13 Best things to do in Rotorua with kids
Rotorua, New Zealand, is renowned the world over for its unique geothermal landscape, towering redwood trees, beautiful lakes and adventure activities. And if you’re visiting New Zealand with kids, I think it’s one of the best places you can add to your itinerary.
My partner was born and raised in Rotorua. It was the first place he showed me when I arrived in New Zealand, and it’s now somewhere our little girl regularly heads for weekends away with her grandparents. So I can speak first-hand when I say there is so much to do in Rotorua with kids!
Why is Rotorua so good for kids?
And the best thing about Rotorua for families? Kids don't have to spend the entire holiday being dragged around sightseeing. They can actually do stuff. They can race down a mountain on a luge, swim in a volcanic lake, walk through giant redwoods, watch white-water rafts tumble over a waterfall, bounce around a trampoline park, bike, zipline and roll down a hill inside a giant inflatable ball.
I’ve included iconic Rotorua activities without exhausting the list completely, because these are the 13 things I'd actually recommend doing in Rotorua with kids, including some of the places locals actually go and love.
I'll also give you a general idea of what's suitable for little kids versus older children, the best free things to do, what to do in Rotorua when it rains and even a great little Redwoods walk you might be surprised you can manage with a buggy!
A quick note: This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through one of my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend experiences I legit think are worth considering.
Short on time? Jump straight to the best things to do in Rotorua with kids below, or jump to the map to see where everything is.
The best things to do in Rotorua with kids at a glance
Swim at Lake Tikitapu / Blue Lake: best free summer activity
Walk to Ōkere Falls: best easy family nature adventure (free)
Visit Te Puia: best for geothermal Rotorua and Māori culture
Hire bikes and explore the Redwoods: best active family adventure
Walk the Redwoods with little kids: best easy walk with a buggy
Spend a rainy day at Motion Entertainment: best indoor activity
Where is Rotorua?
Rotorua is in the central North Island of New Zealand, around a three-hour drive from Auckland and approx. one hour from Tauranga.
It sits within one of New Zealand's most geothermally active areas, which is why you'll find steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, hot springs and geysers throughout the region. When I first went there, I was awe-inspired at how the Earth is literally STEAMING from the local golf course to a public park. And full disclaimer… you'll smell Rotorua before you've properly seen it.
Rotorua is also surrounded by lakes and forest and is home to the famous Whakarewarewa Forest, or Redwoods, making it a wonderful place if your family likes being outdoors (which is why you came to New Zealand right?!)
While Rotorua itself is relatively compact, many of the best family activities are spread around the surrounding lakes and forests. I'd 100% recommend having a car if you're visiting Rotorua with kids, especially if you want to explore some of the more local places in this guide.
1. Ride the Skyline Rotorua Luge
Best for: If you only do one thing in Rotorua with kids
Ok this one has to go first because it’s one of mine and my little one’s fave things to do in Rotorua! So, if you only pay for one big Rotorua family attraction, make it the Luge.
The Skyline Rotorua Luge is one of those classic Rotorua experiences that’s actually as fun as everyone tells you it is. You take the gondola up Mount Ngongotahā and then race back down on small three-wheeled luge carts.
There are different tracks, so you don't have to be a tiny adrenaline junkie to enjoy it. Younger children can also ride with an adult, subject to current height and age requirements (at time of writing, our little one rides with Dad!) Skyline currently allows children aged 2–6 who are 85–109cm tall to ride with a parent or guardian, while children over 109cm can ride independently.
It's one of my favourite recommendations for families because the grown-ups actually have fun too. There are only so many children's attractions you can say that about.
And if your kids are anything like our one, don't expect to get away with buying one ride.
LOCAL TIP: Buy 3 rides, and purchase tickets prior to arrival to avoid queuing for tickets. All the tracks are honestly SO MUCH FUN.
2. Explore the lakes on a Rotorua Duck Tour
Best for: Family sightseeing without the boring sightseeing
Rotorua Duck Tours are a brilliant way to see more of the area without loading the kids in and out of the car at every stop. My daughter absolutely loved this one, she went when she was 4 years old.
The tours use amphibious vehicles that drive on the road before heading straight into the water, so the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.
That's why I love this one for families. You're still getting to see Rotorua and learn about the area, but the kids aren't simply being asked to stare politely out of a window while the adults admire the scenery.
Apologies in advance for your kids’ new duck whistle!
LOCAL TIP: Even in the middle of summer, it can be a bit chilly once on the lake so be sure to bring a jumper and/or windbreaker.
