Adventure & the Redwoods
Rotorua is New Zealand's adventure playground. Ride world-class trails and stroll the treetops in the Redwoods, luge down from a gondola, roll downhill in a zorb (invented right here), and raft over the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall. From gentle to full-throttle, there's a thrill for every age. Here's the pick.
The Redwoods & Whakarewarewa Forest
The Redwoods (Whakarewarewa Forest) is a cathedral of towering trees just minutes from the centre, free to enter and laced with trails. Walk or run the paths, ride the Redwoods Treewalk — suspension bridges through the canopy, magical after dark under the Altitude lanterns — or explore on two wheels. It's the green heart of Rotorua adventure. See our New Zealand adventure guide.
Mountain biking & the Skyline luge
Riders come from around the world for the Whakarewarewa trail network — hundreds of kilometres from gentle family loops to expert descents, plus a gondola-served bike park at Skyline Rotorua. Not a rider? Take the gondola up anyway for the luge, a gravity go-cart down winding hilltop tracks with lake views. It's the easy, all-ages thrill. See our family guide.
Rafting, zorbing & more
For a rush, raft the Kaituna River over Tutea Falls — at 7 metres, the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall — or roll downhill in a zorb, the giant inflatable ball invented in Rotorua. At Velocity Valley you can bungy, swoop and freefall, and canopy tours zipline through native bush. There's adrenaline for every level. See our Rotorua tours.
Rotorua adventure: your questions
The Redwoods (Whakarewarewa Forest) is a magnificent stand of towering Californian redwoods just minutes from town, laced with walking and running trails and some of the country's best mountain-bike tracks. The Redwoods Treewalk — a series of suspension bridges through the canopy, lit by night with the Altitude lanterns — is a highlight for all ages. Entry to the forest itself is free. See our New Zealand adventure guide.
Outstanding — the Whakarewarewa Forest holds one of the world's great trail networks, with well-graded runs from gentle family loops to expert descents, plus a gondola-served bike park at Skyline. It's a bucket-list ride and hosts international events. Bikes and shuttles are easy to arrange in town. See our Rotorua tours.
Zorbing — rolling downhill inside a giant inflatable ball — was invented in Rotorua in the 1990s, and you can still do it here (as OGO), sliding down a hillside track with water inside. It's good, silly fun and a real Rotorua original. You'll find it alongside the Skyline luge and Velocity Valley adventure park. See our for families guide.
Yes — the Kaituna River, just north of town, is famous for a rafting run that plunges over Tutea Falls, at 7 metres the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. It's an exhilarating grade-5 trip yet accessible to first-timers with guides. Gentler scenic float trips are available too. See our Rotorua tours.
At Skyline Rotorua, a gondola rises above the lake to a hilltop where you ride the luge — a gravity go-cart — down winding tracks with grand views, then ride the chairlift back up. There's also a bike park, a swing, and dining. It's a family favourite and easy to combine with the Redwoods. See our family guide.