Whakarewarewa State Forest is a vast, multi-use recreational forest on the outskirts of Rotorua, New Zealand, renowned for its soaring redwood groves, an extraordinary network of mountain bike and walking trails, and a dramatic volcanic landscape that makes every visit feel genuinely wild.
New Zealand: North Island – Rotorua
Exploring the hot springs of Hidden Valley and the fascinating Te Puia, Maori Cultural Centre
Orakei Karoko (the Hidden Valley)
We woke to a gloriously sunny day in Taupo and decided to head out early to make the most of the day. The plan was to make our way to Rotorua, some 40 miles away, where we would be stopping for 2 nights. During our stay in Taupo, we had picked up leaflets about a place called Orakei Karoko, or the Hidden Valley. This place is a bit off the beaten track (as hidden valleys usually are) and apparently had some interesting geothermal features. During our previous travels, we had been to some volcanically active places such as Iceland, Yellowstone Park and Hawaii so we had a good idea of what to expect as far as geothermal things go. What we did find was something very special.
The good thing about arriving early was that we had the place to ourselves. There is a circular path that takes you past an array of limestone terraces, hot springs, geysers and fumaroles. The visitor centre sits on the opposite side of a very pretty lake from the trail and in the early morning sun, we had a spectacular display of rising steam coming from numerous places in the dense vegetation across from us. From the visitor centre, there is a boat which ferried us across to the trailhead. We headed up the trail which took us past some fast bubbling hot springs and a glorious limestone terrace. The forest rose around us made up of an assortment of trees, including some primordial looking tree ferns. We would not have been surprised to see a tyrannosaurus rex come crashing through the undergrowth towards us. It was a magical place to be on that sunny morning and we really enjoyed meandering our way along the trail.
| Location | 494 Orakei Korako Road, Taupō 3083 |
| Website | orakeikorako.co.nz/ |
| Hours | 9am with the last boat leaving for the thermal area at 3pm. |
| Admission Fees | Adults: $42 Children (16 & Under): $17 Families (2 Adults & 2+ Children): $109 Under 6’s are free |
Te Puia, Maori Cultural Centre, Rotorua
Sadly, we had to leave the Hidden Valley and continue our journey on to Rotorua which we reached around lunchtime. It was still a lovely day and the weather in these parts can be somewhat changeable so we pulled forward our plans from the following day to visit one of the local Maori cultural centres that pepper Rotorua. We chose the most renowned cultural centre, Te Puia.
Our first port of call was to watch a performance of Maori songs and dances. Our group gathered underneath a shelter where we were met by a jolly lady dressed in traditional costume. She explained the ritual of what was about to happen, and from amongst us, a chief was chosen to represent our tribe. Once these formalities had been completed a group of Maori warriors appeared from their meeting house and their chief came forward and conducted a ritual which was used to determine whether we had come in peace or were there to have a bit of a rumpus with them. They looked pretty scary and we were armed with nothing more dangerous than cameras, so we sensibly chose the peace option. Once we were all friends they invited us into the meeting house where our “chief” did the formal greeting with all the Maori warriors, touching of the nose twice over. Now it was party time and we were given a wonderful performance of traditional Maori songs and dances, ranging from love songs to the famous Haka war dance. Those Maori warriors look very frightening when they stick out their tongues and give you the open-eyed stare – we were not tempted to laugh at them however silly they looked.
After the cultural performance, we joined a guided tour of the rest of Te Puia. Our first destination was the Whakawarewatanga thermal reserve. ‘ Whararewarew’ is an abbreviated version of Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao, meaning ‘The uprising of the warriors (war party) of Wahiao’, often shortened simply to ‘Whaka’ by the locals. Like Lake Taupo, Rotorua is essentially in the centre of a giant volcanic caldera. Whilst this presents an element of danger from eruptions and earthquakes, it also provides a wonderful source of hot water and heat, which the Maoris throughout their history have taken full advantage of. In the area is the spectacular Pohutu Geyser (meaning “big splash” in Maori) which erupts every hour, firing torrents of water and steam up to 30 metres in the air. These eruptions can last up to 10 to 15 minutes. There are some 500 hot pools and 65 geyser vents in the Whaka reserve and as with all thermal areas, these can change overnight as the ground below is moving and continually reorganising its plumbing system. A short distance from the Pohutu Geyser is a particularly active bubbling mud pot, which over the years has grown to be about 30 metres in diameter and is now threatening to consume the adjoining hotel complex.
