There are a lot of fun activities for the family, and many of these cost very little or nothing at all. You can find a number of fantastic playgrounds in the city where the kids can burn off all that excess energy and there are a number of hot pools and outdoor spots for safe swimming. Enjoy some of the tranquil bushwalks together, like in the beautiful Redwoods, or visit some of the fantastic Rotorua nature parks.
A few more options for family fun:
Skyline Skyrides & Luge: At just a few minutes from Rotorua city, on the side of Mount Ngongotaha, you will find the famous Gondola. Skyline Skyrides carries you to 487 metres above sea level to a fun filled park environment. Enjoy some amazing panoramic views on your way up and when you reach the top, you can race down again in a 3-wheel cart on The Luge. Excellent fun for all ages!
Caterpillar Experience: One for the boys, but the girls might enjoy it too: The New Zealand Caterpillar Experience! This is a unique exhibit of Caterpillar earthmovers and machinery plus a range of other heavy vintage machinery. There are 31 iconic machines on display here, dating back to the early 1920s. There is a great shop on site too, and nowadays, wearing the brand Caterpillar has become quite the fashion statement too!
Rotorua Duck Tours : It is a familiar sight on the streets and waters of Rotorua, a bright yellow WWII amphibious vehicle, aka The Duck! Rotorua Duck Tours introduces some of the areas spectacular scenery and provides an informative insight into the history and the people of Rotorua. These are sightseeing tours like no other, and isn’t it just the best of fun to ride and sail around together in a great big yellow Duck?
Paradise Valley Ventures: Horse Treks range from 45mins to 2.5 hrs. Ride through pastures and native bush and enjoy breathtaking views of rural NZ.
Aquatic Centre: With both Outdoor and Heated Indoor Pools, Spas and a Lazy River, Splash Pad, Picnic & BBQ Areas. the Aquatic Centre provides affordable year round fun for all the family.
Action NZ; Great fun for may be the slighly older children, Activities provided are: Axe & Knife Throwing, Archery, Electronic Clay Target Shooting, Smith & Wesson, Short Golf and the Mechanical Bull all at affordable prices.
Rotorua Museum; Experience some of the great stories of Rotorua, A beautiful Tudor Styled Building located in the stunning Government Gardens. The building as recently been restored and you can now go below the building and climb up to the turrets and look out over the gardens. See what it was like many years ago to experience a Mud Bath or take a curative Spa Treatment. Learn all about the local geothermal area. See some of the Maori Artefacts and not to missed two excellent movies; The Story of B Company 28 Maori Battalion and the Eruption of Mt Tarawera
