Day Trips From Rotorua

The Best Places To Visit Within a 2½ Hour Drive

During this period of uncertainty, some local attractions, businesses, hotels and motels may be closed or have limited hours. Please check with the operator when booking. For those of you who cannot visit New Zealand due to border closures, enjoy a virtual visit to Rotorua. Hopefully we get to see you in person real soon. Stay healthy and take care! —Karen

Day trips from Rotorua are a great way to see more without having to pack up every day and move on. Let's face it. Using Rotorua as a base is not a silly idea. It's central and there is so much to explore in the outlying areas.

Think, eating your lunch sitting high on top of a volcano, boogie boarding the pearliest of waves, navigating the silken darkness of caves in a tube, and more.

Numerous activities like these are within easy driving distance (up to 2½hrs) from Rotorua. If you prefer to take tours, those options are available too.

How about we get started with something of interest to Elvish fans? I know there's an awful lot of you judging by the tour buses I see most days.


Hobbiton Tour

Hobbiton Hole at Matamata, New Zealand

A young friend of the family visited Hobbiton after seeing ALL the movies. She then kindly wrote an article for Rotorua Travel Secrets about it.

What she had to say: "A Hobbiton tour is bliss for diehard LOTR fans and everyone else too... including those who haven’t seen the movies."

Hobbition Tour ≫
50mins from Rotorua


Waitomo Black Water Rafting, Caving etc.

Waitomo Black Water Rafting descent to caves

I tripped over to Waitomo (it's a tiny little town cum village) to check out the Black Water Rafting and had a lot of fun. You can try the rafting (it's actually a tyre tube), dry cave walks, abseiling canyoning (I don't know what the difference is) and boat rides.

Each business providing tours uses one particular cave and they're all unique. Some people do the lot.

Waitomo Black Water Rafting ≫
2hrs from Rotorua


Tongariro Crossing

Isn't it the way that thoughts can be worse than the actual doing? Find out more about this and what you can expect to see and do when taking on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The logistics of various ways to approach the mountain, shuttle companies you can use and more is covered off too. What are you waiting for. Happy hiking.

Tongariro Crossing ≫
2½hrs from Rotorua


Mount Maunganui Walk

Mount Maunganui Beach

 The Mount Maunganui walking tracks, whether it's from the exertion of climbing or the stunning scenery, tend to leave one breathless. Pristine white sands? Tick. The requisite turquoise sea? Tick. Ho hum, how boring huh? Not even!

Mount Maunganui Walk ≫
1hr 6min from Rotorua


Coming up I will cover off places like Huka Falls with the Jet and Prawn Park, Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park and day trips to White Island off the coast of the Bay of Plenty. Phew, there's still a lot to do.

While waiting for more day trips from Rotorua check out:

Rotorua Museum of Art & History

Rotorua Museum of Art & History

Zorbing Rotorua

Zorbing Fun

Zippy Central - Rotorua Cafe

Great Local Cafes


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