Luxury spas, incredible hikes and glow worms: Why Rotorua is worth more than just a day trip

When Aussies plan a trip to New Zealand, they visit the snow-capped mountains of Queenstown or the Auckland harbour – but there’s a spot nestled on the North Island that most people skip.

Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity, has more to offer than you’d think, and it’s well worth planning a girls’ weekend away or a couple’s retreat to the city.

The first thing people have to say about Rotorua is that it’s “stinky,” thanks to the sulphur pits that sit parallel to the town.

I don’t know if we just got lucky, or if those people are just dramatic, but the smell was hardly noticeable during our stay.

Every once in a while they’d be a guest of wind that had a mild eggy smell to it, but if you’re staying lakeside, it’s really not that bad.

Plus, that shouldn’t deter you from staying in this gem of a town.

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Two days at the best spa in Oceania changed my mind on ‘wellness weekends’

From the best day spa in not only New Zealand, but the whole Oceania region, to incredible restaurants and stunning nature walks, Rotorua is definitely worth more than a one-day stop.

Here’s how my mum and I spent four nights and three days in the lakeside town.

Wai Ariki Spa and Hot Springs

Two of our days were dedicated to sitting back and relaxing at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, which is located right in front of Lake Rotorua.

The spa offers an wide range of treatments, all inspired by the Māori culture.

Experience all the highlights of the Spa with the Restorative Journey, which includes access to the geothermal pools, the mud lounge, saunas and steam rooms.

There’s also the tranquil relaxation lounge, massages body scrubs and facials.

To say the spa is relaxing is an understatement. You can read more about our experience at the spa here.

Te Pā Tū Experience

The lakeside town has plenty more to offer than just the spa.

On our first night, after a relaxing day of treatments, we settled in for an evening at the Te Pā Tū Experience.

It started with a welcome from the village warriors and chief, before we walked through a canopy of trees to the open-air amphitheatres, where we were taught about different aspects of the Māori culture through interactive activities.

We finished the tour with a number of musical performances, where the chief explained the entire business was family-run, with the intention of passing their culture on to the younger generations.

The night concluded with a sprawling dinner served family style, where the family who run the village sung to us and even pulled off an incredible surprise by singing songs in the languages of the guests.

After the group belted out a song in Mandarin (yes, really!) the hosts invited me up to teach them how to dance the Zorba, which is a traditional Greek dance that involves quickly moving around in a circle as the music speeds up.

We ended up dancing around the dining hall, having a blast!

Of course, the night wasn’t about my culture, but the chief explained that his favourite part of the night was getting to learn about the cultures of their guests.

I cannot recommend this experience enough.

Hamurana Springs Nature Park & Golf Course

If you’re looking to take in some of New Zealand’s breathtaking nature, do not miss Hamurana Springs.

The nature park and springs are a quick 25-minute drive away from Rotorua’s CBD.

Sparkling clear-blue water flows through the park, surrounded by lush green hills and towering Redwood Trees.

The walk around the Springs takes roughly 45-minutes, but I would suggest taking your time and absorbing the beauty of the spot.

This place is absolutely worth the trip. Plus you can finish the experience a round of golf if you wish.

Redwoods Treewalk and Glow worm caves

The Redwoods Treewalk is a family-friendly experience which lets you see the beauty of Rotorua in another light.

The walk is suspended in the treetops of the Whakarewarewa Forest, guiding you through 34 handcrafted lanterns that light up after sunset.

Given there’s not much to do in rotorua after dark, this is definitely a must-do.

The venue also created their own glowworm cave, which is home to thousands of glowworms.

Admission to the cave comes with a guided tour, which was full of informative facts about the glow-worms

It’s also a quick tour, so it’s easy to squeeze in before your tree walk.

Hobbiton day trip

While most people make the trip to the set of Lord of the Rings from Auckland, there is an option to visit the site from Rotorua, meaning it was easy to squeeze in a trip on our final day.

I don’t think Hobbiton needs much further explanation.

But it’s good to know that you can visit the film set in a tour from Rotorua, making it an optimal destination to base yourself from if you’re looking to explore the North Island.

We were even treated to a buffet lunch inside a dining tent, situated right next to the Green Dragon.

The writer travelled to New Zealand as a guest of Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa.