Rotorua

Small bird perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves and foliage.

Rotorua offers a wide range of activities throughout the year, but we visited especially for the hot pools and winter walks in the Redwood forest. We were lucky enough to stay in a Maori village where the hosts family had lived for centuries. If you want to get a feel of New Zealand culture, this must be the first place on your list.

Upward view of a tall redwood tree with textured bark and spreading branches, surrounded by lush green foliage.
A lush green forest with tall trees, ferns, and a small blue stream flowing through, covered partially by fallen branches.
Forest path with sunlight filtering through tall trees and lush greenery.
Forest trail with large trees and ferns
Small bird perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves in a forest setting.
Looking up at a tall redwood tree with a rough bark trunk and spreading branches, surrounded by green foliage.
A person in a yellow jacket standing on a wooden path surrounded by dense green forest.
Traditional building with decorative wooden carvings surrounded by greenery and fences.
Tall carved pole with traditional designs, surrounded by stone wall and greenery under a blue sky with clouds.
Sunlight filtering through evergreen branches in a forest.
Sunlight streaming through tall trees in a forest, illuminating green leaves and creating a serene atmosphere.
A forest trail surrounded by tall trees with sunlight filtering through the foliage.
Geothermal landscape with steam rising from hot springs, surrounded by green vegetation and a few buildings in the background, under a cloudy sky.
Sunlight filtering through tall trees in a lush forest with ferns in the foreground.
Steaming geothermal area with wooden walkway and lush forested background.
Aerial view of a dense green forest bordering a body of water, with a rocky shoreline visible.
Wooden boardwalk surrounded by mist and steam in a forest setting
Outdoor wooden porch with hanging baskets of purple flowers, potted plants on a railing, a cat sitting on a doormat, and a stone statue, with sunlight casting shadows.
Person in a yellow jacket standing in a sunlit forest, surrounded by tall trees.
Sunlight filtering through tall trees in a lush forest, with rays illuminating ferns and vegetation.
A delicate spider web on branches with green leaves, illuminated by sunlight in a forest setting.
Scenic view of a lush green valley with a lake, surrounded by forested hills under a blue sky with clouds.