It was soon time to move on and we walked through the Kiwi house (more on Kiwis later) and onto the carving and weaving schools. Sadly, over several generations, as in numerous native populations throughout the world, many traditional Maori skills have been lost under the pressure of burgeoning western influences. In an attempt to save the important heritage crafts and skills several schools have been established across New Zealand to try and preserve these aspects of Maori culture. The Maoris are a tribal nation and as a consequence different tribes have their own stories to tell through their arts and crafts. Carving, or Whakairo in Maori, was more than just decorative because it provides a written record of Maori history and folklore. Te Puia’s Te Wananga Whakairo or carving school runs three courses teaching these skills.
After checking out of Te Puia we checked into the hostel in Rotorua. This hostel is quite big and is modern, and somewhat characterless. The rooms were very steamy and the weather was not even that warm! Anyway, we quickly ate our dinner and set out for the night market just a couple of blocks away. We wish we hadn’t eaten at the hostel as there were some yummy foods to be had, but we settled for ice cream and took a walk down to the lake. It was getting chilling by this time and we were dressed for the warmth of the day so we soon turned around and headed back for our all too toasty room at the hostel.
| Location: | Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua 3040 |
| Website: | https://www.tepuia.com/ |
| Hours: | Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm |
| Admission Fees: | NZ$39 for adults NZ$20 children NZ$79 2-day family pass |
Planning your visit to Rotorua
Getting to Rotorua
Rotorua is centrally located in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand, about a 3 ½ hours’ drive from Auckland and a 4 ½ hours’ drive from Wellington.
Rotorua is within a two-hour drive of Waitomo Caves to the west, Hamilton to the north, Tauranga to the east and Ruapehu to the south.
Rotorua Airport handles daily flights from Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch. There are twice-weekly flights from Sydney. Departing passengers on domestic flights are required to pay an Airport Development Levy prior to boarding their flights.
Baybus is the public bus service that runs regular services throughout the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua region.
A number of nationwide coach operators travel to Rotorua, including guided tour options that drop you off at your accommodation after visiting the attractions. GreatSights and Grayline Tours operate both single and return tours to Rotorua. There is also the option of a guided tour of Rotorua departing from Auckland and Rotorua including FlexiToursNZ.
The best time to visit Rotorua
Rotorua, based on the Köppen climate classification, falls into the Cfb category. This stands for a Marine west coast climate with warm summers. Nestled in the heart of New Zealand, Rotorua experiences a wide range of weather patterns throughout the year. Analyzing the provided data paints a vivid picture of how the weather shifts from month to month.
A noticeable pattern in Rotorua revolves around the temperature, which varies from 11.3°C to 22.7°C for the highs, with the lows ranging from 4.1°C to 12.3°C throughout the year. The humidity is quite constant, fluctuating from 78 to 87%, indicating a fairly humid environment. Rainfall is prevalent in all the twelve months with a slightly higher amount falling from 61mm to 82mm between the months of May and December. The number of rainy days ranges from 11.9 to 18.7 days monthly, with marginally more days in December.
Another important observation lies in the daylight hours, which swings from 9.6 hours in June to 14.8 hours in December. The sunshine hours experience a similar pattern, peaking in November with 8.2 hours and falling to the minimum in August with 5.8 hours. An average pressure of about 1014.2mb to 1018.4mb prevails, while wind speeds fluctuate from 8.9km/h to 11.7km/h.
An intriguing characteristic of Rotorua’s climate is that while snowfall is virtually absent, a negligible amount can occur in August.
