Best Free Nature Spots in Rotorua
Rotorua is a nature lover’s wonderland. There are forests and natural hot pools, lakes and thermal wonderlands to explore. If you are looking for a nature fix while in New Zealand, Rotorua should be on your list. Below are the best FREE nature spots in Rotorua.
Redwood Forest | Whakarewarewa Forest
Get lost amidst the giants of the forest at the Redwood Forest or Whakarewarewa Forest. The forest was planted at the start of the 20th century with over 4000 hectares of redwood trees. As of today, only around one per cent of the planting remains. The largest redwood in Whakarewarewa is around 72 metres tall and 169 centimetres in diameter.
There is a network of different walks and mountain biking tracks that go through the forest. From short walks like the Redwood Memorial Grove, which will take you under the redwoods and on a boardwalk over the old thermal pool. For a longer walk check out the Quarry lookout Track which has a great view of Lake Rotorua and the city.
For a unique perspective of the forest, check out Redwoods Tree Walk. This will have you walking along suspension bridges up to 20m above the ground. There is an entry fee, but it includes both a daytime and nighttime walk.
Redwood forest should definitely be a nature spot in Rotorua that you check out.
Lake Ōkāreka
Lake Ōkāreka is one of the smaller lakes in the Rotorua region and the name means “the lake of sweet food" as during early times māori grew kumara around the lake’s edges.
The lake is now a popular spot for recreation. In summer, the lake is buzzing with people swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, and sunbathing. A short walk from the lake edge will take you to a popular spot to rock dive from. In winter, the water is a bit chilly but the views are still gorgeous from the lake edge.
There is a DoC campsite at Lake Ōkāreka so you can sleep right by the lake and wake up to a beautiful sunrise.
Klamath Falls Rose Garden
Klamath Falls Rose Garden is located in the Government Gardens and is a great nature spot to visit while in Rotorua. The roses start blooming in November and are in full colour in the summer months. This is a great spot to visit during the spring or summer months, with lots of different kinds of roses to see. This garden is also close to the Museum, which is closed indefinitely but is quite beautiful from the outside.
Kuirau Park
Kuirau Park is a free geothermal park in the middle of town. Walk around and see thermal lakes with billowing steam, bubbling mud puddles and Sulphur deposits. It is a great place to get your first taste of the geothermal nature of Rotorua.
Blue Lake
Blue Lake is a gem in Rotorua’s crown. Rbis place is beautiful with its blue clear waters, sandy beaches, and green forests surrounding the lake. Their is a walk that goes all around the lake, which takes you through the green lush forest and comes down to the lake at different points. These are great spots for a swim. Their is a blue lakes camp right across the road, which is a great spot to stay when in the area. They hire out kayaks as well, so you can explore the lake a bit more.
The lake is especially gorgeous at sunrise, when the mist rolls over the trees and water and a mysterious air settles.
Lake Tarawera
Another beautiful Rotorua Lake is Lake Tarawera. This is one of the larger lakes in Rotorua and is popular with boaties. There is the wharf, which makes a great spot for sunrise photos. You can take the water taxi and visit Hot Water Beach and soak in the hot water, or visit the Tarawera Falls, which are 65m high and spectacular. You do need a permit to visit though, which can be found by emailing here.
Lake Tarawera is a great nature spot in Rotorua for the people seeking peaceful quiet mornings by the water or a little bit of adventure with walks and waterfalls.
Sulphur Point
Behind the Government Gardens is a hive of activity. Of the bird variety. Sulphur Point is home to the black-billed seagull, the rarest seagull in the world, and has a large nesting colony here. They nest on the sulphur-dabbled rocks, which is blocked off from the public. But you can watch from afar. The water at Sulphur Point is milky and white from the geothermal nature of the area. A walkway will take you around the bay, and you will be able to spot many different New Zealand birds, such as scaups or papango, shags, and dabchicks or weweia.
There are also bubbling mud baths and Cameron`s Laughing Gas Pool where people used to get high from the gasses back in the 19th century.