• Te Whakarewarewa
  Rotorua's largest thermal reserve is home to the world-famous Pohutu Geyser, which erupts up to 31m high.
• Te Puia
  New Zealand's premier Maori culture and geothermal visitor experience.  At the far side of the reserve are houses, craft-people, an art gallery, a replica Maori village and the Rotowhio Marae. Maori concerts are held daily.
• Tamaki Maori Village
  The village is built on pre-European design and show-cases authentic arts and crafts from the local people. Explore the Museum, or take a guided tour through the Te Tawa Ngahere Pa.
• Rotorua Museum of Art & History – Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa
  Housed in the historic Tudor-style Bath House in the city's elegant Government Gardens, the museum houses a fine collection of taonga (treasures) belonging to the local Arawa tribe. A 12-minute movie containing special effects to the tune of $1.4 million looks at Rotorua's fascinating past. Exhibitions include the dramatic eruption of nearby Mount Tarawera.
• Lake Rotorua
  The largest of the region's lakes is well stocked with trout. Visitors can hire a guide or fish solo during trout fishing season in October to June, although a licence is required. The vintage paddle-steamer Lakeland Queen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner cruises, or you can hire your own boat or kayak at the lake front. The 57-hectare lake provides a central base for watersports, including yachting and swimming. There are shoreline facilities for picnicking and roller skating, along with a children's playground, a miniature railway and miniature golf.
• Rakeiao Marae
  A traditional Maori marae on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Rotoiti Tours offer visits featuring a cultural performance and hangi feast.
• Wai-o-tapu
  The famous Lady Knox Geyser erupts at 10.15am every day at Wai-o-tapu. Other attractions include collapsed craters, mud-pools, acid-green water and the famous orange-rimmed Champagne Pool. The reserve is 30km south of Rotorua on SH5.
• Waimangu Volcanic Valley
  Visitors can walk and boat through this valley, which was created by the Mount Tarawera eruption. Swirling steam and mist reveal native bush and boiling craters. The turn-off is 19km south of the city.
• The Buried Village
  The excavated remains of the village Te Wairoa, which was buried in the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. The eruption, on 10 June 1886, covered New Zealand's famous Pink & White Terraces, killed 153 people and destroyed three villages.
• Hell's Gate
  Rotorua's most active thermal reserve is 16km east of the city on SH30. A walking track leads around the main attractions, including the Southern Hemisphere's largest thermal waterfall.
• Thermal Pools
  Polynesian Spa in the Government Gardens offers thermal mineral pools, health and spa treatments and a luxury lakeside spa.
• Skyline Skyrides
  A gondola ride to the Skyline Restaurant, providing panoramic views of Lake Rotorua. Other attractions include downhill mountain biking, scenic and advanced luge tracks (open daily from 9am), a shooting gallery (open daily from 9.30am), mini-golf and a gift shop.
• Rainbow Springs
  A showcase of NZ's flora and fauna, including a trout hatchery and a native bird aviary that houses the kiwis. The Rainbow Farm Show offers a hands-on insight into New Zealand farming.
• Rotorua Agrodome
  Farm shows, plus the opportunity to shear a sheep, roll down a hill inside a zorb (a plastic orb), ride the agro-jet sprint boat or even do a bungy. Located 17km north of Rotorua on SH1.
• Walks
  South-east of Rotorua, Whakarewarewa Conservation Forest Park has some good routes to the Blue and Green Lakes. 50km east of Rotorua, Whirinaki Forest Park contains walking tracks through dense native podocarp rainforest, scenic drives, waterfalls and an ecological reserve.
• The Buried Village
  At Te Wairoa, the Buried Village, the new climate-controlled museum takes you from the pre-European contact period to the 1886 eruption. Since excavations began in 1931, a number of buildings have been recovered

• River Rats Rotorua
  Rafting thrills with one of the city's best-known operators.
• Whitewater Excitement
  Daily trips to the Kaituna and Rangitaiki Rivers.
• Kaituna Cascades Raft and Kayak Expeditions.
  Rafting and kayaking the Kaituna, Rangitaiki, Wairoa and Motu Rivers.

• Adventure Kayaking
  Half and full day kayaking tours.
• Sunspots Go Kayaking
  Whitewater kayaking, tandem whitewater kayaking.

• Rotorua Bungy
  Jump from a 43 metre tower one, two or three at a time.
• Skyline Skyrides Gondola
  A gondola ride up the side of Mount Ngongotaha with the option to travel down the mountain on a luge (plastic sled).
• Zorb Rotorua
  Roll downhill cushioned inside a huge inflated ball. Choose between the dry or wet zorb.
• Tandem Skydiving Rotorua
  Tandem skydiving, aerobatics and scenic flights.
• Mountain Action Horse Treks
  Dawn to twilight treks through native forest and farmland with lake views.

