OMFG THIS PLACE IS HEAVEN. Seriously I think it's my new happy place. I am a big fan of the…read moreoutdoors, nature, and especially waterfalls, so finding this place was a dream come true. I came here with my partner on a road trip from Auckland, and we spent wayyy longer here than we imagined we would. We climbed rocks and swam in the cold water and took loads of photos (this place is seriously 'gram worthy) and stretched out on the boulders like a couple of lizards. My fingers and forearms were actually sore later from all of the climbing I did. I don't think this place would be ideal for anyone who is handicapped, as you do have to walk over rocks to get anywhere. Though if you do want to check it out, you could just look from the bridge. McLaren Falls Park is one of the most magical places I've been in New Zealand, I would highly HIGHLY recommend coming here - even if you have to go out of your way, it's that worth it. Make sure you go to the actual park (a lot of people seem to just stop by the bridge, where a couple of the falls are) and do the hike to the real waterfall - that's where the really big one is!

We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very…read moremuch and it's a unique experience. The tour starts with some quick stops at the traditional way the food is cooked and at a carved canoe to give a glimpse of Māori life. You get to see some kiwi birds, then cruise around the geyser area. Lots of lookouts and viewing sites. You finish the tour in the art center where the intricate carvings and weaving are done. Next is dinner. The buffet has a ton of meat (meat coma) along with vegetables, salads, desserts, etc. so many options. You are given a seating assignment so we conversed with folks from Denver and California. Funny we go all the way to New Zealand and end up hanging with folks from the US. Finally, you end with the show. It is well done. You get a good variety of battle, love, and storytelling songs. It was an educational and enjoyable experience.

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia:…read more1) NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) - A fascinating school that allows Maori adult students to study (tuition free) traditional crafts such as wood, stone, and bone carving and weaving, using tradtional methods. This allows the students to perpetuate Maori culture. Recommendation: NZMACI should offer classes (for a fee) for Pākehā (non-Maori people) who could also learn the techniques, and their fees would also help subsidize the school. The classes could range from the full course for NZ residents, to shorter courses for tourists. 2) Geyser- Spectacular! 3) Cultural Show - Interesting, Informative, Entertaining. Recommendation: Do a full Haka, and outside where everyone can see. Also, give a more full explanation of all the parts. 4) Maori Staff - All of the staff were superb! I was with Kia (sp?) and she very patiently answered all my many questions about the Maori language. Recommendations: I would like to have known a little about each Staff member- origin, tribe, etc. 5) Maori Culture- I cannot imagine a better place to learn about Maori culture! Recommendations: I would like to have known more about Maori tattoos - designs, placement, symbolism, etc. It's such a visible part od Maori culture that it should be featured. If it would be offensive to do so, I would withdraw this comment. Overall, and exceptional visit to a very entertaining place. Nga mihi!

This is a unique experience and glad we stayed an extra day to experience the Redwood Forest and…read morethe Glow worms.

The Redwoods are so beautiful! Seeing the lights at night during our anniversary and our first day…read morein Rotorua was special. It is such a peaceful walk and must-do place. Getting to see the glow worm caves was a bonus! Cobb was hilarious and gave a great tour. 13/04/2026

An outdoor saltwater swimming complex using seawater from the nearby Pilot Bay, the Mount Hot Pools…read moreis located in Tauranga, right at the base of Mount Maunganui in New Zealand. It consists of 3 distinct pools (none of them too deep), and 2 spa pools (one with jets turned on, the other not), full locker room usage, and massage services. It might be the first time for me using a salt water spa, and I did notice how much better my skin felt vs using a typical chlorine sanitized spa pool. My brother and I were here in Tauranga for the day, coming in via the cruise ship, Celebrity Edge. Our plan was to hike the mountain in the early morning before it got too hot, and then spend the afternoon at the Hot Pools getting a massage. Reservations and payments are all doable on-line, so it was just a matter of finding the place (we had seen it while exploring the trails around the mountain in the morning). To use the pools for the whole day is NZ$27.30 for adults. My massage was for 13:30, so we arrived after lunch around 1. They ask you to be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. The 90 minute 'Relaxation' massage was with Vivian, and she was very good. The hour and a half went by really quickly (though I didn't fall asleep for once). My brother got a 'Sports Recovery' massage with Sergio, and he stated that it was extremely effective, with an end goal of reducing the number of 'knots' in the muscles. Cost is NZ$140 for the 90 minute session. There is a dedicated indoor wing for massages just off of the main pool (next to the women's locker room), It's best if you come to the appointment dry (i.e. not wet from the pools), with your things already stored away. There are a lot of cubbies for your dry belonging storage throughout the complex, though you can also rent a locker (with lock) for NZ$5. As mentioned, the facilities uses heated ocean water, distributed across the complex. The pools themselves are modern, just like what you would see at any community swimming pool in the States. But of course, the common smell of chorine is not there. There are also large sun umbrellas throughout the pool area, so it is possible to find both sunny and shady spots, based on your preference. Since we couldn't get our massages together Because the facility is located right next to the mountain, it provides very unique scenic views while lounging around. Paragliders were circling around the mountain, and it was cool thinking we had climbed to the summit that morning.

