Hi Fellow Trvlers,
My friend and I will be traveling in NZ for 20 days and are trying to figure out how much time we should spend where. I know, not easy. Any input on how much time we might spend in Rotorua and surrounds. Also, any recommendations for activities while we're there, like tours, museums, hot springs, walks, etc? Thank you! Karen

I spent 2 nights in Rotorua 2 years ago. We spent the first afternoon there walking around Government Gardens and going to see St. Faith's Anglican church. The next day we went to Wai-O-Tapu and the Rotorua Museum in Government Gardens. I could have found enough to do for another day, but felt we had time enough there. We thought the Rotorua Museum (guided tour with a docent there and the theater show) to be very interesting.

We spent a night in Rotorua in 2004. We attended the concert and hangi at Te Puia that evening, which was mildly touristy but still very interesting and entertaining.

The next morning we walked through Government Gardens, had breakfast, drove to St. Faith's, then went to Wai-o-Tapu on our way out of town to Tongariro National Park.

What all would you like to see and do while you're in New Zealand? If you'd like more ideas for the North Island, click on my name and you'll find my trip report. Keep in mind it's eight years old.

Lee Ann

Thank you for your helpful input. We will most likely stay the 2 nights since there seems to be a lot to see and do. We are spending most of our trip on the south island.

Go blackwater rafting in Rotorua. It was the highlight of our last trip there.

these two are fantastic and not to be missed

At Rotorua Wainmangu valley is magical.
http://www.waimangu.co.nz/

A helicopter trip to White Island..
http://www.frontierhelicopters.co.nz/white-island

How much time you spend depends on how many mud pools and mountains you want to see. We will be spending a week there next Easter, but will probably visit every volcanic site.

1-3 days you give you a very good idea considering that you have other places to go in your 20 days.

When we went in the 80s we spent 3 weeks in the South Island and 1 week on the North. That was good for an overview.

More recently we spent 10 days on the North Island and still didn't get to everything. Next Easter we are doing one week at Bay of Islands and one week at Rotorua.

Blackwater rafting is in Waitomo, not Rotorua, but (if I recall correctly) it's not all that far away.

Lee Ann, not getting up to find my map right now

Rotorua depends entirely on how adventurous you are. There are dozens of activities in Rotorua from four wheel drive excursions up Mt Tarawera, to jet boating and white water rafting but if you want to see that which is unique to the area then you will want to go to a thermal area. Wai-O-Tapu is my favourite, half way between Rotorua and Taupo, you need to get there by 10am to also see the geyser which is set off at 10.15am. Rainbow Springs is a lovely area and has kiwis and many native birds and flora. The Rotorua museum is for anyone interested in the early history of the area as it was opened up to tourists in the 1800's and also information about the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886. As it is situated in the old thermal bath houses, you can visit the rooms where people used to take the healing waters of the mineral springs. The building is quite beautiful and is in the lovely Government gardens, an easy walk from the central shopping area of Rotorua. A drive to the Blue and Green lakes will also take you to the Buried Village which was destroyed in the eruption and has many artefacts on display. The drive itself is a delight, about 25 minutes from Rotorua.