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• Rotorua Museum of Art & History - Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa
  This Rotorua landmark contains a collection of tribal treasures, interactive displays and exhibitions which document the city's past, including the migration of Te Arawa tribes, European arrival and the eruption of Mount Tarawera. There is a 12 minute movie called 'Rotorua Stories'. Visitors can also take a dip in the historic pool. Open daily (except Christmas) from 9.30am-6pm (summer) and 9.30am to 5pm (winter).
• Buried Village
  About 15 minutes drive from Rotorua lie the excavated remains of the village Te Wairoa, which was buried under 2 metres of volcanic mud and ash when Mount Tarawera erupted on 10 June 1886. Some 147 Maori and six Europeans died in the disaster. Today several buildings have been uncovered since excavations began. Open daily with café, gift shop and museum.
• Ohinemutu Heritage Trust / Magic of the Maori
  Evening cultural performances nightly at 8pm, held inside a traditional carved meeting house.
• Te Puia New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute 
  Marae-based concerts at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, including a three-hour evening experience opening with a ceremonial welcome, followed by a presentation of Maori performing arts, and ending with a hangi - a traditional Maori meal steam-cooked in the earth.
• Rotorua Rotoiti Tours
  Cultural performance and a hangi feast at Rakeiao Marae, located on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Overnight marae stays available.
• Tamaki Maori Village
  A traditional Maori hangi with Tamaki Tours held at the award-winning Tamaki Village. Visitors are welcomed in the traditional manner, entertained by Maori dance and song, and educated in Maori culture and customs. Lunchtime concert 12.15pm daily.
• Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
  Guided tours of the village and Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, cultural performances and hangi meals.

• Te Puia
  New Zealand's premier Maori culture and geothermal visitor experience.  At the far side of the reserve are houses, craft-people, an art gallery, a replica Maori village and the Rotowhio Marae. Maori concerts are held daily.
• Whakarewarewa The Living Thermal Village
  Of the five major geyser fields that existed in New Zealand 110 years ago, only Whakarewarewa remains. In one square kilometre, there are roughly 500 hot springs and seven geysers, including the largest and best known, Pohutu.
• Wai-o-tapu
  One of New Zealand's most colourful and diverse volcanic areas, it features a daily eruption from Lady Knox Geyser at 10.15am. Other highlights include the primrose terraces, mud pools and the Champagne Pool - a fifth of an hectare of bubbling water with an ochre-coloured petrified edge.
• Waimangu Volcanic Valley
  Located 20 minutes south of Rotorua off Taupo Highway 5, Waimangu Volcanic Valley features the world's largest hot spring - the Frying Pan Lake - as well as the huge Inferno Crater. Open daily from 8.30am to 5pm, with a 2.5-3 hour valley walk and boat cruise.
• Buried Village
  At Te Wairoa, the Buried Village, the new climate-controlled museum takes you from the pre-European contact period of Maori history through to the famous 1886 eruption which covered the Pink and White Terraces along with Te Wairoa. Since excavations began in 1931, several buildings have been recovered. A trail descends through dense native bush and past spectacular waterfalls. Open daily.
• Hell's Gate
  This reserve, 16km east of the city, contains the Southern Hemisphere's largest thermal waterfall.
• Polynesian Spa
  A hot springs complex offering a mineral pool, family spa, private pools and massage by appointment. There is a café and gift shop on site. Open 6.30am-11pm.

Explore the Rotorua City Walkway or discover the tranquil trails around the region’s stunning lakes, forests and thermal areas.

Rotorua City Walkway
This 26km walkway around Rotorua takes in active geothermal areas as well as native birdlife and local heritage sites. There are some lovely picnic spots en route. Starting points include Kuirau Park, Pukeroa Hill across Ranolf Street from Kuirau Park, and the Lakefront walk. You can pick up a brochure of the Rotorua City Walkway at i-SITE Rotorua on Fenton Street. The shorter sections of the walk are as follows:

Pukeroa (10min,) wheelchair access. This former pa site and garden was gifted to Rotorua by the Ngati Whakaue in 1881.

Rotorua Lakefront (20min,) wheelchair access. This pleasant walk along Rotorua’s lakefront offers fine views of

Mokoia Island.

Motutara (Sulphur Bay) (25min). Sulphur Bay is a wildlife refuge frequented by many bird species. There is a geothermal area at Sulphur Point.

Te Arikiroa Walk (15min). This walk brings you through a geothermal landscape and the site of a major Maori tribal battle. You can also cycle along this section.

Te Puarenga Walk (45min). This section follows Puarenga Stream to the gateway at Whakarewarewa Village.

