What to do in Waiotapu

Activities, attractions and tours
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland featuring a bridge and a hot spring

Places to Visit in Waiotapu

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Waiotapu, Waikato while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Waiotapu attractions from NZ$25, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Waiotapu tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 8 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Waiotapu. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

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Top places to visit

1. Skyline Rotorua

Skyline Rotorua cable car carries passengers up Mount Ngongotaha to a height of 487 metres (1,598 feet). Admiring the views isn’t the only thing to do at the summit. Sip a coffee in the café, fly over dense forest on the zip line or steer down the steep luge course.
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Skyline Rotorua

2. Polynesian Spa

Located adjacent to beautiful Lake Rotorua, the steaming baths of the Polynesian Spa are the perfect place to destress. Soak in steamy, cleansing water while you gaze out across the pristine lake. Escape to your very own private pool or play on the slides in the large family area.
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Polynesian Spa which includes a lake or waterhole

3. Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest is a tranquil woodland park crisscrossed by trekking and biking trails. Set off on a hike past thermal ponds and geysers or admire eucalyptus trees and immense Californian Redwoods while horseback riding.
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Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest featuring forests

4. Lake Rotoiti

Take in views of forest-fringed waters, shimmering glow worm caves and the Southern Alps at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Surrounded by towering mountains, all the lakes in this park were carved out by glaciers over thousands of years and have remained largely untouched. As well as making for a spectacular landscape, this has also allowed native wildlife to thrive.
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Lake Rotoiti showing a lake or waterhole and tranquil scenes

5. Mitai Maori Village

The Mitai Māori Village gives you and your family the chance to experience Māori food, art and traditions. The tours are not only educational, they are also very impressive and enjoyable.
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Rotorua showing indigenous culture, a river or creek and rainforest

6. Lake Tarawera

Watersports and jaw-dropping natural beauty feature at beautiful Lake Tarawera. This is one of New Zealand’s largest lakes and a superb place to enjoy boating, fishing and hiking activities. Once home to a collection of Māori settlements, tragedy struck Lake Tarawera in 1886 when the peaks of Mount Tarawera erupted and buried the communities. The eruptions rose the lake by around 39 feet (12 meters) and left behind an area of tranquil landscapes.
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Lake Tarawera which includes swimming and a beach as well as a small group of people

7. Lake Rotorua

Visit Lake Rotorua and you will find no shortage of things to do. Swim in the calm, clear waters by the city’s edge or set off on foot in search of your own private bay. Kayak to mystical Mokoia Island or sit back and relax on a boat cruise.
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Lake Rotorua featuring a lake or waterhole and a park as well as a small group of people

8. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Cross boardwalks above gently simmering water and see pools of hot bubbling mud at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Peer into dark craters and watch as a geyser shoots water up to 20 metres (65 feet) into the sky.
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Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland featuring mist or fog and a hot spring as well as a small group of people

Recommended things to do in Waiotapu

Number of things to do
8
Things to do from
NZ$25
Cheapest thing to do
Rotorua: The Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

Discover the most popular places to visit in Waiotapu

Image for Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

4.5/5(323 reviews)

Just a short drive from the busy city is one of the most fascinating areas of geothermal activity in New Zealand.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Image for Lady Knox Geyser

Lady Knox Geyser

4.5/5(27 reviews)

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Lady Knox Geyser during your travels in Waiotapu. While you're in the area, wander around the natural setting.

Lady Knox Geyser

Day trip destinations from Waiotapu

Waimangu Volcanic Valley showing hiking or walking as well as a small group of people

Waimangu