Attractions

Created during the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886, the Waimangu geothermal area spreads down a valley to Lake Rotomahana (Warm Lake). The experience is quite different from the other ticketed thermal areas as it in…

The most colourful of the region's geothermal attractions, Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) has a variety of features packed into a relatively compact area, with the highlights being the orange-rimmed, 65m-wide Champagne …

Explore 232m-high Mt Maunganui itself on the walking trails winding around it and leading up to the summit of this extinct volcanic cone. The steep summit walk takes about 50 minutes (coming down is considerably qui…

Te Puia dials up the heat on Māoritanga (things Māori) with explosive performances from both its cultural troupe and from Pōhutu (Big Splash), its famous geyser which erupts around 20 times a day, spurting hot water…

This magical forest park is 3km southeast of town on Tarawera Rd. From 1899, 170 tree species were planted here to see which could be grown successfully for timber. Mighty Californian redwoods (up to 72m high) give …

Mataatua is a large, fantastically carved 1875 wharenui (meeting house) that is the centrepiece of Te Mānuka Tūtahi marae (traditional meeting place). The remarkable story of 'the house that came home' is told in th…

The Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre is dedicated to conserving threatened NZ raptors, particularly the karearea (NZ falcon). Learn about the birds in the museum display, then take a sneaky peek into the incuba…

Known as Tikitere to the Ngāti Rangiteaorere people, this highly active geothermal reserve lies 16km northeast of Rotorua on the Whakatane road (SH30). It's not the most colourful of the Rotorua thermal areas but, a…

Unlike made-for-tourists experiences of Māori culture, Whakarewarewa is a living village where the local Tūhourangi/Ngāti Wāhiao people have resided for centuries. Villagers lead the tours (departing hourly from 9am…

Surrounded by mature trees and lovely gardens, Tauranga's original mission station incorporates the earliest buildings in the Bay of Plenty, along with one of the country's oldest oaks and first pianos. Fascinating …