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Come play in New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland. Home to erupting geysers, Rotorua is overflowing with both history and culture, offering traditional Māori practices and immersive cultural tours.
If arriving in Auckland International Airport and self-driving to Rotorua, spending at least one night in Auckland is recommended to rest and explore the city before collecting a rental vehicle. Start your journey by driving approximately three hours from Auckland to reach the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.
Explore geothermal vents and embrace the unique smells as you walk past erupting geysers, flowing from the past 60,000 years.
After the first day of travelling, wrap up the evening with a sustainable night’s stay at one of the many accommodation providers dotted along the Lake Rotorua waterfront.
Kick start day two by immersing into local Māori culture and taking a tour through a traditional Māori carving studio to learn more about the sacred pounamu (greenstone).
Ready for some adventure? Surround yourself with fun by rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball, take to the skies in a gondola, or zipline your way through native forests.
Get close to native fauna by exploring the Whakarewarewa (Redwoods) Forest for a day or nighttime stroll and finish the day with an evening soak at a local hot pool spa.
Jump in the car and drive for an hour through the beautiful Bay of Plenty to reach Mount Maunganui, with soft sand beaches and the beautiful maunga (mountain) dominating the skyline.
Take a dip in some hot saltwater pools or brave a swim in the ocean, and for the more active visitors, walk around the base of the mountain or make your way to the top for stunning views of the Bay of Plenty coastline and the Tauranga harbour.
For the adventurous, head down to the shoreline and take a surf lesson or join a kayak tour to get out on the water.
Begin travelling to the final destination along the Bay of Plenty coastline, with amazing beaches and multiple photo opportunities along the way.
As the Coromandel coastline approaches, consider a rest stop and soak in your own hot pool carved into the sand at Hot Water Beach, or head further north and take a boat tour from Hahei to visit the iconic Cathedral Cove.
In the final stretch, a stop in Whitianga could have you scuba diving with marine life before ending the road trip in Coromandel town.
Wake up to warmth and hospitality at one of the local holiday parks and get going for the final day at a mountain railway near a local creek.
If you’re looking for one last adventure, gear up for a zipline tour to explore the mountain side before wrapping up the day with a sunset overlooking the stunning McGregor Bay.