3. Swim at Lake Tikitapu / Blue Lake
Best for: A free family activity in summer
Not everything you do in Rotorua with kids needs to cost a small fortune.
Lake Tikitapu, usually called the Blue Lake, is one of our favourite places to head when the weather is warm. Pack your swimmers (or togs as we say here in New Zealand!) and a picnic and give yourselves an afternoon without an itinerary.
It's beautiful, surrounded by bush and a great place to swim when conditions allow. There's also a walking track around the lake if your kids have more energy to burn.
For families travelling around New Zealand and doing lots of paid attractions, places like this are invaluable. Sometimes everyone just needs a few hours to swim, eat all the snacks and do absolutely nothing.
Cost: Free
LOCAL TIP: Half of this track is on the road, so when we do the walk we just go to the other side of the lake and back through the forest because it’s not as scenic (or safe) on the roadside with kids.
4. Walk to Ōkere Falls and watch the white-water rafters
Best for: An easy family nature adventure
Ōkere Falls is one of my favourite examples of a Rotorua activity that's simple, actually entertaining for kids and allows everyone in the family to get a little nature hit.
The walk itself is relatively easy, but the really fun part is stopping at the viewpoints and watching white-water rafts make their way down the Kaituna River and over the falls. Older kids might want to do the white water rafting trip, but if you have little kids, even just spectating is so much fun (guilty, I actually love watching too!)
This turns what could otherwise be Mum and Dad are making us go for another walk into something kids can get excited about.
You can explore more of the Ōkere Falls Track if everyone is up for it, or keep the outing short and visit the main viewpoints.
It's also an easy one to combine with other activities around Rotorua rather than sacrificing an entire day.
Cost: Free
LOCAL TIP: If you want a longer walk, extend up to Trout Pool and come back via the ridge track. Or just keep it simple and short, and head to the Okere Falls Store for a coffee after!
5. Let them loose at Rotorua's Volcanic Playground
Best for: A brilliant free playground
If you're travelling New Zealand with young kids, you'll quickly learn the value of knowing where the really good playgrounds are.
Rotorua's Volcanic Playground at the lakefront is absolutely worth adding to your list. Technically it’s called the Lakefront Playground, but it’s known to locals as the Volcanic Playground.
It's big, it's interesting, and it gives children somewhere to just play.
You can combine it with a wander around the Rotorua Lakefront, grab something to eat nearby, or use it as a reset between bigger activities.
And after you've spent a small fortune on some of Rotorua's headline attractions, you'll probably appreciate this next part:
It's free.
You’re welcome.
6. Experience geothermal Rotorua and Māori culture at Te Puia
Best for: Experiencing what Rotorua is famous for
If this is your first trip to Rotorua, especially if you're visiting from overseas, you'll probably want to experience the geothermal landscape and learn more about Māori culture while you're here.
Te Puia gives families an opportunity to experience both.
It's home to the Pōhutu Geyser, bubbling mud pools and geothermal landscapes, as well as the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and Kiwi Conservation Centre. I never tire of watching the geyser erupting into the sky! It’s definitely the most impressive (trust me, I’ve seen a lot!)
→ Check current Te Puia tickets and experiences here.
→ Check current Te Puia tickets and experiences with a Haka here.
7. Hire bikes and explore the Redwoods
Best for: Active families
Rotorua is famous for its mountain biking, and you absolutely don't need to be an expert mountain biker to get amongst it.
Whakarewarewa Forest has an enormous network of trails, including options suitable for families and beginner riders.
If you're travelling without bikes, you can hire them locally rather than trying to somehow wedge four mountain bikes into your rental car.
You could easily make this the main activity of the day and combine it with lunch and another Redwoods experience.
LOCAL TIP: Head to the Eastwood Cafe at Scion for delicious brunch and coffee! It’s actually a forestry research centre, but has amazing food and coffee in a modern setting.
8. Walk through the trees on the Redwoods Treewalk
Best for: Seeing the Redwoods from a completely different perspective
You don't have to stay on the forest floor.
The Redwoods Treewalk takes you high amongst the trees on suspended bridges and platforms. The main Treewalk is around 700 metres long and usually takes about 30–40 minutes.
You can visit during the day, but there's also the Nightlights experience after dark when the forest is illuminated.
And here's something particularly useful for parents of little kids: the Treewalk has purpose-built strollers available free of charge, while children under five currently enter the Treewalk free.
I'd treat this separately from simply walking through the Redwoods. You can explore the forest itself completely free, whereas the Treewalk is a ticketed attraction that gives you a completely different perspective.
9. Go ziplining through the Rotorua forest
Best for: Adventurous and older kids
If your kids have reached the stage where a playground isn't cutting it anymore, Rotorua has some proper adventurous options.
