Tour-guided or self-guided for attractions in the Rotorua area?

the thermal parks are much better WITHOUT groups, as is all the walking. Wai O Tapu is wonderful and you don't need a guide. Craters of the moon near Taupo is also amazing.

NZ is the land of information and the interpretive panel!

on walks, you need to be quiet to see birdlife. Being in a large chatty group guarantees seeing no birds.

When you arrive in Auckland, before you leave the airport gab a copy of Arrival magazine. Besides being a darn good read, it also has coupons to heaps of attractions and things throughout NZ

Hobbiton (actually, Matamata). This is a private farm, and they charge top dollar and yes, you have to take their tour to see it, but there's nothing to stop you saving some money by driving yourself to the farm, then just paying for entry.

Rotorua - see it yourself, no need for guides if you have a vehicle.
- We really enjoyed Wai-o-Tapu, about 40 minutes south of Rotorua. Drive yourself there, and get there before 10 so you can see them set off the geyser. 2-3 hours was fine.
- Pohutu geyser and Te Puia was also well worth a visit for the combination of geysers, and Maori Culture. Do the evening show/Hangi and they take you for walk to the geysers in the evening. There's also a small exhibit with living kiwis
- Polynesian spa, for just lounging in hit pools
- The redwood forest, a few minutes out of town, to escape the smells, and the crowds and have a peaceful walk in a fabulous, quiet, beautiful setting.

There are other parks, and in 6 days you can see them all, but these are the ones we saw and enjoyed. There is also the public thermal park just on the edge of the city, which is interesting to walk a round, and the gondola and luge ride, which was great fun, and the best of the three luge rides in NZ.

You can also drive out to Te Wairoa ("The Buried Village") and walk around it without a guide - fee; or simply drive out to Lake Tararewa & enjoy the views - free. Rainbow Springs doesn't need a guide - again this is a private venture so there is a fee, but worth it to see the kiwi.

I agree in that around the Rotorua you can see most things by taking yourselves, and there is a lot to do there. In 6 days with a car, there are other places quite close that you could visit like Taupo, Mount Manganui, Whangamata. I went to Hobbiton recently with some guests staying with me, and it was quite good. I wouldn't go again, but it is good to have seen it.