🗓 Day 1 – Geothermal Drama & Forest Thrills
Morning:
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Start your weekend at one of Rotorua’s most colourful geothermal parks. Think Champagne Pool, steaming craters, and surreal landscapes straight out of a sci-fi movie. It’s dramatic, otherworldly, and totally worth the drive south.
Wai-O-Tapu
Late Morning Brunch:
Eastwood Café
Nestled beside the Redwoods, Eastwood serves strong coffee, woodfired pizzas, and cabinet snacks — all in a calm, leafy setting. A top local pick.
Eastwood Café
Afternoon:
Rotorua Canopy Tours
Rotorua Canopy Tours is consistently rated as one of New Zealand’s top adventure experiences — and is hands-down the best zipline in Rotorua. — and it’s easy to see why. You’ll fly through ancient native forest on a series of thrilling ziplines, tiptoe across swing bridges, and descend through towering treetop platforms. It’s wild, it’s fun, and it’s packed with moments that make your heart race (in the best way). Designed for almost every age and adventure level, this award-winning experience also helps bring the forest back to life — with every ticket funding real conservation.
Book your forest zipline adventure
Dinner:
Pocco Eatery
Modern, intimate and highly rated, Pocco delivers seasonal plates with local flair and creative cocktails to match. A top spot for a relaxed but memorable dinner.
Pocco Rotorua
🗓 Day 2 – Mud Baths, Sulphur Walks & Lakeside Eats
Morning:
Hells Gate Geothermal Walk & Mud Spa
Start day two with raw geothermal energy. Walk past bubbling pools, sulphur cliffs, and steaming ground — then soak in a mud bath and sulphur spa surrounded by native bush. A Rotorua must-do if you’re craving a recharge.
Hells Gate Rotorua
Midday:
Ciabatta Café & Bakery
A local go-to for warm ciabatta sandwiches, house-made pastries, and consistently good coffee. Casual, quick, and genuinely delicious.
Ciabatta Rotorua
Afternoon:
Sulphur Point Walkway
This underrated geothermal walk loops around Sulphur Bay near the lakefront. Expect steam vents, rare birdlife, and eerie white-crusted ground. It’s flat, accessible, and a great way to wind down your weekend.
Sulphur Bay Walk Info
Optional Add-On:
Glow Worm Spotting
As night falls, take a guided paddle to glow worm caves on Lake Rotoiti or wander Redwoods’ lower trails with a torch. Either way, it’s a magical local secret that feels straight out of a fairytale.
Glow Worm Tours
Dinner:
The Fainting Goat
End your weekend at this laid-back gastro pub. Hearty mains, local beers, and a relaxed vibe make it a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.
The Fainting Goat Rotorua
This 2-day Rotorua itinerary blends high-energy adventure, geothermal relaxation, and some of the region’s best local eats. Whether you’re zipping through ancient forest with Rotorua Canopy Tours, soaking in a sulphur spa, or spotting glow worms by night, every stop adds something uniquely Kiwi to your weekend.