Rotorua

Home to several geothermal activities, the Wai-O-Tapu is amongst the most peculiar places to visit in Rotorua. Its Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10.15 am with water rushing up to 20 meters high in the air and creates an amazing spectacle.The area is packed with over 20 different volcanic activities like bubbling mud pools, fluorescent green water pools (Devil Baths), bright yellow or orange steaming terraces (Champagne Pool), etc. Each landscape amazes the visitors with a surreal appeal and a sight to behold.Location: 201 Waiotapu Loop Road, Rotorua 3073, New ZealandTimings: Winter: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Summer: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Entry Fees:Adult: $32.50Child: $11.00

Another one of the extremely popular Rotorua places to visit, the Te Puia offers a complete package of thrills, entertainment, and food. It houses the famous Pohutu Geyser, the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere that gushes water up to 30 meters high in the air lasting for several days to months.Along with geysers, the place also boasts of bubbling mud pools, Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, Kiwi birds, and Pātaka Kai restaurant.Location: Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua 3040, New ZealandTimings:  Day Pass: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (Wednesday to Sunday)Geyser By Night: 9:00 pm (Wednesday to Sunday)Entry Fees:Day PassAdult: $39.00Child: $20.00Geyser By NightAdult: $50.00Child: $25.00

Located in the centre of Rotorua, the Polynesian Spa is amongst the best tourist places in Rotorua offering relaxation and adventures. It houses alkaline and acidic springs that feed 28 different hot mineral pools.Relax your soothing muscles with a dip in a slightly acidic pool or nourish your skin with a dip in the alkaline Rachel Spring pool. Or, revitalize yourself with any of its exclusive three-hour spa packages, which includes a hot mineral soak, spa therapy and access to the relaxation lounge.Location: 1000 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010, New ZealandTimings: 9:00 am - 10:00 pmEntry Fees:Different for bathing and spa therapies

The second largest lake of North Island, Lake Rotorua impresses with its magical green-blue hue, steam clouds, and the high sulphur content in water. Its calm and shallow waters provide a picture-perfect setting for boating, kayaking, fishing, and various water-sports.The famous rhyolite dome, Mokoia Island, created due to slowly oozing lava is also located at the centre of the lake. The island is known as the setting point of New Zealand's greatest love story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai and can be visited by taking a guided tour. Guided tours also give a chance to soak in the Hinemoa's Pool.Location: Rotorua District, Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand

Standing high above Rotorua, Mt Tarawera offers stunning landscapes and unmatched elegance. The place is revered by the local Maori tribe who does not permit outsiders but only Kaitiaki Adventures.The place is known for its notorious eruption of 1886, which resulted in the creation of the geothermal valley of Waimangu and destruction of the fabulous Pink and White Terraces. Opt for a guided tour to this one of the most famous tourist places in Rotorua to witness majestic vistas, surrounding panoramas, and an optional run into the heart of the volcanic crater. Location: North Island, New ZealandTimings: Guided Tour: 8:15 am and 1:15 pm (summer), 10:15 am (winter)Entry Fees:Guided Tour: Starts at $185

Displaying a constant efflux of CO2 gas like the bubbling champagne, the Champagne Pool is a famous hot spring situated in the thermal Wonderland Waiotapu Geothermal Area. It attracts visitors from across the world to see one of the most unique and peculiar natural geothermal activities on North Island.This terrestrial 213 feet crater is loaded with a geothermal fluid enriched in minerals and Silica that give it a unique turquoise, orange and emerald hues and is a sight to behold. Location: Waiotapu 3083, New ZealandTimings: Winter: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Summer: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Entry Fees:Adult: $32.50Child: $11.00

Home to spas, geothermal pools, and a grand museum, the Government Gardens is one of the most-visited tourist places in Rotorua. Learn about the rich Maori culture or the brutal volcanic eruptions that rocked the region at the on-site museum.Or, lie down and relax beside fragrant flower beds, or try your hands at cricket or pool, or feel rejuvenated with a soak in the geothermal pools. Do plan a visit to this place and relish some pleasant moments amidst picture-postcard scenery.Location: 9 Queens Drive, Rotorua 3010, New ZealandTimings: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Entry Fees:Entrance to the gardens is free, however, its museum and spa charge different admission fees.

Located at a walking distance from the city centre, Kuirau Park is New Zealand's only public geothermal park. Offering naturally boiling, bubbling, and steaming geothermal activities, this park is one of the best places to visit in Rotorua for free.Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the well-paved pathways, or witness steams coming from the crater lake, hot springs, or mud pools, or soothe your aching feet with a thermal foot bath. The place is also a loved picnic spot amongst locals and offers a beautiful setting to have some unforgettable experiences with loved ones.Location: 1371, Pukuatua St and, Ranolf Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand