Rotorua in 3 Days by Campervan: Geothermal Parks, Lakes and Where to Camp

Where to base yourself

Rotorua has several holiday parks around the lake and the edge of the city, many with their own thermal pools, and these are the easiest bases for a campervan. DOC and council campsites around the lakes, such as Lake Rotoiti and Lake Tarawera, are quieter and cheaper but need more planning, and some close in winter. Book ahead in summer and over school holidays.

Rotorua Lakes Council limits freedom camping to a few places and requires a certified self-contained vehicle, and the rules are enforced, as the freedom camping in Rotorua guide explains. Geothermal ground can be unstable and hot, and a van parked near vents can be damaged, so camp only where the site says so.

Day 1: the geothermal parks

Start with Kuirau Park, a free park near the centre with steaming ponds and mud pools, then choose one of the major parks: Te Puia and Whakarewarewa for the Pōhutu geyser and Māori cultural performances, Wai-O-Tapu for the colourful pools and the Lady Knox geyser, or Hell's Gate for the mud and a hot spa. Wai-O-Tapu and Waimangu are about 30 minutes south of the city.

End the day in a hot pool, such as the Polynesian Spa on the lakefront or the pools at your holiday park. Stay on the paths and behind the fences in all geothermal areas, because the ground can be thin and the water scalding, and keep dogs out. The volcanic safety guide explains the hazards.

Day 2: the Redwoods, Blue Lake and Okere Falls

The Redwoods, or Whakarewarewa Forest, has tall trees with walking and mountain biking trails and the Redwoods Treewalk, a series of suspension bridges high in the canopy, which is lit at night. The Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and Green Lake are a short drive away, with a walk around the Blue Lake that takes about 90 minutes.

In the afternoon go to Okere Falls, where a short track leads to the Kaituna River and the falls, and rafting is popular, and then to the lakefront at Rotorua for the evening. Mountain bike hire is available at the Redwoods, and the trails suit all levels. Bring insect repellent for the sandflies near water.

Day 3: Lake Tarawera and the south

Lake Tarawera is about 20 minutes from the city, with a quiet beach and a boat trip to the hot waterfall, and the Buried Village tells the story of the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption. Waimangu Volcanic Valley, a walk through the crater valley formed by that eruption, is a good morning outing.

From Rotorua it is an hour to Taupō, where Huka Falls and Orakei Korako are on the way, and the Waikato River and Lake Taupō are covered in the Taupō guide. The Coromandel to Rotorua loop and the North Island two-week trip show how to link the area with the rest of the island.

Driving to and from Rotorua

Auckland to Rotorua is about 230 kilometres and takes three to three and a half hours via Hamilton and Tīrau, or via Tauranga. State Highway 5 from Tīrau and State Highway 30 from Tauranga are the main roads. Fuel and food are easy to find in the city, and parking is straightforward, though busy at the lakefront at the weekend.

Winter mornings can be frosty on the roads around the lakes, and the sulphur smell is strong in the city but harmless. Check the NZTA Journey Planner for road conditions before you leave.

Planning your three days in KiwiCamping

KiwiCamping covers Rotorua and the lakes with DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks, filterable for campervan access and facilities, in an iPhone app. Save a base and a backup, line them up as a trip, and you will see how far apart each pair sits along with a forecast at every place. It stops short of directions and live traffic, so use your maps app for the roads.

Rotorua DOC sites are booked on DOC's own pages, not in the app, which costs nothing to download and has in-app purchases.

Places along the way