Rotorua
A geothermal city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua, known for geysers, hot mud pools and Māori cultural tourism.
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Rotorua is a city in the Bay of Plenty Region on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, on New Zealand's North Island. The city takes its name from the lake. It sits inside the Rotorua Caldera, formed in a volcanic eruption about 240,000 years ago, and that caldera feeds the area's geothermal activity. The Te Arawa Māori settled the area in the 14th century.
Visitors come for the geysers, hot mud pools and hot springs, and for Māori cultural centers such as Te Puia, where national schools teach wood carving, weaving, and stone and bone carving. The strongest sulfur smell, which gives the city its nickname "Sulphur City," is in the Te Ngae area. Summer suits the lakes, which are popular for swimming, fishing and waterskiing. Winters from June to August can drop below 0 °C, and frost is common. Lake cruises, float planes and the Whakarewarewa forest mountain bike trails add more to a longer stay.
Rotorua in five
- Stay on the marked paths in geothermal areasThe ground near vents and pools can be thin and scalding. Keep to boardwalks and fenced tracks, and keep children close.
- Pick one or two geothermal parksTe Puia has the Pohutu geyser and carving school in town; Wai-O-Tapu, south of town, has colored pools and a daily geyser eruption in the morning.
- Book a Maori cultural eveningEvenings with a welcome, performance and hangi meal run most nights and sell out in summer. Book a day or two ahead.
- Walk the RedwoodsWhakarewarewa Forest on the edge of town has free walking and bike trails under tall redwoods, plus a paid treetop walkway.
Things to do in Rotorua
See all attractions in Rotorua
Need to know
- Airport
- Rotorua (ROT), about 10 min to town
- Getting there
- About 3 hours by car or bus from Auckland
- Getting around
- A car for the parks; town center is walkable
- Best base
- Near the lakefront and Eat Streat
- Time needed
- 2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Warm, busyJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm, settledFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, settled
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°CoolerAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°CoolMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cold, frostyJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frosty
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Coldest, hot poolsJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest, hot pools
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°ColdAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring showersSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring showers
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°ChangeableOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Changeable
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°MildNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Summer startsDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer starts
Average daily high and low in Rotorua, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rotorua
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 98%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 75%
Rotorua
09:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today16°11°75%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Wed18°12°86%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Thu19°14°72%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Fri20°15°98%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Sat19°13°97%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Sun21°13°25%Sunday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 07:21 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.778 NZD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Hobbitonabout 1 hour by carThe film set near Matamata; guided tours only, book ahead.
- Waitomo Cavesabout 2 hours by carGlowworm caves by boat or on a blackwater rafting trip.
- Taupoabout 1 hour by carThe lake, Huka Falls and the Tongariro Crossing further south.Read the guide
Before you go to Rotorua
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Rules for Rotorua, checked
- Check whether you need an NZeTA or a visa before you fly, based on your passport. Check current entry rules on immigration.govt.nz before you book.Source
- Declare boots, camping gear, food and plant or animal products on your arrival card. Biosecurity officers check luggage at the border.Source
- Stay on marked paths and boardwalks in geothermal areas. Thin ground, boiling water and hot mud can cause serious burns.
- Dial 111 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in New Zealand.
- Tipping is not expected in New Zealand. Restaurants and taxi drivers do not add a tip to the bill.
Plan around Rotorua
Both islands, entry rules and the best months
Read the guideAucklandThe usual gateway, about 3 hours north
Read the guideBest time to visit New ZealandGeothermal sights work all year; pick the weather
Read the guideNZeTA explainedWho needs one and what the visitor levy covers
Read the guideTransport planningBuses, flights and car hire in New Zealand
Read the guideConnectivityData for maps between the geothermal parks
Read the guideRotorua FAQ
Which geothermal park in Rotorua is best?
Te Puia is best for the big geyser and Maori arts in town. Wai-O-Tapu has the most colorful pools. With one day, pick one of each style.
Why does Rotorua smell?
Hydrogen sulfide from the geothermal field gives the town its egg smell. It is strongest near vents and most visitors stop noticing it after a day.
Can I do Rotorua as a day trip from Auckland?
It is about 6 hours of driving round trip. Stay at least one night to fit in a park, the hot pools and a cultural evening.
How many days do I need in Rotorua?
Two days covers one or two geothermal parks, the hot pools and a cultural evening. Add a day for Hobbiton or the Redwoods trails.
Are Rotorua's natural hot pools safe to swim in?
Use licensed spa pools with posted temperatures. Natural pools beside paths and tracks can be dangerously hot, so stay on boardwalks and obey signs.