Planning Rotorua with little ones? Here’s exactly what we tried, tested, and loved as a family of four travelling New Zealand by motorhome. Rotorua is a quirky town and a hub for geothermal activity, pristine lakes, redwood giants… and yes, a very memorable rotten-egg smell in places. Push past the smell and you’ll find a super family-friendly city with options for every budget.
Where we stayed (motorhome-friendly)
We travelled by motorhome and used a mix of free and paid options:
Hamurana Springs river freedom camp
- Government Gardens carpark – Right in town and next to Polynesian Spa. FREE (and a bit stinky thanks to the sulphur right outside your door).
- Hamurana Springs river parking – Lake views and a short walk to a playground. FREE (freedom-camping rules apply).
- Kōkako Retreat (off-grid tiny-home escape) – Two dreamy nights for my birthday, overlooking bush and farmland. Clear night skies, an outdoor bath, shooting stars, and kiwi calls- absolutely unreal!
Find out more about the tiny home escape here.
🏕️ Other paid options: Tasman Holiday Park or Cosy Cottage Thermal Holiday Park (both had good star reviews on the Campermate app).
*Costs below are what we paid on our visit; always check the official site for current pricing and height/age rules.*
Day One
9:00am–1:00pm — Skyline Luge Rotorua
What we did: Luge (3-ride pass), plus lunch at the café with views over the steaming geothermal city. From the top you can also add a buffet lunch/ dinner, Sky Swing, Zipline, or mountain bike trails.
Height guide: Kids need to be over 80 cm to ride with an adult and 110 cm to ride solo. The gondola/ski lift takes you back up for repeat runs.
Cost: $160 for our family (gondola up/down + activities hub).
2:00–4:00pm — Kuirau Park (free)
Geothermal city park with FREE hot mineral foot pools. It’s a relaxing wander after an adrenaline-packed morning.
4:00–8:00pm — Pig & Whistle Historic Pub
Warm up by the open fire, grab an afternoon bevvy and an easy dinner. The menu caters for everyone and it’s super central.
Day Two
9:00am–12:00pm — Redwoods Treewalk (day or night)
Day Treewalk: 700 m long with 27 platforms up to 20 m high. You can’t carry children, but they provide a narrow pram/buggy that fits perfectly on the suspended track — it felt surprisingly safe even high in the trees.
Night option: The Nightlights Treewalk transforms the forest with beautiful lanterns.
Thrill option: Redwoods Altitude is a guided, harnessed experience up to 25 m high.
Cost: $42 per adult, children under 4 free (Daytime Treewalk).
Free alternative: Walk the many short and long free trails through the Redwoods/Whakarewarewa Forest — surreal surroundings among some of the world’s tallest tree species.
• Day Treewalk
• Nightlights
• Redwoods Altitude
• Free forest walking tracks
1:00–4:00pm — Blue Lake (Lake Tikitapu) (free)
Brilliant blue water coloured by volcanic minerals. There’s a 5.5 km loop track for views all the way around, or just find a spot and enjoy that crystal-clear water.
OR
Hobbiton Movie Set (day trip)
Just under an hour from Rotorua. Even if you haven’t seen the films, the attention to detail is incredible! Your ticket includes the bus to the set, a guided tour, a drink at the Green Dragon, and a take-home mug.
Cost: $120 per adult, kids under 10 are free.
5:00–8:00pm — Eat Street
After a big day, skip cooking dinner and choose from over 12 restaurants and bars (plus an ice-cream stop for the kids) at Eat Street. Our favourite budget move: takeaway fish & chips and eat at the playground on the foreshore—about a 3-minute walk from Eat Street—while the kids burn off any last energy.
Final thoughts
Rotorua is packed with family fun. We didn’t even scratch the surface, but these were the highlights we personally did and loved with our kids. Happy planning!
❤ Britt
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