The best time to visit Rotorua
Considering all climatic factors, the most favourable period to visit Rotorua spans from November to February. During these summer months, the highs reach from 20.7°C to 22.7°C along with plenty of sunshine hours, reaching their peak in November with 8.2 hours. While these months have rainfall, the relatively warm temperatures and extended daylight hours offer suitable conditions for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The worst time to visit Rotorua
The least desirable time to explore Rotorua falls between June and August. During these winter months, the temperatures drop to 11.3°C and 12.6°C hot tops for high and from 4.1°C and 4.7°C for lows. Coupled with the shortest daylight hours in the year and the least number of sunshine hours, these months may not provide optimal conditions for outdoor exploration. Additionally, high rainfall, particularly in July and August reaching upwards of 74mm, along with increased humidity may dampen outdoor excursions.
Other places to visit near Rotorua
1. LAKE ROTORUA & MAORI CARVINGS
Lake Taupo. is located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is in the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area in Oceania
Taupo is about 80km south of Rotorua.
2. WAITOMO CAVES
Waitomo caves lay about 2-hours west of Taupo. The original caves are famous for their glowworms. Here you will float on boats through the cave and marvel at the stunning display they put on. There are other caves to enjoy on foot, but there are no glowworms here just the splendour of the caves themselves.
For adrenalin junkies, there are blackwater rafting experiences here you’ll don wetsuits and float down underground rivers in tubes, with some rapids and waterfalls thrown in. The adventure known as the abyss has you abseiling into the cave, ziplining in the dark and climbing waterfalls. Sounds fun eh!
Where to stay near Rotorua
1. PEPPERS ON THE POINT LAKE ROTORUA
Peppers on the Point is an elegant lakeside retreat set on a peaceful peninsula overlooking Lake Rotorua, offering a refined blend of luxury and natural beauty. Housed in a historic mansion and complemented by contemporary villas, the property feels intimate and exclusive, with manicured gardens, sweeping water views and a calm, secluded atmosphere. Interiors are warm and sophisticated, combining classic style with modern comforts, while many rooms open out onto balconies or terraces that make the most of the serene setting. Guests can unwind by the outdoor pool, enjoy lakeside walks, or relax in the spa and sauna before dining on locally inspired cuisine that highlights the flavours of the region. With its tranquil location just minutes from Rotorua’s attractions, the hotel is an ideal base for a romantic escape or a restorative break surrounded by nature.
2. AURA ACCOMMODATIONS
Aura Accommodations offers a relaxed and contemporary stay just minutes from the vibrant heart of Rotorua, making it an excellent base for exploring the region’s geothermal wonders and cultural attractions. Set in a quiet area yet conveniently close to shops, cafés, and thermal parks, the property combines comfort with practicality. Guests can choose from well-appointed studios and apartments, many featuring private outdoor spaces, modern kitchens, and thoughtful touches designed for both short and extended stays. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, with landscaped gardens and a focus on privacy, allowing visitors to unwind after busy days of sightseeing. With its friendly service, clean and stylish interiors, and easy access to Rotorua’s iconic experiences, Aura Accommodations suits couples, families, and independent travellers seeking a comfortable and well-located retreat.
3. YHA ROTORUA
YHA Rotorua sits in a prime position close to the heart of Rotorua, making it an ideal base for exploring the town’s famous geothermal attractions, lakes and cultural experiences. Set within an elegant heritage building, the hostel combines historic character with modern comfort, offering a welcoming atmosphere for travellers of all ages. Guests can choose from a range of private and shared rooms, all designed to be clean, practical and comfortable, while communal spaces encourage relaxation and socialising after a day of sightseeing. Facilities include a well-equipped kitchen, cosy lounges and outdoor areas, making it easy to unwind or meet fellow travellers. Its central location allows easy access to cafés, shops, thermal parks and transport links, making YHA Rotorua a convenient and affordable option for those wanting to experience the best of the region.
More to Explore