Rotorua Tree Trust (40min). From Whakarewarewa Village, the walkway follows the streets to the tree trust site.

Te Utuhina (2hrs 45min). Winding through streets and reserves, this section follows the Utuhina Stream.

Kuirau Park (25min). There are some spectacular geothermal features along this section of the walk – but stay on the path at all times.

Rotorua Lakes
Blue Lake Track (2hrs return). Enjoy the beautiful views of the native bush and the city’s famous Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and Green Lake (Rotokakahi) on this circuit track. Located 9km south-east of Rotorua,

Hinehopu/Hongi’s Track (3hrs return). Linking Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoehu, this track has tranquil native forest and picnicking and swimming at Lake Rotoiti. Located 20km north-east of Rotorua off SH 30.

Okere Falls Track (1hr return). Enjoy the scenic lookouts over Kaituna River and the cascading waterfalls. From the main lookout, you can watch rafters and kayakers plunge over the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Located 21 km from Rotorua on Trout Pool road off SH 33.

Isthmus Track (40min return). Enjoy majestic views of Mount Tarawera, steaming cliffs and silica terraces on this track linking Lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana. Located 26 km south-east of Rotorua.

Rainbow Mountain Crater Lake Walk (30min return). Located 26 km south-east of Rotorua, beside SH5, this walk has great views over two crater lakes against a backdrop of steaming cliffs.

Te Waihou Walkway (3hrs return). Travel along the upper reaches of the Waihou River, famous for its vivid blue colour. Wetlands and small waterfalls set in native bush add to the trail’s beauty. Drive west on SH5 and take the Putaruru turning on Whites road (SH 28). The entrance is just past Leslie Road.

Waiotapu Thermal Track (4min return). Located about 27km south of Rotorua, this short walk leads through an active thermal area with hot bubbling mud pools.

Whakarewarewa Forest
The beautiful Whakarewarewa Forest has a network of scenic walks, with views of the city and Lake Rotorua. The Redwoods Visitor Centre has free walking track maps and forest information.

Conferencing in Rotorua

With a wealth of things to see and do, and some great new conference facilities and attractions, it is only natural that Rotorua is fast becoming one of New Zealand’s top conference and incentive destinations.

Rotorua has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Extensive investments have been made in the conferencing arena and the Rotorua Convention Bureau has some exciting new incentives to offer business travellers and conference organisers.

New Flights
Rotorua’s central location at the heart of the Central North Island has always made it easily accessible from major centres, with regular Air NZ and Qantas connections to all the main cities. New Trans-Tasman flights are expected to start from Rotorua Airport in June 2009, opening up the city to the Australian conference market and providing some great opportunities for pre- and post-conference trips.

New Venues
There have been plenty of new conference venues opening lately, adding to Rotorua’s appeal as a conference destination. An award-winning option is Rotorua’s new Energy Events Centre  – one of New Zealand’s largest venues – which can host conferences with more than 5000 delegates all the way down to smaller groups. The centre opened two years ago and recently took out two prizes in the 2008 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards.  It was one of five winners in the Public Architecture category and also won a Resene Colour Award.

The Landing Cafe  – now owned by Clearwater Cruises – is another new option for corporate and incentive groups. On the shores of Lake Tarawera, with stunning views to Mount Tarawera, The Landing is a magical place to experience, and there is a new range of guided walks, kayak trips and cultural experiences to match.

Also great for conferences is Rotorua’s new culturally themed spa resort on the eastern shore of Lake Rotorua. Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort has modern conference facilities seating 100 people using a stage set up. Facilities include indoor and outdoor break-out and entertainment areas, and a kitchenette for catering purposes. The resort is just five minutes’ drive from Rotorua Airport, making it the perfect location for a conference or corporate function.

Local speaker Ngahi Bidois can also provide keynote speeches or workshops for your conference. A Maori teacher with international appeal, Ngahi shows audiences how to apply ancient wisdom from his culture to find modern solutions for personal, business and educational situations. A passionate and gifted speaker, Ngahi helps educational and business audiences develop leadership, productivity, motivation and inspiration.

Planning Your Rotorua Conference
Rotorua Convention Bureau has taken the hassle out of planning with a range of planners packed full of useful information. You’ll also find a comprehensive image library on the website dedicated to conferences and incentives.

Conference organisers who want to check out venues and products before choosing Rotorua as a venue can experience what the region has to offer through the bureau's self-famil programme. The bureau will arrange three activities and one night's accommodation free of charge and you can opt for an escorted or independent tour. Extensions and additional site inspections can be organised if required.

Useful Information

For more information phone (07) 349 7283 or email conventionbureau@rotoruanz.com 

The Chamber of Commerce is located at 1137 Haupapa Street.