Rotorua Small Group Tour: Geothermal Wonders and Maori Culture from Auckland

Experience the geothermal wonders and Maori culture of Rotorua on a small group tour from Auckland. Customize your day trip with unique activities and attractions. Book now!

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Auckland Central - Your tour begins in New Zealand’s largest city. As we depart from the city, your guide will not only set the stage for your adventure but also highlight some of the city’s top attractions.
  • Waikato Region - Leaving Auckland, we head south through the picturesque Waikato countryside, the world’s largest farming area, featuring stunning landscapes, mighty rivers, excellent photo opportunities, impressive mountains, and various farm animals along the way. During our journey through Waikato, we’ll also pause for a quick coffee break at a special spot.
  • Tirau - As we continue our trip to Rotorua, we pass through Tirau, famously known as the ‘Corrugated Iron Capital of the World’ due to its numerous unique corrugated iron sculptures and buildings. This town always brings a smile, and our guides will point out all the main highlights as we pass through.
  • Rotorua - Upon arriving in Rotorua, your driver will take you to your selected activities and handle all the bookings and tickets. Spend the day exploring the wonders of Wai O Tapu geothermal park and delve into Maori Culture at Te Puia in the afternoon! Alternatively, you can spend the morning admiring the bubbling hot pools at Wai O Tapu and then relax in one at the Polynesian Spa in the afternoon.

It’s important to make your choice when booking so we can organize your day before your journey begins. Please select one of our options when booking and be aware that not everyone on your tour will make the same choices as you. That’s what makes this tour unique!

  • Auckland - Unfortunately, we must head north again, but your day isn’t over yet with a fully guided return trip to Auckland, including secret stops along the way.
What's Included
  • Water available & snacks provided
  • Small Group and Fully Guided Tour
  • Entry tickets (purchased activities only)
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenirs (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Optional extras and activities - please select the tour option you want at time of booking
Additional Information

Take this tour to experience Rotorua our way with adding 2 optional activities. Enjoy a day exploring the wonders of Wai O Tapu geothermal park and explore Maori Culture at Te Puia in the afternoon! Or why not spend the morning looking at the bubbling hot pools at Wai O Tapu and then the afternoon soaking in one at the Polynesian Spa? Make your choice when booking !

Highlights:
• Lake Rotorua
• Government Gardens, Blue Baths, Whangapipiro (Rachel Spring) & Rotorua Museum
• The choice of 2 activities to do while in Rotorua

Led by our famously passionate tour guides notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.

  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved.
  • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
  • Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. If you don’t have a car seat one can be provided (with at least 24 hours notice).
Location
SkyCity Hotel Auckland
Victoria Street West
Please pick this location if your hotel is not on our list. We do not pick up from your hotel if it is not listed
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(149 Ratings)
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Emilia
Sep 17, 2024
Excellent experience - The tour in Rotorua was incredible. The breathtaking views of the natural landscapes left us speechless, and each stop offered something unique. The guide was excellent, providing detailed information at all the key points, making the experience even more enriching. Definitely an unforgettable experience that I recommend to anyone visiting the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teri_p
Sep 12, 2024
Day trip to Rotorua - Well organized small group tour, fun and educational. Polynesian spa was a treat. The tour guides were excellent. We are happy we chose this small group tour, it was quite an experience.
Review provided by Viator
Georginan530
Sep 6, 2024
Amazing Rotorua trip - Amazing day with Cheeky Michael our tour guide as well as unofficial photographer.He was engaging and flexible and patiently waited for everyone. Enjoyed the tour.The Wai O Tapu was breathtaking and wow I was brave enough to walk the Redforest Gum, for someone who is scared of heights I did well. The Māori entertainment was just wow .This is a tour not to be missed.Thanks Cheeky Kiwi and Cheeky Michael, bring on those jokes hahaha
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Newtongripp
Sep 4, 2024
Imperversible - Excellent tour, recommend to all The Guide Simon is a ⁇ requested and cordial guy We recommend everyone to travel to North Island
Review provided by Tripadvisor
952taylad
Sep 1, 2024
Great Tour Guide! - John was very knowledgeable and made the trip a really great experience for everyone! The tour itself was great and the day ran very smoothly!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness36144699664
Aug 20, 2024
Rotorua Day Tour from Auckland - Hello, Transportation, Guide were perfect. An available French translation would be a plus. On the Reservation Site the different options on the course of the day were not very clear (Meals, Fees for Things to Do, How Long for Each Activity and Details of Things to Do).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail59242155636
Aug 9, 2024
Explore Rotorua and smell the wondrous smell of sulfur - Grant was a very helpful, friendly guide that gave us a lot of interesting tidbits about Rotorua and the places we passed by on our way there, alongside being very kind and timely with our schedule so everyone could go to their desired attractions. I wish I could share similar sentiments about Enrique.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
213susannes
Jul 22, 2024
Super cool! - Great trip! Amazing sights, especially Te Puia geothermal park. Our tour was organized and lead perfectly by Simon. Even with a large group, Simon was flexibly, timely and provided really great info. The drive is quite long, but it’s worth it, and there’s lots of interesting info to learn along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces19763279375
Sep 26, 2024
This isn't a 'tour'... it is transportation from Auckland to Rotorua. - Bus and driver were fine. A few nice lookout spots on the way. And driver took a few photos of group. But this isn't a tour...You can add on activities, but be advised for those activities, like Waiotapu, you are on your own ( even though guided tours are available). We were told the day before our tour that the spa option we chose wasn't available... Morning of tour, we walked (at 6am) to pickup spot. Bus was over 20min late. Upon arrival at geothermal site, saw that we had missed a daily geyser by 15 min. 15 min! You do the math. We continued on with a Self-Guided tour. Next location Te Puia Maori Village. Over sized tour (20/30) and the guide was reciting a memorized script, did literal jump-scares to people in the dark kiwi sanctuary, was not waiting for older/slower people, left several of us without any indication as to which way to get to the exit. And worst part... no cultural song/dance etc... found out that is only offered in the earlier tour (huh?). A once in a lifetime trip and we felt let down in many ways. We did a Self-Guided tour of geothermal location, and got a lousy tour of te puia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susaneliene_b
Aug 8, 2024
Not that best tour company - Compare to my other tour the snacks is not that good specially having a long tour and expensive one. The tour company should provide at least a sandwich and drinks .
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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