Right soooo the Mount Hot Pools are I assume volcanically heated waters that vary in temperature…read morefrom pool to pool. I don't know why I expected nature. It looks like any other public pool, or maybe the kind of pools you'd see at an amusement park. The pools are fine, with various shapes/sizes/types. I've only ever tried the private pools, which are I think about $25 for 30 minutes. My friend and I found that reasonable. The private rooms are okay, but they are not ventilated and they seem a bit dirty to me. I'm not really sure how clean this kind of thing usually is, but I don't get the impression that these pools are cleaned often enough. The water feels a bit lukewarm at first, but after about ten minutes you start to sweat. I wish they had a wider variety of jets/fountains inside them because I don't find the faucet-type things all that relaxing. Also, they are kind of loud somehow. There's a warning on the door not to bring in any food or drink, which we sometimes ignore by bringing water in. They also warn you that someone can come in at any time, which is actually terrifying. Though, I might mention, no one has ever bothered us. I was hoping to bathe naked but I guess that's not the point here. Anyway, nothing special to report!

Kaitiaki adventures is a must when visiting Rotorua! The team is incredible! We not only felt…read morecompletely safe but had an amazing time! Highly recommend.

So worth the money. I'd been white water rafting before but was apprehensive to venture down the…read moreworld's tallest (21ft) waterfall. The crew provided all the gear, instruction and motivation necessary to keep us safe. My daughter and I had a blast. Well worth the money. Don't miss this adventure.

I was not expecting this but what a thrill. The Luge Rotorua is an adrenaline-packed adventure that…read morehad me grinning from ear to ear and chuckling at every turn. I was 12 again. The tracks twist and turn and snake down the mountainside, it's like a rollercoaster you control yourself. If you're an adrenaline junkie, which I happen to be, this is for you.

The rafting was amazing! Such a beautiful setting and the rapids were fun to go through! It's about…read morean hour long but it was such a good time and was a perfect length. Great rapids and waterfalls, and fun guides! So glad we made this a part of our trip! Everyone was super friendly and helpful. They were full of jokes! Josh was an awesome guide.

Highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world! This was my wife's favorite outdoor adventure…read moreexperience that we did on our 3 week honeymoon. Such an incredible experience going vertical down a waterfall and then completely submerging underwater afterwards. The guides are hilarious and have amazing energy - you can tell that they love their jobs! We had never been white river rafting before so we had to try this. I think it was even more fun than the Nevis Swing in Queenstown. You are going over so many waterfalls, jumping into the water and floating down the river. There was one point were we stood up on the raft and then went over a waterfall. Our guide said that a group of 7 guys were in our same boat the day before and none of them new how to swim. The raft capsized on the largest waterfall and they all fell out of the boat. They were all fine thanks to the life jackets and the guide. You have to pay extra for the photos but it was completely worth it. I would recommend bringing a gopro and the head piece attachment. They have the helmets but I forgot the attachment so I couldn't bring my gopro. They don't allow the gopro sticks so don't bring that. Just bring your swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes.

We were looking for an easy and inexpensive way to enjoy Rotorua's geothermal activity and this…read moreplace popped up in our search. We were so happy we stopped by for a brief viewing because it's a nice little walk along the lake and was another fantastic and free NZ tourist spot. There are several places to park along the road and then you can walk along the lake and enjoy the geothermal steam, little bubbling holes, and the fantastic aromas! Be warned if you are particularly sensitive to sulfur and eggy smells you may want to skip the geothermal adventures in NZ. The steam rises from the scenic lake and beautiful birds are positioned everywhere you look. There is one spot along the road with little rocky craters with bubbling water and a touch of the beautiful colors that is classic to geothermal Rotorua attractions. It's a great stopping point and doesn't take too long to enjoy and snap a few photos before you continue on your way.

It's a good spot for some striking photos in various directions. There's water and spits of land…read moreand city skyline and various fairly photogenic birds around. The black swans with red bills are great. You drive all the way through the garden to the end of the road to get here, and there's a parking lot with plenty of parking (unlike the rest of the park, at least when we were there--we actually ended up at the point as we looked for parking to crack out the gardens but couldn't find any). Itdoesn't smell any more sulphury than anywhere else, and less than in some places in the region. There's not anything to do other than take pictures, including hiking or even much walking, so it's more of a place to drive out to, hop out of the car, and hang out for 15 minutes or so. But the views are nice so it's not a bad place to do that.