Ziplining through the forest gives you the adrenaline factor while still experiencing the landscape that makes this part of New Zealand so special.
And the fun isn’t reserved for older kids alone, I can tell you I also LOVED this experience. My mother in law booked it for my partner and all his siblings/partners one summer while they looked after the little kids.
There are several adventure experiences to choose from around Rotorua, including Redwoods Altitude, which combines elevated suspension bridges with ziplines and currently has a minimum age of eight.
IMPORTANT: Minimum ages, weights and other restrictions vary between operators, so check the requirements for the particular experience before promising the kids they're going ziplining.
We did this one, which I thought was really cool since we’d spent a bit of time in the Whakarewarewa Forest before. This was a new place for me: Rotorua Canopy Adventure →
But the one in the Redwoods also looks awesome, I’ve walked past it lots! Altitude Ziplining →
Or, if you fancy ziplining over the Kaituna river…! This is the same location as Okere Falls I mentioned earlier in point number 4. Rotorua Ziplining at Okere Falls →
LOCAL TIP: It can be overwhelming booking ziplining tours since there are a few to choose from, but ultimately they are all amazing. To help make the decision easier, check out their addresses and book based on location as to where you’ll be in Rotorua for other activities in your itinerary.
10. Take little kids for a walk in the Redwoods
Best for: Toddlers, young children and buggies
Although fun, you don't need to mountain bike, zipline or buy a Treewalk ticket to enjoy the Redwoods.
Whakarewarewa Forest itself is free to explore, and there are short walking trails that work brilliantly with young children.
Even better, there are options suitable for a buggy. I’ve walked a the Waitawa Walk trail through the Redwoods many times; from front pack days to buggy days right through to those little legs walking themselves. My daughter always has so much fun gazing up at the trees and exploring the forest floor.
My pick with little kids: Waitawa Walk (3.4 km / around 1 hour).
It starts from the Visitor Centre, takes you through the towering redwoods and over the boardwalk beside the old thermal pond before continuing further into the forest. It's an easy way to properly experience the Redwoods without committing to a big hike, and the track is suitable for prams in good conditions.
This is one of the activities I'd recommend if you're visiting Rotorua with a toddler or preschooler. You're still getting that spectacular Rotorua forest experience without committing to an enormous hike or expensive attraction.
Cost: Free (chef’s kiss!)
11. Take a day trip to Tarawera Falls
Best for: locals adventure and the one most visitors miss
If you're prepared to venture a little further beyond Rotorua, Tarawera Falls is spectacular.
Rather than tumbling over the top of a cliff like every other waterfall I’ve ever seen, the water emerges dramatically through fissures in the volcanic rock after travelling underground from Lake Tarawera.
It's one of those places that makes you realise just how unusual this landscape is.
And compared with Rotorua's major tourist attractions, this feels much more like a local adventure.
There is some additional planning involved in visiting Tarawera Falls, so don't just type it into Google Maps and head off. The trail itself is only about 20 minute walk so it’s easy with younger kids, but be sure to keep them in arms reach at all times since the river runs beside the trail.
BEFORE YOU GO: ONLY open on public holidays and weekends, you’ll need to stop by the Kawerau iSite to pick up a permit to go on the forestry road to the Tarawera Falls car park. Check up to date details or get in touch directly here.
If you're visiting from overseas and want something a little more off the beaten track, this is my pick. BRING FOOD though, there is not anywhere locally to purchase.
12. Spend a rainy day at Motion Entertainment
Best for: Rainy days in Rotorua
If the weather completely packs it in and you need somewhere the kids can actually burn off some energy, Motion Entertainment is the place I'd keep up your sleeve.
It's a huge indoor entertainment centre in Rotorua with multiple activities under one roof, including Xtreme Air trampoline park, Vortex Ninja Park, tenpin bowling, mini golf, an arcade, Chipmunks Playland and escape rooms.
The trampoline park is aimed at ages five and over during its regular sessions, but younger children aren't left out: Motion also has dedicated under-five sessions, while Chipmunks caters to children aged 0–11.
It's not necessarily somewhere I'd tell you to fly halfway around the world to experience… you're coming to Rotorua for the lakes, forests, geothermal landscape and all the weird Rotorua stuff.
But if you've got a day of torrential rain and feral children?
You'll be glad you know this exists.
13. Go ZORBing
Best for: Doing something completely ridiculous that was invented in New Zealand
Finally, could I really write a guide to things to do with kids in Rotorua and leave out ZORB?
Absolutely not.
ZORB involves climbing inside a giant inflatable ball and rolling down a hill, often with water sloshing around inside the ball with you.
It’s absurd.
It’s very Rotorua.
And it's exactly the sort of thing your kids are going to tell everyone about afterwards.
There are different tracks and ride options available, so check the current requirements and which rides are suitable for your children's ages before booking.
→ Check current ZORB Rotorua tickets and options here.
Other Rotorua family attractions worth considering
Agrodome: interesting for overseas families to get a taste of the New Zealand farm experience
Wai-O-Tapu: better for curious/older kids IMO
Hell's Gate: another geothermal option
Velocity Valley: more adrenaline for older kids
What about Rotorua's geothermal parks?
Rotorua is famous for its geothermal landscape, so of course there are plenty of geothermal parks you can visit. Te Puia made my top 13 because it combines the geothermal experience with Māori culture, which I think makes it a much more rounded experience for families visiting New Zealand.
Other options include Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Hell's Gate and Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
Personally, I wouldn't prioritise somewhere like Wai-O-Tapu with my five-year-old. I think she'd get bored pretty quickly walking around looking at geothermal features! With older kids, though, it's a different story. If they're interested in volcanoes, geology or science, then it could become a really interesting educational experience.
Travelling with older kids? Consider adding Wai-O-Tapu to your itinerary, particularly if they're learning about volcanoes, geothermal activity or geology.
Still looking for things to do in Rotorua?
There’s so much to do in and around Rotorua with kids that I couldn’t possibly fit everything into this list.
→ Browse all Rotorua tours, tickets and experiences here.
If you only have a couple of days, don’t try to do everything. Pick two or three big-ticket adventures, mix in some of the free local favourites, and leave enough room for your kids to actually enjoy being there.
Which one would your kids choose first?
FAQs about visiting Rotorua with kids
Is Rotorua good for families with kids?
Yes. Rotorua is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand with kids, especially if your family prefers doing activities than traditional sightseeing.
Think: adventure activities, lakes for swimming, easy walks, mountain biking, playgrounds, geothermal attractions and Māori cultural experiences. There's also a good balance between expensive headline attractions and brilliant free things to do.
That's one of the reasons we keep coming back as a family.
What's the best way to get to Rotorua?
Rotorua is in New Zealand's North Island and is easily accessible by road from several major destinations.
Driving gives families the most freedom once they're there, particularly if you want to visit places outside the city such as Blue Lake, Ōkere Falls and Tarawera Falls.
If you're building Rotorua into a wider New Zealand road trip, it's also relatively easy to combine with destinations including Auckland, Tauranga/Mount Maunganui and Taupō.
How many days do you need in Rotorua with kids?
I'd allow at least two to three days in Rotorua with kids.
That gives you enough time to choose a couple of Rotorua's bigger attractions while still leaving space for slower activities like swimming at Blue Lake, playing at the lakefront or walking through the Redwoods.
If you're an outdoorsy family or want to explore more of the surrounding lakes and trails, you could easily stay longer.
What are the best free things to do in Rotorua with kids?
Some of the best free things to do in Rotorua with kids include swimming at Lake Tikitapu / Blue Lake, visiting the Volcanic Playground, walking through the Redwoods and exploring Ōkere Falls.
I'd deliberately include a few of these in your itinerary. Rotorua has some fantastic paid attractions, but you don't need to book something for every morning and afternoon.
What can you do in Rotorua with kids when it rains?
If you're completely rained out, Motion Entertainment is probably the easiest option because there are multiple indoor activities in one place, including trampolining, a Ninja Park, bowling, mini golf, arcade games and Chipmunks for younger children. Motion Entertainment
For older kids, The Wall is another option if they fancy indoor climbing (and less overstimulating that Motion!).
I'd keep one or two indoor activities in reserve if the forecast is looking questionable rather than filling every day of your itinerary before you arrive.
Is Rotorua good with toddlers and young children?
Yes. Although some of Rotorua's adventure activities have minimum age or height requirements, there's still plenty to do in Rotorua with toddlers and preschoolers.
Walking through the Redwoods, playing at the Volcanic Playground, spending time at Blue Lake and exploring some of the area's easier nature walks are all good options.
And don't assume having a buggy rules out the Redwoods… there are options for families with little legs in tow.
Where should you stay in Rotorua with kids?
For most families, I'd look around central Rotorua or Ngongotahā, depending on whether you want to be close to restaurants and the lakefront or have a little more space.
There are some fantastic holiday parks and family accommodation options around Rotorua, too and, in true Kiwi fashion, plenty of places with pools and spa pools.