk took us into the Redwoods Forest.

The trails through the forest are well maintained and pleasant to walk. The tall redwood trees create a calm atmosphere, and many paths wind through dense forest with soft undergrowth underfoot.

Part of the forest is also popular with mountain bikers, but there are plenty of separate walking trails.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

One of the most well-known geothermal areas in the region is Wai-O-Tapu.

There you’ll find colourful craters, steaming pools, and mineral-rich lakes. The standout is the Champagne Pool, whose vivid orange rim is formed by mineral deposits.

For kids, the landscape almost feels like another world.

Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley

Another geothermal area is Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, where Māori culture also plays an important role.

Here you can see geysers, hot springs, and traditional cooking methods that make use of geothermal heat.

Hobbiton Movie Set – A Day Trip from Rotorua

From Rotorua, we also made a trip to the Hobbiton Movie Set, located about an hour away near Matamata.

The guided tour takes you through the film set from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. You walk through the green hills of the farm, past the hobbit holes and small gardens.

Even if you’re not a big fan of the films, the place feels very carefully designed and surprisingly peaceful. For kids, it’s especially exciting that so many details were taken directly from the films.

At the end of the tour there’s a short stop at the Green Dragon Inn before heading back to Rotorua.

Tours & activities we did

Practical Information – Days 8–9

Driving

Tauranga → Rotorua: approx. 1 hour

Rotorua → Hobbiton (Matamata): approx. 1 hour

Accommodation

Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park — Campsite with good facilities and some sites with access to hot pools. Well placed for day trips around the region.

Tours

Redwoods Forest Treewalk

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley

Hobbiton Movie Set

Tips

Hobbiton and Whakarewarewa should definitely be booked in advance — for Redwoods and Wai-O-Tapu we were also able to get tickets on the spot at our preferred time

Many geothermal parks open early in the morning — it’s usually quieter then

The sulfur smell in Rotorua can take a little getting used to at first