Why go
- City in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
- Known for Pōhutu Geyser.
- 2 curated must-see attractions on record, including Mount Tarawere.
- Served by Tokoroa Airfield (TKZ).
History
Rotorua is a city in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, situated on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompassing Rotorua and several other nearby towns. It has an estimated resident population of 58,500, making it the country's 13th largest urban area, and the Bay of Plenty's second-largest urban area behind Tauranga.
Must-see attractions
Outdoor
Outdoor
45 more attractions in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Where to stay
1078 Whakaue Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · aurarotorua.co.nz
1221 Amohau Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · flyingpig.nz
350/370 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · regalpalms.co.nz
326 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · silverfernrotorua.co.nz
1495 Pukuatua Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · tasmanholidayparks.com
237 Fenton Street, Victoria, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · jetparkrotorua.co.nz
1191 Pukaki Street, Regent of Rotorua, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · regentrotorua.co.nz
Lake End, Rangiuru Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · all.accor.com
1057 Arawa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · princesgate.co.nz
1140 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · rocksolidrotorua.co.nz
463 Old Taupo Road, Springfield, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand · rotoruathermal.co.nz
390 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · distinctionhotelsrotorua.co.nz
1000 Eruera Street, Central, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · sudimahotels.com
272 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · arawaparkhotel.com
60 Tarewa Road, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · smokelake.nz
1278 Haupapa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · hakahouse.com
10 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · rydges.com
1286 Arawa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · bestwestern.com
67 Whittaker Road, Koutu, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand · cosycottage.co.nz
1270 Hinemaru Street, Ohinemutu, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · millenniumhotels.com
131 Bennetts Road, Koutu, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · cpghotels.com
328/348 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · millenniumhotels.com
1406B Pukuatua Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
1146 Rangiuru Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Indoor
315 Fenton Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand · brylin-motel.select-rotorua-hotel.com
1101 Hinemaru Street, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand · ambassrotorua.co.nz
1322 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Fish And Chips, Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo 15:00-20:00; Tu off; We-Su 12:00-20:00 · riverscatch.com
Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 09:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00 · 1135 Tutanekai Street
Coffee Shop, Breakfast, Local, Cake, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:30-15:00 Features: vegan options · 1149 Tutanekai Street, 3010 · artisancaferotorua.com
Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-We 16:30-21:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, vegan options · 1198 Tutanekai Street · capizzi.co.nz
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00 · 209 Fenton Street, 3010 · cobb.co.nz
Indian, Fast Food · Opening hours: 12:00-21:00 · indianaromarotorua.co.nz
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00 · 1093-1099 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua, 1021 · leonardos.co.nz
Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 12:00-14:00,18:00-20:30 · 1123 Pukuatua Street, Rotorua, 3010 · yamatojapaneserestaurantrotorua.com
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-15:00; Sa 08:00-14:00 · 38 White Street, Rotorua, 3010 · ciabattabakery.co.nz
Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-15:00; Su 07:30-14:00 Features: vegan options · 1241 Hinemoa Street, 3010
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00 Features: step-free access · 1240 Fenton Street, Rotorua, 3010
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00 · 1141 Tutanekai Street
French, Cafe · Features: outdoor seating · 1206 Hinemoa Street, 3010 · cafedeparis.co.nz
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Pita, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi restaurant
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Su 17:00-21:00 Features: step-free access
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Mediterranean restaurant · 1146 Tutanekai Street
Asian, Indian, Restaurant · Features: vegetarian options · 1229 Tutanekai Street
Turkish, Restaurant · Turkish restaurant · 1178 Hinemoa Street
Korean, Restaurant · Korean restaurant
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant
Noodle, Restaurant · Noodle restaurant
Mongolian, Restaurant · Mongolian restaurant
Kebab, Fast Food · Kebab fast food
Nepalese, Fast Food · Nepalese fast food
Filipino, Restaurant · Filipino restaurant
Vietnamese, Coffee, Fast Food · Vietnamese/Coffee fast food
Fast Food · Opening hours: 11:00-21:00
Ice Cream · ice cream · Whakaue Street
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 10A Karaka Street
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th 08:00-16:30; Fr-Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:30-16:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 1248 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua,…
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00 · 1107 Tutanekai Street · whollysmoked.co.nz
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:30,17:00-22:00; Sa-Su 11:00-14:30,17:00-22:00 · 1123 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua, 3010 · lovelyindiarestaurent.co.nz
Italian, Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:00-21:00; Tu-Su 12:00-21:00
Japanese, Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Cafe · Opening hours: 07:00-21:00 Features: step-free access · 1181 Eruera Street, Rotorua · capers.co.nz
Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Cafe · Breakfast/Coffee Shop cafe
Chinese, Fish And Chips, Restaurant · Chinese/Fish And Chips restaurant
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant · 1246 Fenton Street
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
163 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Rotorua Regional Airport (ROT) 7.1 km to the centre
Rotorua, BOP, NZ — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Air New Zealand) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 3 direct destinations
- Air New Zealand NZ (Dash 8-300, BEH, ATR 72) · 3 routes: Auckland*, Christchurch*, Wellington*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Tokoroa Airfield (TKZ) 33 km to the centre
Tokoroa, WKO, NZ — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Mount Tarawera Airport 25 km to the centre
Mount Tarawera, BOP, NZ
Galatea Airfield 52 km to the centre
BOP, NZ
Getting there by ferry
Katoa Jet Dock
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre
Lakeland Queen Dock
Ferry terminal · 1.9 km from the centre
Landing to Hot Water Beach Watertaxi
Ferry route · Totally Tarawera
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Tokoroa Airfield (TKZ); 3 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: ROT has direct flights to 3 destinations on 1 airline (incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington). By water: 2 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Katoa Jet Dock, 1.8 km); routes include Landing to Hot Water Beach Watertaxi.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Rotorua, New Zealand. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Bus · Bay of Plenty · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
About four hours south through the Waikato. · Auckland, New Zealand guide →
Intercity coach
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing